“He that feeds his birds will never starve his babes.” Matthew Henry – Commentary on the Whole Bible (1706)
How often we have heard and/or spoken the phrase, “God will provide”. We believe it and wait to receive it, as we should. But what are we waiting for? What if the provision has already been made? Can it be proven? Let's take a look.
“And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.” Genesis 1:31
I love to begin at the world's beginning because we can find the answers to many questions there. Why? Because in the beginning, God did everything. Period! Now allow me to expound upon this.
God's Provision of a Home
“He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.” Ecclesiastes 3:11
Just as a good parent provides for their children, before God created Adam, He provided for him. God began with a residence, the heavens, and the earth. How often do we consider the complexity of that one act of provision alone? God did not simply form a big blue marble. He considered every detail. Without getting too technical, the earth is covered by several layers of atmosphere.
This is the atmospheric heaven, the first of the three heavens (2 Corinthians 12:2). These layers protect everything on earth from radiation and intense heat. Without them, life could not exist. It contains the air we breathe and the moisture we need. As he divided the waters, He took some of the moisture and placed it above us as clouds. The rest He placed on the earth as rivers, lakes, oceans, and seas and under the earth in caverns and aquifers.
Remember the flood? God simply undid everything He did when He divided the waters! The earth was without form (shapeless) and void (empty), not just because it was dark, but because the waters covered everything leaving no discernible substance or shape (the deep). When the waters were separated, the ground was uncovered and dried. It was ready for life to come forth…
God's Provision of Time
God knew life would require seasons. This required time. So He created lights. They were multipurpose. The sun provides light for sight and growth and heat for comfort. The moon provides light in the darkness by reflecting sunlight and controls the ocean tides, keeping them contained. Both provide a measurement for the passage of time. The moon shines or rules for 12 hours (evening) and the sun rules for 12 hours (morning). These form our days (Genesis 1:14-18). Never mind the fact that they don’t measure exactly according to the clock. That is man’s manipulation of the day to serve his own purpose. This is my thought… Time is only necessary because of the need of man’s to account for his days after the fall. Yet He made provision before it became necessary!
“LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am.” Psalms 39:4
God Provision of Food
From the dry ground, God caused dew to form, which watered it. And from the ground came plant life. This provided food for every living creature. It was God’s plan for everything to eat what grows from the ground, not each the animals! In the new earth, creation will return to that ideal.
“Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things.” Genesis 9:3
God Provision of Companionship
In the Garden, God formed beasts of the field and flying fowl. I have a separate thought concerning the forming of the creatures in Genesis 2:19. I believe God did something special here, but I will reserve it for the future after further study. God brought these creatures to Adam for naming and to keep him company. But none could provide Adam with the companionship he needed. This is because God created us like Himself, in that He desired someone to love and to love Him in return. And as you can imagine, there was somewhat of a communication issue! So instead of forming another creature from the dust, God formed Eve from Adam. This was so they could be formed from the exact same source, be genetically similar, and of the same flesh.
“And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.” Genesis 2:23
God's Provision is Perfect
He created the earth with a perfect environment for not only us, but for all life at the same time! He made all things perfect because there is one thing He did not provide for. He did not provide for lack. He created enough of everything for everything; environment, food, water, shelter. The environment is an enclosed, self-regenerating ecosystem. Food reproduces itself. Water is recycled. Shelter can be sourced or created from the environment. Even companionship is replenished in that all creatures reproduce their kind! There is nothing God did not provide for (Matthew 6:25-32).
God's Provision for All
“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.” Psalms 23:1
God is a provider. All of mankind, whether they believe in and/or serve Him or not, are beneficiaries of His grace and provision. The hunger and lack we see in the world is not from a lack of God’s provision. It’s from a lack of love and proper stewardship. Think about it. How can there be hunger when countries waste tons of food and other resources annually, if not daily? It’s not because God didn’t provide, but because starting with Cain, mankind stopped caring and sharing as a race; the human race! The engine of love powers everything. Love provided when there was nothing. Love continues to provide. God shared His provision with us. It is up to us to carry on God’s legacy of love and share His provision with others. With that being said, God also provided a way of escape from death for us all. Death is the penalty for sin handed down from God's created son, Adam. He provided the way through His only begotten Son, Jesus. Even this was provided before man was created. This is another proof that God does not provide on the fly. He provided all things and for all things from the beginning.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16
“For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.” Hebrews 4:3
“And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” Revelation 13:8
So you see, God left nothing undone. There is nothing He did not think of. There is no provision He did not supply for. God truly provided for all! I hope this post was helpful. Thank you for visiting!