How have you seen God's provision in your life? Post your comments and encourage someone today.
Genesis 1:29-30, “Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.” God not only created man, He provided food for him to eat.
The purpose of God’s provision is to meet man’s need. The botanist Ray tells us that he counted 2000 grains of maize on a single plant of maize sprung from one seed, 4000 seeds on one plant of sunflower, 32,000 seeds on a single poppy plant, and 36,000 seeds on a single poppy plant, and 36,000 seeds on one plant of tobacco. Pliny tells us that a Roman governor in Africa sent to the Emperor Augustus a single plant of corn with 340 stems, bearing 340 – that is to say, at least 60,000 grains of corn had been produced from a single seed. In modern times, 12,700 grains have been produced by a single grain of the famous corn of Smyrna. In eight years, as much corn might spring from one seed as to supply all mankind with bread for a year and a half.
Another purpose of God’s provision is to show God’s love. One of the great objects of creation was to show God’s love to the world. God’s love is manifest in the miracle of nourishment. Salt which is nourishing to the body is composed of two ingredients which would be poison if taken separately (Sodium and Hydrochloric acid).
The atheistic attitude towards God’s provision is one of independence. Coleridge wrote concerning this attitude:
“The owlet atheism,
Sailing on obscene wings across the moon,
Drops his blue-fringed lids and shuts them close,
And, hooting at the glorious sun in Heaven,
Cries out, ‘Where is it?’”
The Christian attitude towards God’s provision is faith and trust, obedience and faithful service.
The King of Prussia, while visiting a village in his land, was welcomed by the school children of the place. After their speaker had made a speech for them he thanked them. Then taking an orange from a plate, he asked: “To what kingdom does this belong?” “The vegetable kingdom, sire,” replied a little girl. The king took a gold coin from his pocket and, holding it up, asked: “And to what kingdom does this belong?” “To the mineral kingdom,” said the girl. “And to what kingdom do I belong, then?” Asked the king. The little girl colored deeply, for she did not like to say, “The animal kingdom,” as she thought she would, lest his majesty should be offended. Just then it flashed into her mind that “God made man in His own image,” and looking up with a brightening eye, she said, “To God’s kingdom, sire.” The king was deeply moved. A tear stood in his eye. He placed his hand on the child’s head and said, “God grant that I may be accounted worthy of the kingdom!”