Subscription Lists

Almost a millennium after the fact, the children of Israel recounted the blessings they received while an extremely young nation. There were many, many things for which they should have been thankful and Nehemiah chapter nine summarizes many of those blessings. A particular blessings, one that is not well known, is the fact that for the duration of the wilderness wandering, the entire nation of Israel had no need for new clothes. Scripture states it this way: “Forty years You [God] sustained them in the wilderness; They lacked nothing; Their clothes did not wear out And their feet did not swell.” (Nehemiah 9.21).

Almost a millennium before the nation of Israel was birthed, the father of the Hebrew nation heeded God's call to take his son, Isaac, up on a mountain and offer him as a burnt offering. As Abraham neared what seemed to be the point of no return for his son, Isaac asked him what must have been a very hard question. Having seen that all the essentials for an offering were present but one, Isaac asked, “Where is the lamb?” His father did not miss a beat and simply responded, “The Lord will provide.” As things turned out, that is exactly what happened. When Abraham was poised to take the life of his son, and agel directed his eyes to a ram that was stuck fast in a nearby thicket. God did indeed provide and Isaac was spared. For this reason, Abraham called the place on Mount Moriah, Jehovahjireh (the Lord sees and/or provides; see the entire story in Genesis 22, but especially verse 14).

It was more than coincidence that it was in this same region that the young nation of Israel saw its needs being perpetually provided by the God of Abraham. Water, food, shelter, healing, strength, clothing, and every imaginable need came directly from Jehovah's hand. It was here that God's ability to completely provide for the needs if humanity was demonstrated to the entire world. Had it not been for God's hand of providence being over Israel, the nation would never have been birthed, and once birthed, she would have surely perished in short order. The survival of Israel during the Old Testament era is silent testimony to the fact that God does provide.

In the New Testament, Paul wrote to the saints in Thessalonica to encouraging them to “...lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you,that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing.” (1 Thessalonians 4.11-12). God is a provider, but not without conditions. The saints were challenged to act in a particular way so that they would lack nothing. In another place, Paul told these same brethren that they ought to with hold their benevolent gifts from those who refused to work (see 2 Thessalonians 3.10). So we see that God's provisions are not given without conditions.

Another failure that sometimes threatens mankind is our inability to see what we really need. Sometimes we think we need one thing when we really need something entirely different. The Lord spoke to the church at Laodicea, saying, “Because you say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and [I] have need of nothing'--and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked--” (Revelation 3.17). This failure is one with potentially lethal consequences. Whether in the social, medical, psychological, or spiritual realm, the results can be dire when a need is unrecognized and one thinks himself to be alright in every way.

God provides, but we must be willing to accept that which He offers. Apart from His guidance, we do not know what we need, nor that for which we ought to pray. Hear Him and accept His gifts!

Questions:

1. List some things God uniquely provided for Israel?

2. Why did Abraham name the place of his sacrifice, Jehovahjireh?

3. What did God say about those who refuse to work?

4. How do we know that for which we stand in spiritual need?

"'Christ in You...'" from Dale Krebbs

The Saints Who Slept