GOD WILL PROVIDE

Image CR: Greogry Dickow

​According to Acts chapter 7, verse 11, famine and other troubles occurred that directly affected Jacob’s (Israel) household. The problem was so severe that there was no sustenance anywhere. Despite the severity of the famine, so long as Jacob and his family were in good standing with God and in the place where God called them to be, God provided for them abundantly (Acts 7:12). So, what does Jacob’s circumstance reveal to us? 
​

if you won’t work, you will not eat

​Too often, we think, it is our duty to provide for our families and meet their daily needs. Although, in general, this is true. We are responsible for providing for our families. For the Scriptures say at 2 Thessalonians 3:10
​

“… If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.”
​

​Also, the Scriptures strongly talk against being lazy. For example, at Matthew chapter 25, verses 15, 18 through 19, and 24 through 30 says
​

“And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey…. But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money. After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them. Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’ But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. ‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
​

​So, the Bible talks against laziness, but working to the fullest and effectively and properly using your abilities, gifts, and talents. 
​

there was no sustenance

Similarly, this is no different for us today. When we consider Jacob and his family’s situation mentioned at Acts chapter 7, verses 11 and 12. Things will come up that are beyond our control. When they do, it is not necessarily our job to fix them. Well, it is, but it isn’t. Let me explain so you all don’t think I’m being double-minded. (Compare to James 1:8).

Our part or role when difficulty comes up is to be in the place or go to the place God has called or expects us to be. When we are where God NEEDS US, then we are readily available for God to use us as He NEED for His purpose and Kingdom Work. How He chooses to use us (use our talents, gifts, and abilities), we will benefit directly from the Work produced. I hope that makes sense.
​
In the case of Jacob and his family. During the pre-famine, they all were living in Hebron, the place God had them during that time. Because they were in the place God had and needed them to be, God could sustain and meet their needs. But when the famine hit, the place in which they were, God could no longer sustain them there. The Scriptures reads at verse 11 of Acts chapter 7

“… Our fathers found no sustenance.”
​

Therefore, the place they were, God could and would not any longer provide for them there. So, what did that mean for them?

It meant that Jacob and his family would NOW need to inquire of God to UNDERSTAND what was God going to do NOW AND NEXT. How did the “shift in what God was doing” influence Jacob and his household – His new instruction, guidance, and direction? What God required them to do differently?
​
Jacob had to understand and do whatever God was requiring of him and his family, in that moment, if he wanted to continue to receive God’s blessings, along with new revelations and new bread and wine. Jacob had to shift, move, do something different than he did before when he was in Hebron. Because God was moving Jacob to a new region. And therefore, Jacob had to operate and trust God as Jacob moved and managed his lifestyle differently under God’s covering. 
​

ask yourself

So, ask yourself. Are you willing to move, shift, change direction, and receive new guidance and revelation? To do everything differently when you know God is doing things in a different way? Or, are we that set and suck in our ways?

The danger in such a mindset is. When God is moving and heading in a different direction, we refuse to move and head in the direction God is going. As a result, God can no longer provide and meet our needs. We end up in the same predicament as the first Adam.
​
Remember that? The incident in the Garden? Where God had provided Adam and Eve EVERYTHING they needed and they lacked nothing? In fact, the Scriptures said at verse 25 of Genesis chapter 1. 
​

“… And God saw that it (EVERYTHING HE MADE AND PROVIDED) was good.”
​

EVERYTHING was good and ready to meet ALL the needs of the first human pair – Adam and Eve. They had everything they need.

The point I want you to get is that God did or provided all of the hard work that was required to produce His creative works in the beginning. Now, Adam had his work to do in this process. He had his part. But his part was truly much easily because God had already done all the hard work that was required to make everything function and work as it should.

God had provided all the hard parts of what Adam needed to sustain himself and his family, in order to be happy and live a thriving, successful, and full lifestyle. Adam was in the right place to receive the provisions God had for him. And all Adam had to do was follow God’s instructions and do everything God gave Adam to do.
​
But the moment Adam disobeyed God and decided to do EVERYTHING in his way. The moment he decided to get from under and out of the place God arranged for Adam, God could no longer provide for Adam in the way God had done before. Take this point. God said to Adam shortly after Adam decided to do things his way.
​

​“Cursed is the ground for your sake; In toil you shall eat of it All the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, And you shall eat the herb of the field. In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread Till you return to the ground, For out of it you were taken; For dust you are, And to dust you shall return.” (Genesis 3:17-19).
​

Because of Adam’s disobedience and getting out of the place God had provided for him. Now, he would have to work in a way God never intended Adam to work. Work will now become

​
1. Unfulfilling
2. Hard
3. Dissatisfying
4. No longer would God provide provisions for Adam and his family

​You see, no matter how hard Adam worked – it will never be enough. My brothers, do you not feel like that? That no matter what you do or how you do it, it is never enough? You feel unfulfilled. Life is hard and dissatisfying. Like you cannot provide the provisions your family needs. This is because your land, your work, and everything you try to produce is a curse because of YOUR FATHER’S (Adam) sin. 
​

​“… He never lets the guilty go unpunished, punishing children and grandchildren for their parents’ sins to the third and fourth generation.” [Exodus 34:7 (GW)].
​

You have to understand this! No matter what Adam did, he will never be able to meet or sustain his family because He was out from the place, God told Adam to be. In other way, Adam disobeyed and rejected God’s plan for Adam and his life. He was disobedient! And therefore, God could NO LONGER SUSTAIN Adam and his wife, the way God provided for them before. Adam missed out on ALL of God’s future promises and blessings because he was disobedient; wanted and did things Adam’s way. And therefore, Adam was cursed. BUT GOD!! God did not leave things that way. He provided for Adam another way that eventually broke the curse for him and YOU. Unfortunately, we don’t have the time today to address how God broke that curse.
​
Just know and understand. Because Adam failed to be obedient – to do as God was showing and instructing him. Because Adam had gotten out of his place of provision – GOD COULD NOT PROVIDE. God can only provide for Adam or you, IF YOU ARE IN THE PLACE, God has called you to receive your blessings [(provision(s)]. 
​

god will provide!
​

​This is not different from you. God will provide. But if and only if you stay or go to the place where you are supposed to receive or will receive God’s provisions. Like Jacob, when he realized that God was no longer providing for him and his family in Hebron. Jacob did not sit on his loins and did nothing – ignored God’s new instruction and direction. Because now Jacob realized, he had to uproot 
​

​1. His family
2. His things
3. His mindset
4. His habits
5. His preferences
6. and move from Hebron

​He had to moved from the place he was receiving God’s provisions for him (the old wineskin). NOW, Jacob had to move to Egypt in order to continue to be blessed by God and for God to continue to provide for him and his household (the new wineskin).
​