The Great Provider

Scripture:
“Now the wife of one of the sons of the prophets cried to Elisha, ‘Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the Lord, but the creditor has come to take my two children to be his slaves.’ … She came and told the man of God, and he said, ‘Go, sell the oil and pay your debts, and you and your sons can live on the rest.’” — II Kings 4:1-7 

Observation:
The whole Bible is full of God being the One who provides — when there is no possible way, he makes a way. Here is the story of God providing for a widow so that she doesn’t have to give up her sons to her creditor. Elijah tells her to gather up all the empty vessels from all her neighbors and use the jar of oil she has to fill them up. The oil keeps coming and coming until she fills up the last vessel. Even though there are hundreds of these stories throughout the bible and still more since then, it continues to serve as a reminder that God is more than able to provide, even if and often times, especially, when I don’t see a way — leaving me the only option of leaning on him and giving him all the glory knowing he will meet the need. 

Application:
One would think that with hundreds and thousands of testimonies of how God provided in the lives of others and even myself, I wouldn’t panic when a situation arose where I needed his provision. Why is my faith so little? And my memory so short-term? He’s always met my needs. Always. Always. Always.  

Prayer:
Father God, you are the Great Provider. You are more than capable of providing a way and making it so obvious that it came from you so that it leaves no doubt that you are the only one worthy of receiving the praise and glory. Help me to be quick to remember your faithfulness and to truly trust in you when you assure me that you’ve got me covered. You always provide for your people, when they come to you. Thank you for being a great Father.

— Jared Yates, college & single adult pastor, Reservoir campus