God Is Our Ultimate Daily Provider

"Then the Lord said to Moses, "Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you. And the people shall go out and gather a certain quota every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in My law or not." (Ex 16:4)

"Let every man gather it according to each one's need" (Ex 16:16)

There is mindset of trust that the Lord wanted to develop in the Israelites. One of the primary ways in which we trust, in which all beings on the earth trust in God is in daily provision. The people had slavemasters in Egypt and they had gotten used to relying upon their slavemasters for their provision and they complained to Moses that they should have just been left in Egypt where they had tons of food to eat (they had quickly idealized their past enslavers).

The Lord did provide for the people supernaturally, but He also wanted to develop a new paradigm. Not to rely upon a hand-out from other people, but to instead trust solely on the Lord to survive. Part of this commandment was to take what was needed instead of trying to hoard everything that was out there -- knowing that God will provide.

When the people defied the commandment of God, the extra food they gathered did not last the next day.

Two things strike me in these verses:

1) Obedience is key. There is a specific way that God wants us to do things. It can vary from task to task, but only where it doesn't conflict with His overall commandments to do good and not evil (as defined in the Bible). He will sometimes give us a task that should be completed in a certain way.

During the time of Joseph in Egypt, food was gathered and stored during a time of plenty in order to survive an impending drought. However, for the Israelites in the desert, they were to only gather on a daily basis as God would bring more manna the next day.

2) Excessive riches aren't to be a primary goal for us. God is our security, not money or possessions. We wonder why God doesn't pour riches upon his people - it's because it is a false security that will not bring discipline or a closer relationship with the Lord. In fact, in most cases during times of plenty, we will choose to rely upon the money more than we rely on the Lord, which effectively negates the ways that He can use us. We will be more afraid of losing our incomes and posssessions than following the Lord.

Taking it a step further looking at our attitudes in society - we need to be gathers and workers. Everyday we should be doing the work that God has placed before us to provide for our families. However, there is a moral component to not hoarding and not being greedy. Those who are ultra talented can find ways to take more goods or funds from society in legal, but not necessarily ethical ways. Such activities can cause an imbalance in the system which can ultimately destroy the smooth operation of the whole (see tech bubble, real estate bubble, bank crisis). Being ethical on a moral level is imperative in a free society because it ensures that there is both liberty for individual pursuit as well as room for everyone to gather what they need (but they should not be given hand-outs). The penalty for unethical greed will be, ultimately, eternity in hell.

On a personal level, God has seen fit to gift my family with provision. We are not rich by any US standards, but we have enough to live comfortably while watching our budget. We have dreams of having more children and buying a house with a yard. Modest dreams, but expensive and costly just the same.

The Lord has given us a peace in our hearts that we will indeed realize these dreams one day, but we cannot rush the Lord's timing or the way in which He would like to develop us before granting that vision. The realization of the vision is hardly the end all and be all of our lives. There is no point at which we have "made it". The finish line is not what we have, but rather it is the journey - can we live each moment, each day in submission, service and worship of who He is and what He has called us to be? That is the real quest, the real question.

Getting the things like a house and home are only steps in the path the Lord has laid before us. My real yearning, the real thing I want to accomplish to be like Paul when he was faced with his impending execution for being a Christian and preaching the gospel:

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing." (2 Tim 4:7-8)

Lord Jesus, thank You for reminding me today that You are my ultimate provider. Not employment or a company -- those are simply vehicles. Each day, let us praise You for Your provision and rest when we are struggling to pay the bills. When times are tough, we are given the chance to build our character and our faith. Thank You Lord for all that You are doing in our lives everyday. We don't deserve the blessings, consideration and love You have showered on us. Truly it is blessing. In Jesus' name, AMEN.

Escaping the Torment of Hell - Christ's Ultimate Gift

24"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life."

28"Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth -- those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation."

(John 5:24,28-29)

In churches these days we hear a lot about living the Christian life. Mostly, it's because we as a society are most curious about how to live since it's the most applicable part of the Bible for us on a day to day basis. However, the larger point of the coming of Jesus revolves around our salvation from a life of impending death, to life everlasting.

We are all moving along in the world toward death. It is a certainty that we will all die - no matter who we are in the world and no matter what we might accomplish; death awaits. In the beginning of the world, God created us for eternal life, but because of the disobedience of Adam, death entered into the world and our life became a cycle with a certain impending ending.

But we are still eternal creatures because we have a spirit given to us from God. Where will that spirit go? Christ has restored us to eternal life in God's presence because He died in our place (and rose again to show that His redemption really works). God is the only one who can create and give life; when we are with Him in eternity, we will have life coursing through us eternally.

However, what happens to us when we choose not to come to Christ and reject God? We are given precisely what we ask for -- an eternity without God. Unfortunately, that will result in condemnation with Satan and his demons because they have also rejected God. Now, it may be fine for a person to want to be left alone in eternity (or at least that would be what they think is fine), but would they really want to be in a place where Satan and demons reign over them -- hating them because they bear the image of God?

It is at that point that the loneliness and depression of being away from God the life-giver is multiplied into torment from powerful demons. There are deep implications that come with the rejection of Christ.

Sometimes I wish that Hell was made clear from the pulpit on a regular basis. Without knowing what God says about Hell, we don't know the deep extent of His great love for us and for our fellow man. I must admit that while I have the confidence and peace that comes from knowing Christ, assuredly knowing that my eternity will be with Him - I lose focus about what that means for those who do not choose Christ.

It is not a political argument or simply a religious discussion. Helping people to know Christ and receive Him as Lord and Saviour brings souls to eternal life - while allowing non-Christians to make a choice to reject God without the facts brings them condemnation...

Lord Jesus, I am having some difficulty with today's lesson because I know that I'm not sure how to help those around me in the best way. I know that the power to save does not come from my hands, so I do not worry about that, but what is it that I should do today? Whatever it is, please help me to know it and have the courage to do it. In the name of my Saviour and Lord, Christ Jesus, AMEN.