Are you acknowledging that God alone is the great provider of needs?

 19 Jan 26

Today's devotional: taken from YouVersion, Devotions on F.I.R.E. Year One

Readings:

Genesis 44

Genesis 45

Matthew 14:1-21

And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19). 

Are you acknowledging that God alone is the great provider of needs?

Joseph credits the Lord for His amazing provision. After he reveals himself to his brothers, he says, “So now it was not you who sent me here, but God” (Genesis 45:8). God’s miraculous provision governed by Joseph would provide the needs of two nations: Egypt and Israel. Jesus, who is God, wants His disciples to learn the valuable lesson that Joseph grasped. “You give them something to eat” (Matthew 14:16), commands Jesus to His disciples after thousands gathered to hear Him teach. The wise Lord gives this directive to show His followers their inability to provide for the crowd and also to teach them that He uniquely has the capacity to care for the masses. 

Employment Point: Trust in God alone to provide for all your needs and acknowledge Him when He does.

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Reflections

The parable of “5 loaves and 2 fishes” usually speaks of the Lord’s provision. However, the devotional reminds us of the other perspective that may often be overlooked. Yes, He feeds the 5000 and also 4000 using 7 loaves and a few small fish (which is also often forgotten) and it is the Lord who can provide for all our needs or anything that we lack.

Here, we see a focus on what was available. The reality of it all. How is it possible that 5 loaves of bread and two fishes can feed 5000 people and yet have leftovers? The fact is that it is possible and in our human understanding, this is pure craziness and mission impossible. However, in the Lord’s hands, He has proven to us twice that what human cannot, He can. It is not about looking at the problem and tell the Lord how big the problem is but to look at the Lord instead and see how great He can be! What problem is a problem to the Lord? Is there anything too hard for Him?

“Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.” When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.”Genesis‬ ‭45‬:‭4‬-‭5‬, ‭7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

• Joseph’s pain got a purpose. It was to save his family. He unceasingly acknowledged God in all his ways and it made all the difference and the Lord directed his paths. 
• Forgiveness is a powerful force. A force strong enough to break chains and open shackles. Forgiveness can release captives and unite broken families. And is the only hope against unrelenting guilt and grudge. Forgiveness is freedom. 
• Joseph’s character here-his trials refined his character, tested his faith and deepen his trust. There are countless stories of lives changed. Of believers who found forgiveness greater than sin, who found a purpose greater than pain, because God sent Jesus to save our lives by a great deliverence.

“Never mind about your belongings, because the best of all Egypt will be yours.’ ” So the sons of Israel did this. Joseph gave them carts, as Pharaoh had commanded, and he also gave them provisions for their journey.”Genesis‬ ‭45‬:‭20‬-‭21‬ ‭NIV‬‬

• have you experienced times where you thank God that you were so so blessed, only to find out the outpouring of blessings did not end there?
• I felt that may be what Joseph’s brothers were thinking. They were short of food and had to buy grain from Egypt. Instead, they were blessed with a good meal. Upon their return, they were told that the brother whom they betrayed was still alive and standing before their own eyes! (Never mind about the fear that they may have) but even Pharaoh gave them more than they could have asked for, land to move in and provisions after provisions!! The Lord provides!! (Present tense and He still does!)

“Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.””Matthew‬ ‭14‬:‭16‬ ‭NIV‬‬

• in those times students often paid their teachers and it is considered honourable to invite teachers to dinner and be a good host to them. And in those times, it was also not uncommon for the teacher to delegate duties to disciples for the procurement of provisions. However, Jesus reversed this role and provided for the students instead.

_Lord help us to remember that nothing is too hard for You and that You are our ultimate provider. We can totally trust in You in every aspect of provision in our lives and have this reliance on You alone. For who are we to know better than the creator of heaven and earth? Just want to thank You Father, for always caring and loving us, giving and providing our every need and wants too. Thank You for Your everlasting love._ ❤️ 

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Vision and Darkness

BY OSWALD CHAMBERS

January 19

A thick and dreadful darkness came over him. —Genesis 15:12

When God gives us a vision, he puts us, so to speak, in the shadow of his hand. There is a darkness that comes from too much light, and this is the time to listen. Thirteen years of silence passed between visions God sent Abraham, but in that time Abraham’s selfishness and self-sufficiency were destroyed and he was transformed into the man God wanted him to be, a man worthy of being called the father of many nations (Genesis 17). Those years of silence were a time of discipline, not punishment.

Whenever God sends you a vision and darkness follows, wait. God is remaking you in the image of what he has shown you: “Let the one who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the Lord and rely on their God” (Isaiah 50:10).

Am I trusting entirely in the name of the Lord, or is my confidence in myself and other people? Is it in books and prayers and ecstasies, or is it in God himself? The one thing for which we are all being disciplined is to know that God is real. Until we know this, the vision will not come to pass. After we know it, everything that seemed so real to us before—books and prayers, other people’s words and actions—will become as shadows. Nothing can disturb the one who is built on God.

Genesis 46-48; Matthew 13:1-30

WISDOM FROM OSWALD

Jesus Christ is always unyielding to my claim to my right to myself. The one essential element in all our Lord’s teaching about discipleship is abandon, no calculation, no trace of self-interest

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Reflections

Recently, someone made a statement. He said “pray for tribulations”. We were all stunned for a bit and was like “huh? Why?!” But think about it for a while and perhaps he is right. Don’t you think so?

We need to “rejoice in hope, *patient in tribulations*, be constant in prayer” Romans 12:12. Why be patient? Because for the simple fact we do not know when and how to stop in tribulations. Tribulations are causes of great suffering and during those times, all we do are what we love to do. Complain and complain. Rejoice in hope? Impossible because we were all feeling low. Be constant in prayer? Well, maybe but sometimes we get so overwhelmed we forgot about praying, much to the enemies’ joy.

To be patient is a learning process. And to anyone who have been in the valleys, they will be able to attest to the times when they are at the lowest is also when they experienced God most powerfully. Have you wondered why this happens? Paul also said that “it is when we are weak that we are made strong” 2 Corinthians 12:9-10. “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.

Only when we can humble ourselves and tell God that we cannot and let Him, will we then be able to be filled with His strength. We, as His vessels, need to emptied of our own things, then can we be filled fully by Him and nothing else. If we continue to cling to what we know, act on our own wisdom and not seeking God, we are going to take a really long time to learn what He wants to teach us.

So yes, tribulations are what bring us closer to the Lord. But by recognising this, we can come to the Lord first and surrender all before tribulations hit us hard. By letting go and letting Him, we allow Him to make changes so we don’t need to face challenges at a force that will crush us flat, it will at most feel like a hard push and we may fall and injure ourselves but at least our bones will not be crushed. You get the drift.