Needs and provisions

How many of you remember the story of the children of Israel who were slaves in Egypt?

For years they worked and toiled under terrible conditions. Eventually, the Lord prepared Moses to go to the Pharoah and ask that the people be let go. Pharoah refused and God sent plagues upon the land. After the death of his son, Pharoah finally let the Israelites go free. But because of their unbelief and mistrust, the people ended up wandering around in the wilderness for forty years.

Worry, provision, and contentment all seem to go together somehow. Even though they murmured and complained, the Lord provided fresh manna and quail for them to eat on a daily basis. Their clothes and shoes never wore out. They never went hungry. God provided for them because He wanted them to learn to trust and thank Him and to know that He would take care of them

Is it any different today? Do we grumble, complain, worry, stress out, become overwhelmed, or feel like we are facing the impossible?

Do you realize that suicide among young people today ages 10 to 24 is the third largest cause of death in this country alone? Are we so dependent upon ourselves to take care of everything that we have lost faith in our Heavenly Father?

When will we ever learn to trust in the Lord, lean completely upon Him, take our concerns and lay them at His feet, and believe that He will provide like His Word says? If we don’t believe this and teach these truths to our children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren, we will have robbed ourselves and the futures of those following us of knowing that God is in charge, He can take care of us and help us, and He does care what happens to us. This is His promise to us if we will just believe. Everyone has needs, but God provides answers.

Audrey B. Unruh is a local columnist, who can be reached at zwiebach@charter.net