“For since the beginning of the world men have not heard nor perceived by the ear, nor has the eye seen any God besides You, Who acts for the one who waits for Him.” Isaiah 64:4

Provider

Cultivating Awe and Reverence for God, Day 19

Walk his Way revisited —First posted in January, 2017

I never watch the news and read very few newspaper articles, but it isn’t hard to figure out that the world is, at times, a scary place to live. I won’t waste your time detailing the horrors of even the most recent events—the famines, the wars, the diseases, the troubling way man treats fellow man. If left to ourselves, there is no hope.

Our great God knew it would be this way before He created us. He knew once Adam sinned, there would be no stopping us from digging our own graves. Once the beautiful, perfect planet He gave man was sullied by disobedience, all things would begin to deteriorate. We would never be good enough, strong enough, or wise enough to accomplish true improvements or lasting change. We can’t provide it if we lack it ourselves.

But our God is Provider! Jehovah Jireh—“the Lord will provide.” Provide a place for us and our little ones. Provide our daily bread. Provide an inheritance. Provide a Savior. Provide a home in eternity. Provide protection from the enemy. Provide superabundance, guidance, a road map for life, treasures of goodness, feasts for our spirit, a safe tower, wisdom, fellowship, healing, overflowing blessings both temporal and eternal, and a spiritual family. This is only a partial list of what is mentioned in Scripture that the Giver has provided.

I learned in the daily devotional Days of Praise (published by Institute for Creation Research) that in the Hebrew language, there is not a specific verb form to designate the future tense; thus, when we say, “The Lord will provide,” we could just as well be saying, “The Lord is providing.” This is another fascinating look at the way God dwells outside of time. Our sense of past, present, and future do not constrain Him in any way. He truly knows what we need before we need it. He knows our thoughts before we do. He knows the words we will speak before we speak them. It isn’t only that He is omniscient, knowing all things, but He is “before all things” (Colossians 1:17). He was literally in this very place in “time” before it came to be.

The Lord is providing—working on our behalf to be sure what we need is there when we need it. What a magnificent display of His never-ending goodness! “For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord will give grace and glory; no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly” (Psalm 84:11).

He has given us a sure promise in His Word: “It shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear” (Isaiah 65:24).

God, we could never recount to You all the things You provide for us. We are truly thankful that You are our Provider. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.