We have been learning God’s attributes and knowing our God is Almighty, Holy, Righteous, Love, and Faithful! Today we will learn another God’s important character: “God is Provider.” Waah, God is our super provider. Then what does “provider” mean? Oh, Ariel said it is the person gives us our need. Yes, God is the one provides our need so that we can live peacefully in the world. We call our God “Jehovah-Jireh” means “God will provide.” There are so many people in the world, how could God feed them and satisfy their need? Well, remember the story Israel got out of Egypt and wandered 40 years in the wilderness? Who provided food and clothing to the millions of the Israelites? Commander would like to have Timothy read Bible Deuteronomy 29:2-6, 9 for us:
“2 Moses summoned all the Israelites and said to them:
Your eyes have seen all that the Lord did in Egypt to Pharaoh, to all his officials and to all his land. 3 With your own eyes you saw those great trials, those signs and great wonders. 4 But to this day the Lord has not given you a mind that understands or eyes that see or ears that hear. 5 Yet the Lord says, “During the forty years that I led you through the wilderness, your clothes did not wear out, nor did the sandals on your feet. 6 You ate no bread and drank no wine or other fermented drink. I did this so that you might know that I am the Lord your God.” (v. 2-6)
“9 Carefully follow the terms of this covenant, so that you may prosper in everything you do.” (v. 9)
Thank you, Timothy, for a good Bible reading! Remember, we just learned about God is faithful and love, and He is almighty, therefore, He can provide sufficient food and drink for Israelites throughout their wandering in the wilderness for 40 years. What kind of food God provided to Israelites? Oh yeah, manna, God even provided quail meat for them, right? God provided sufficient water to them, as well. In the desert, totally no water, no river, God made water out from rock for them. Because He is almighty! Israelites’ sandals and clothes were never worn out. The Lord God is their God and their provider, He wanted them not worry about eating, drinking, clothing. Instead, God wanted them to obey His covenant and commands. In the New testament, Jesus came to the world and revealed God’s attributes to the people in the world. From Jesus people could see the characters of God knowing God is almighty, holy, love, faithful, and He is provider, as well. Today commander have invited two of my friends Tubby and Gabby to our children church. You know what, they are talking about Jesus’ showing an incredible miracle. Let’s find out what the miracle is.
— – Puppet show –
Waah, what a miracle Jesus performed with only 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish He fed more than 5 thousand of people who were hungry to death and there were still 12 baskets of leftover. God cares for us, before we asked he already know our need. just as He required the ancient Israelites to not worry about eating and drinking but obey His covenant and commands, He has been providing our daily need, and we don’t need to worry about tomorrow but seek first His kingdom righteousness. We can read Matthew 5:31-33 together, “So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. “ Remember, our God is almighty provider, we can just trust in Him and obey His covenant and commands first – don’t worry about our daily need, even at this pandemic moment, God still provide our daily need sufficiently.
Now knowing our God is our provider, what shall we respond to Him? Commander have 4 points for you to do:
- Do not worry – Are you afraid that your dad may lose his job, the pandemic is so severe that we may have no food to eat. Jesus already reminded us “do not worry about tomorrow.” As 1 Peter 5:7, “ Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” Either in abundance or in want, we can be rejoicing always, for we know God is our provider!
- Do not waste – Jesus fed thousands of people and then He asked disciples to collect all the leftover into 12 baskets. Jesus showed a good example for us that He would never waste any food. Therefore, we have to take good care of God’s provision without spoiling any.
- Be thankful – Ancient Israelites received God’s provision instead of giving thanks, they kept complaining and grumbling. This made God very sad and angry! And it turned out to trigger God’s anger against them and they had to receive God’s punishment, until Moses pleaded God for forgiveness. Think about this when Jesus fed 5000 people with bread and fish and someone among them complained, “Jesus why you don’t give us steak and shrimp?” I believe Jesus would be very sad and angry hearing those complaints and He will take back all the food from them and even worse He would issue a punishment. Are you complaining saying, “why my friends have a big house, and I just only live in a rented apartment?” Don’t you believe that God provides you all your need with love? Then be thankful and be content!
- Be generous – God is our super provider, but Jesus used the little boy’s 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish to multiply them to provide abundant food for feeding more than 5 thousand people. Are you willing to give? are you willing to share? Our giving might be just a little, but God can multiply it to many. Remember God loves generosity.
Boys and girls, since God is our super provider, therefore, 1. Do not worry; 2. Do not waste; 3. Be thankful; 4. Be generous!
Commander have a memory verse for you: Matthew 6:33, let’s say it together: “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. “