Is it Provision or Blessed Provision?

Yahweh-Yireh (The Lord Will Provide) is the name Abraham gave the place where he almost sacrificed his only son of promise, Isaac. On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided is a prophecy of how God would some day truly sacrifice His only Son, that we might be redeemed. Abraham had told Isaac that God Himself would provide the Lamb for the burnt offering! The ultimate provision! Did you know provision means “to see beforehand?” God knows/sees the future and thus anticipates our every need, including sacrifice and redemption!

Yet Abraham, a mere mortal with no corporate protection, knew what most exalted corporate giants do not comprehend. Obeying God brings blessed provision. My emphasis is on blessed!

This same theme was found in the story of “Faith Like Potatoes.” Angus Buchan, a hot-headed Scotsman farming in South Africa is transformed when he lives a life of obedience and faith in God. During a drought, on his farm with no irrigation, God commands him to trust in Him and plant potatoes which require much rain/irrigation. Potatoes grow underground and you cannot see if they are thriving until you dig them up.

Angus obeyed God knowing that if this potato crop failed, he would lose his farm and destroy the means of support for many. During the harvest, he was blessed with the provision of many potatoes that helped not only provide for his family and workers' families, but also for an orphanage full of children on their farm. There is much more to this story, but every detail is about their lives surrendered in obedience to God and their faith being strengthened through it, as well as all of those who came into contact with them.

Most Christians will struggle their entire life fighting against rebellion towards God. The natural, sinful urge within desires control and to exert sole authority in one's life in preference to obeying God.

We have two kinds of “Christians” with money, both receive their provision from God, yet not both are blessed by God. One type uses their money to gain control and require people to acknowledge them for their wealth and generosity. They are like the pharisee on the street giving alms for all to notice. It is for their own glory, yet cloaked in righteous deeds. The other type would rather keep secret how much they do for God, as they want Him alone to receive the glory. They are humble before God walking in obedience to His Word and experience a deeper blessing.

“...for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” Matt 5:45

Do we only yearn for His provision such as He gives to even the evil and unrighteous? Or do we prefer His blessing?

Many of us have heard the teachings of prosperity and they appeal to us. God wants to bless you financially if you will just tithe to their ministry! These teachers neglect to show you the thousands suffering poverty and imprisonment undergoing persecution around the world who follow Jesus passionately. The persecuted church knows more about sacrificial giving than most of us in free nations could ever fathom. Yet they are not wealthy with material provision! Why not? Does God's windows only open over the USA, Canada, Europe, and Australia? Nonsense!

God said He would provide for our needs, not all of our wants and our selfish desires. When the Bible says to "delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart", one better stop and ponder this verse. If you are delighting (taking pleasure) in the Lord with your “self”, then you are surrendered to Him, not your “self.” Your relationship with Him is what brings you pleasure and delight, not the things of this world. Thus, the desires of your heart will be His desires, not all those material or selfish things. The condition of obedience comes before the promise of blessing!

Are you walking in obedience like Abraham? Do you apply faith to that obedience? Have you considered God's servant Job? Could you say, “The Lord gives, the Lord takes away, Blessed be the Name of the Lord” in the midst of tragedy? What did Abraham and Job know that made them humble servants who would surrender all to God Almighty?

Integrity is described as doing the right thing even when nobody is looking. Obedience is doing God's will even if everybody is watching and nobody supports you or thinks is it wisdom! We have a living example of that kind of obedience in Angus Buchan and his potatoes. If we are obeying and blessing God in our daily walk, even during our petty grievances, then we are more likely to obey Him with more and bless Him even when we have less. This was the heart that was in Abraham and Job. This is the heart that is in Angus and Jill Buchan! Lord, I want that kind of heart in me!

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,” Eph 1:3