Unique Provision
I can still remember my college days when I was broke as a joke and struggled to stretch the money I had as far as I could make it go. It was quite a challenge some times because I really wanted to have fun with my friends who always seemed to have plenty of money to spare. I learned some valuable lessons during that time about money management and trusting the Lord. There’s a direct relationship with how much money I spend on fun stuff and how broke I am after a few days. I knew that money didn’t grow on trees, but when I had my freedom, I feel like I tested that concept.
I remember one time going home that I had car trouble on Jellico Mountain on I-75. I was broke down on the side of the road and wasn’t sure what I would do. Another student at the same college I was saw me broken down and stopped to help. He took me to get some water to put in the radiator to limp the car home. I have had multiple events like that happen over the years, right when I needed help – here it came. I have walked with the Lord long enough to learn to trust His Provision. Sometimes it comes in the most unique ways.
The Israelites were under siege to the Aramean army and their provisions inside the city were quickly drying up. They were desperate and it was getting pretty ugly. The Lord provided in a unique way. Check this out…
3 Now there were four men with leprosy at the entrance of the city gate. They said to each other, ‘Why stay here until we die? 4 If we say, “We’ll go into the city”– the famine is there, and we will die. And if we stay here, we will die. So let’s go over to the camp of the Arameans and surrender. If they spare us, we live; if they kill us, then we die.’
5 At dusk they got up and went to the camp of the Arameans. When they reached the edge of the camp, no one was there, 6 for the Lord had caused the Arameans to hear the sound of chariots and horses and a great army, so that they said to one another, ‘Look, the king of Israel has hired the Hittite and Egyptian kings to attack us!’ 7 So they got up and fled in the dusk and abandoned their tents and their horses and donkeys. They left the camp as it was and ran for their lives. (2 Kings 7:3-7 NIV)
I think it’s a bit comical that the Lord provided through the very people who were causing them harm. I was reminded that the Lord can do anything He wants at anytime He wants. I sometimes box Him in by what I know or what I believe about Him. He is not bound by time and space. He has no financial limitation. He is not bound to the physical world that I can see. He has more than enough resources to provide for me at any time. I would be wise to walk in step with Him as He provides for me in unique but effective ways.
Pressing On!
Dwayne