In shocking news this weekend, the stock market took a big hit, losing $2 million on Friday despite the strongest job report in 18 months. Of course, President Trump threw another temper tantrum because he didn’t like the numbers he was seeing on Wall Street.
The president and his MAGA supporters have forgotten God’s call for His people to be different from this corrupt, power-hungry kingdom (Deuteronomy 7:6, Romans 12:2). That is why they keep putting their hope into the temporary idols of this world:
- Greatness
- Power
- Wealth
- Success
Many in the American church have been led astray by their selfish hearts (Jeremiah 17:9, Matthew 15:19). Not only have they turned to idols of this fallen kingdom, but they want and follow idols to provide for them (Exodus 20:3-6, Psalm 115:4-8).
God’s people know that when God is our Lord and Master, He will provide for us, and we don’t need the idols of this world (Psalm 34:10, Hebrews 13:5). We can trust God to provide us with what we need in life, that is part of God’s promise to His people (Deuteronomy 28:1-14, 2 Corinthians 9:8).
What Is Provide
It doesn’t matter what political party you belong to; we all have needs that need to be provided for, because that is part of being finite human beings. The problem is that we have different expectations and means of having our needs provided for. But we still need them provided.
Provide is defined as, “To supply or make what is needed available: prepare.” The Christian view is that God is the source and provider of our needs, not the world or even ourselves (Psalm 121:1-2, James 1:17).
Unfortunately, some people have turned to themselves and the ways of this world for what they need or want. In Georgia, where I live, there are many political candidates boasting about how they achieved their own success, and they owe no one anything, just like President Trump.
Despite what billionaires like Rick Jackson and Pres Trump believe, there is no such thing as a self-made man or self-made billionaire. It is God who provides for the rich and the poor alike (Proverbs 22:2, Acts 14:17).
That is why the Bible has a lot to say about providing and who our ultimate Provider is (Psalm 23:1-2, Romans 8:32 32, 2 Corinthians 9:8-10). One of the things that sets God’s people apart from this fallen world is that we depend on God to care and provide for us (Psalm 55:22, Matthew 6:25-34, Philippians 4:6-7).
When we come to Jesus, we must stop depending on ourselves and the ways of this world because Jesus becomes our Shepherd and provider (Matthew 16:24-26, John 15:5, 2 Corinthians 5:17).
Once we become a part of God’s family, God promises to provide for our needs (2 Corinthians 9:8, Philippians 4:19, 1 Peter 5:7, Hebrews 13:5). The apostles remembered their Jewish education about how God provides for His people.
Rā’â
The Torah tells us how God created and provided everything mankind needed in the garden (Genesis 1:1-31; 2:7-9, 15-17). He even provided for mankind after they sinned against Him (Genesis 3:21; 4:15; 9:8-11; 50:20).
God’s divine nature is as a provider, like a father does for his family (Genesis 22:14, Deuteronomy 2:7, Psalm 68:5). God’s provision is a big part of the Christian and Jewish faiths.
The Hebrew word in the Old Testament provide is rā’â, and it can also mean, “To see, look, behold, appear, perceive, respect, consider, or behold,” depending upon the context it is used in.
God promised to provide for His people during the Exodus if they obeyed Him completely and turned from other idols (Exodus 15:26; 16:4, Deuteronomy 7:12-15; 28:1-14). Because God provided for them many times during their journey through the wilderness, they gave Him the name Jehovah Jireh, the Lord provides (Exodus 15:22-26; 22:14):
- Freedom from Egypt and victory over their enemies
- Parting of the Red Sea
- Manna
- Quail
- Water from the rock
- Sweetened water at Morah
- Preserved clothes
- Healthy feet
- Divine guidance and protection (pillar of cloud and fire)
- Promise Land
One of my favorite scriptures about Jesus is His self-description as the living water (John 6:1-71). This is a divine declaration of God’s provision and sustaining power for God’s people again.
Jesus began by emphasizing the need and power by saying we must be born of spirit and water (John 6:35). Our Lord taught His followers to focus on things above, not here below, like the world does (Matthew 6:19-20).
While Jesus walked among the world, Israel was in bondage to Rome and earthly kings who oppressed them. Jesus encouraged His followers that He set them free, and God knew what they needed before they asked, so they shouldn’t worry (Matthew 6:8, 31-32, John 8:36).
Severe Weather
As I write this, 50 million Americans are under a severe weather watch across the plains from Texas to New England. There has already been flooding in parts of Texas this weekend. And there is a tornado watch in Springfield, Illinois, today.
The weather is once again out of control, or is it? The gospel shares numerous times how Jesus provided for and protected His disciples from severe weather, just like God did in the Old Testament:
- Calming storms
- Walking on the waves
Despite the many conspiracy theories out there, the Bible is clear that only God is in control of the weather (Job 37:5-13, Psalm 107:29, Jeremiah 10:13). Scripture is clear, and the last days weather will become more violent and out of control (Luke 21:25-26).
God uses the weather to do His Divine will, not ours; no matter how bad we may want Him to. God is glorified through His divine works through nature (Psalm 19:1, Romans 1:20). When the storms come, God heals and protects His people, because only He is our Jehovah Jireh!
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