August 10 Believe God

1 Kings 17:7 And after a while the brook dried up, because there was no rain in the land.

Uh-oh. We just looked at the ways the Lord provided for Elijah as the ravens fed him in the wilderness, and he drank from a brook. Now what do we say? The brook is dray. Water is gone for Elijah. Where is the Lord's provision? The short answer is, "God's provision is in the drought."

       To help us see how this is true, let's go back to the Exodus journey, much of which was through a desert. A well-known aspect of that journey is how God provided manna - a form of wafer-like sweet bread - to his people daily. Save for the Sabbath day, Israel collected it each morning as it fell dew-like upon the land.

       Three lessons come from the manna provision and Elijah's circumstance to help us understand how God's provision is in the drought. First, you see God's provision of your daily bread. Each day the bread came to Israel. Each day bread came to Elijah. The wilderness was no obstacle for God. Elijah will see how the drought will be no obstacle to the Lord as he will continue to provide Elijah's daily bread.

       Second, God provides true promises. Through Moses, God promised he would deliver the manna, and he did. Through Elijah, God promised Israel there would be a three-year drought. He promised Elijah he would care for him. God is true to his promises in judgment and in salvation.

       Third, trust the provision of God's commands. With the manna, God obeyed his own command to "Remember the Sabbath." He gave to Israel a double-portion of manna to gather on the sixth day of the week. Some did not believe and went out to get more on the Sabbath. The Lord rebuked them for their lack of faith. (Exodus 16:29) Israel's obedience restored order to the camp. The people rested, and God provided. Elijah obeyed the Lord's command to go to the desert. He did so, and God blessed him.

       God took Israel and Elijah into desert experiences, so they would truly know that even in drought, the Lord provides. Sometimes he takes us into a desert experience, too, for the same reason. Learn from this Scripture that if you are seeking answers to deal with a dry and weary time in your life, then believe God. His words are true. Know he has spoken to show you out of the drought. God's promises and commands provide order and blessing to your life.

       We'll see further evidence of this as God takes Elijah on the next step in his faith journey.

Prayer: Thank you, Father, for sending Jesus to fulfill your promise of providing a Savior, who feeds us the eternal Bread of Life. In his name we pray, amen.

August 10

Believe God

 

1 Kings 17:7 And after a while the brook dried up, because there was no rain in the land.

 

Uh-oh. We just looked at the ways the Lord provided for Elijah as the ravens fed him in the wilderness, and he drank from a brook. Now what do we say? The brook is dray. Water is gone for Elijah. Where is the Lord's provision? The short answer is, "God's provision is in the drought."

           To help us see how this is true, let's go back to the Exodus journey, much of which was through a desert. A well-known aspect of that journey is how God provided manna - a form of wafer-like sweet bread - to his people daily. Save for the Sabbath day, Israel collected it each morning as it fell dew-like upon the land.

           Three lessons come from the manna provision and Elijah's circumstance to help us understand how God's provision is in the drought. First, you see God's provision of your daily bread. Each day the bread came to Israel. Each day bread came to Elijah. The wilderness was no obstacle for God. Elijah will see how the drought will be no obstacle to the Lord as he will continue to provide Elijah's daily bread.

           Second, God provides true promises. Through Moses, God promised he would deliver the manna, and he did. Through Elijah, God promised Israel there would be a three-year drought. He promised Elijah he would care for him. God is true to his promises in judgment and in salvation.

           Third, trust the provision of God's commands. With the manna, God obeyed his own command to "Remember the Sabbath." He gave to Israel a double-portion of manna to gather on the sixth day of the week. Some did not believe and went out to get more on the Sabbath. The Lord rebuked them for their lack of faith. (Exodus 16:29) Israel's obedience restored order to the camp. The people rested, and God provided. Elijah obeyed the Lord's command to go to the desert. He did so, and God blessed him.

           God took Israel and Elijah into desert experiences, so they would truly know that even in drought, the Lord provides. Sometimes he takes us into a desert experience, too, for the same reason. Learn from this Scripture that if you are seeking answers to deal with a dry and weary time in your life, then believe God. His words are true. Know he has spoken to show you out of the drought. God's promises and commands provide order and blessing to your life.

           We'll see further evidence of this as God takes Elijah on the next step in his faith journey.

 

Prayer: Thank you, Father, for sending Jesus to fulfill your promise of providing a Savior, who feeds us the eternal Bread of Life. In his name we pray, amen.