Have you ever been in a situation where you had a need and you were so confused and consumed with anxiety? You probably mentioned it to everyone and complained about it.

That need might have seemed so impossible to be met, but somehow there was a supply for it right in time and you knew this was the hand of God!

We have seen and established through scripture this week that our God is a good God. One of the ways we can see this is in His providential nature.

One of the best examples of the providential nature of God is in the story of the journey of the Children of Israel. Let’s consider two of the many events.

1. The Falling of Manna from Heaven.

Exodus 16:3
New King James Version
3 And the children of Israel said to them, “Oh, that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots of meat and when we ate bread to the full! For you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.

This was after God had delivered the children of Israel from Egypt. We see the children of Israel complaining to Moses and Aaron that they would starve in the desert. They even wished they were in Egypt.

Reading on, we see the providential nature of God displayed.

Exodus 16:11-15
New King James Version 
11 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,

12 “I have heard the complaints of the children of Israel. Speak to them, saying, ‘At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall be filled with bread. And you shall know that I am the Lord your God.’ ” 

13 So it was that quails came up at evening and covered the camp, and in the morning the dew lay all around the camp.

14 And when the layer of dew lifted, there, on the surface of the wilderness, was a small round substance, as fine as frost on the ground. 

15 So when the children of Israel saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, “This is the bread which the Lord has given you to eat. 

This shows the providential nature of God! God provided manna from Heaven.

Another example to consider is the provision of water during the journey: 

2. Provision of water for the Israelites.

Exodus 17:5-7
New King James Version 
5 And the Lord said to Moses, “Go on before the people, and take with you some of the elders of Israel. Also take in your hand your rod with which you struck the river, and go.

6 Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock in Horeb; and you shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, that the people may drink.” And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.

7 So he called the name of the place Massah and Meribah, because of the contention of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the Lord, saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?”

And so, we see again the providential nature of God in this story. The Israelites had camped at Rephidim but found no water, and they had complained and even quarreled with Moses. God proceeds to provide water for them from a rock.

In the two examples we have considered, we see that these events demonstrate the providential nature of God for His people in basic needs and even in impossible situations.

However, there’s another example we will consider:

Genesis 22:1-2
New King James Version 
1 Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.”

2 Then He said, “Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”

Here, we see God telling Abraham to take his only son, his miracle son and sacrifice him.

A question to ask is: Why would God say that? God knew that Isaac was Abraham’s only child and how long it took him to have Issac. He had also made a covenant with him that through Isaac all the nations of the world would be blessed. Why would God ask Abraham of a child he cherished so much?

What is more shocking is Abraham’s response:

Genesis 22:3 
New King James Version
3 So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son; and he split the wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. 

Abraham set out the next morning, no questions asked, to sacrifice his only son, and this probably doesn’t make any sense to you.

The writer of Hebrews explains this particular story and helps us understand better:

Hebrews 11:17-19
New King James Version
17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, 

18 of whom it was said, “In Isaac your seed shall be called,” 

19 concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.

The writer of Hebrews helps us understand that Abraham had faith, and if God said that in Isaac all the nations of the earth would be blessed and still asks for Isaac’s life, the only possibility is that God wants to raise him from the dead.

This is such a mindset to have and if only we would understand God in this way.

And so, what if, like He did with Abraham, He asks for something you cherish the most? What would be your response? Would you believe in God regardless or would you doubt His word?

Notice that God didn’t give Abraham a reason or tell Abraham that He would raise Isaac; Abraham came to this conclusion himself. Many times, God might not give you a reason, but He expects you to trust and you see, one thing your convictions would always influence are your conclusions.

So, what happens when what’s happening doesn’t mirror all that God has said? What conclusions do you have about God? Can you trust him still? Would you believe that if God has declared it, no matter what it is, He is providential, His name is JIREH!

We see the providence of God in Isaac’s story. How was it that there was a lamb by the bush right in time for the sacrifice? How was it that God stopped Abraham right in time? It’s because God is always on time; He is never late.

Again, we see the providential nature of God in salvation, how he planned for your salvation before you knew you needed it

Romans 5:6 
New King James Version
6 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 

God provided salvation for us even before we knew we needed it! And so it is important that we trust God to provide.

There might be times when God’s providential nature does not show up in the way that you expected it because it’s not what’s best for you, but you can trust that God will always provide for His own.

And so, as you go about your day and the rest of your life, you must come to realise that in the hardest of times, even in situations you don’t understand, your convictions have to influence your conclusions!

God is good, He has always been good, He will forever be good.

Prayer Point
Father, as I go about my day and beyond, I recognise that you are JIREH. I remind my soul that you are good and you would always provide.