"But it was I who destroyed the Amorites before them, who were tall like cedar trees and as strong as oaks—I destroyed them completely. It was I who brought you forth from the land of Egypt and led you for forty years through the desert so I could give you the land of the Amorites." (NCV)
Although these are two short verses, they describe a lot about God’s power and might.
The Amorites, among others, were a people who originally lived in the land of Canaan. According to historical records, they were a strong fighting people. And yet God destroyed the Amorites. Their strength, their experience, their resources didn’t matter. God was in control.
God also provided for the children of Israel for 40 years as they lived in a desert. I live in the desert and I can attest that it’s difficult, very difficult, to harvest what you need from the natural desert. The land is rock and sand, water is far underground (inaccessible without wells), and the natural tundra is dry and prickly. And yet the Israelites were provided for in a mighty and miraculous way, a way that was beyond and separate from what the environment could provide.
There are two really important truths here.
First, no one and nothing is too strong for God to conquer. He is mightier than anything! We know that fact with our minds, but we often act as if God were impotent, unable or unwilling to act. He always acts, He is always acting. It’s simply that He is acting according to His character, His will, His timing . . . not ours. But He is fully able to bring about what He has planned and He is doing it! He is not only able, He is active! And whatever it is that we need, He will provide it.
I think that we often forget that Christians can’t lose! It doesn’t matter what happens to us, God will work it for our good. Thus, there are no bad situations, no impossible circumstances. Paul wrote:
"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you" (1 Thess. 5:16-18 NKJV).
We are always to rejoice, always to pray, always to be thankful because God is working His will and His way for us always! We cannot lose.
The second important truth is that God will always provide. He isn’t confined by natural resources, financial shifts, or even whether or not we are obedient! (The children of Israel were often perverse and disobedient.) God provides for His children. Now, His provision may look very different than what we expected or wanted, but He will provide! We need to trust Him for that provision and learn to walk anticipating that He is going to send whatever it is we need when we need it.
When the Lord sent manna as food for the children of Israel, He sent new manna each day. If the people kept some for use the next day, it was totally spoiled. But on Friday (the day before the Sabbath), God would send double the manna and the manna would remain fresh throughout the Sabbath. This goes beyond scientific laws. The manna should have either kept for two days regardless of what two days it was or always spoiled on the second day. But it didn’t. It remained fresh for the length of the need.
God will always provide when and what we need. We just need to trust Him. He is mighty and He is faithful. His job is to take care of us; our job is to rejoice, pray, and be thankful.
© 2014 Robin L. O’Hare. All Rights Reserved.
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