Today after nearly 2 months of working from home, I had to go to the office just for the day to pick something. As I got into an almost empty train and was thinking about what has happened in the last few months and how the lives of many have been impacted in various ways God reminded me of the passage in Leviticus on how He promised provision for the Israelites.
The Sabbath of the Seventh Year
“And the Lord spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai, saying, “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘When you come into the land which I give you, then the land shall keep a sabbath to the Lord. Six years you shall sow your field, and six years you shall prune your vineyard, and gather its fruit; but in the seventh year there shall be a sabbath of solemn rest for the land, a sabbath to the Lord. You shall neither sow your field nor prune your vineyard. What grows of its own accord of your harvest you shall not reap, nor gather the grapes of your untended vine, for it is a year of rest for the land. And the sabbath produce of the land shall be food for you: for you, your male and female servants, your hired man, and the stranger who dwells with you, for your livestock and the beasts that are in your land—all its produce shall be for food. Take no usury or interest from him; but fear your God, that your brother may live with you”.
Leviticus 25:1-7
Provisions for the Seventh Year
“So you shall observe My statutes and keep My judgments, and perform them; and you will dwell in the land in safety. Then the land will yield its fruit, and you will eat your fill, and dwell there in safety. ‘And if you say, “What shall we eat in the seventh year, since we shall not sow nor gather in our produce?” Then I will command My blessing on you in the sixth year, and it will bring forth produce enough for three years. And you shall sow in the eighth year, and eat old produce until the ninth year; until its produce comes in, you shall eat of the old harvest”.
Leviticus 25:18-22
There may be some of you who have lost your job and living on the little savings you have, some of you might have borrowed money and living with it, some of you might have exhausted all your avenues and are unsure how you will face the next day, some others may be in uncertainty as there are rumours of jobs being axed in the near future, some of you are worried about the ministry and people God has given under your care who are being affected due to this unprecedented circumstance and some of you didn’t have much to start with and you might be already in poverty.
Today if you find yourself in any of the above, turn to the provider God than to men. Just like God provided for the Israelites, He is able to provide for you.
“Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness”
2 Corinthians 9:10
“The young lions lack and suffer hunger; But those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing”
Psalm 34:10
God provides through various means and at times You will be the one whom God has called to provide to someone else. Don’t say you have very little because God is able to multiply it until this passes away just like the widow in Zarephath who provided for Elijah.
Elijah and the Widow
“Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. See, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you.” So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, indeed a widow was there gathering sticks. And he called to her and said, “Please bring me a little water in a cup, that I may drink.” And as she was going to get it, he called to her and said, “Please bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.” So she said, “As the Lord your God lives, I do not have bread, only a handful of flour in a bin, and a little oil in a jar; and see, I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it, and die.” And Elijah said to her, “Do not fear; go and do as you have said, but make me a small cake from it first, and bring it to me; and afterward make some for yourself and your son. For thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘The bin of flour shall not be used up, nor shall the jar of oil run dry, until the day the Lord sends rain on the earth.’ ” So she went away and did according to the word of Elijah; and she and he and her household ate for many days. The bin of flour was not used up, nor did the jar of oil run dry, according to the word of the Lord which He spoke by Elijah”.
1 Kings 17:8-16
The Cheerful Giver
“But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. As it is written: “He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.” Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God. For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God, while, through the proof of this ministry, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal sharing with them and all men, and by their prayer for you, who long for you because of the exceeding grace of God in you. Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift”!
2 Corinthians 9:6-15
In conclusion, let us open our eyes to see the needs around us. Check on your families, extended families and friends to see how they are doing. If you find a need and if you are able to provide meet that need. No amount of government help can provide for all the lack unless each of us step in and do our part.
“Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come back, And tomorrow I will give it, ” When you have it with you”.
Proverbs 3:28
I pray that God provides for all our needs and we become sensitive to the needs of others just like Jesus did so that we can overcome this crisis together!!
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