My mom always said I was scornful. (She had a way with words; scornful was a fancier term for saying I was picky). It wasn't "have it your way at our house"; whatever she made for dinner was what we ate.
I always despised discernible fat on meat; if I could see it, I wasn't eating it. Growing up, a cut of beef called salt beef was popular for a while. It was flavorful but lined with fat. Never touched it, or I tried unsuccessfully to remove the fat. Then there was okra; it was slimy and I never enjoyed it. If it looked gross, I turned my face up, picked around it, and only ate what I found palatable.
So I can't imagine being fed by ravens like Elijah was. After Elijah announced to King Ahab that there would be a famine, God instructed him to go to a brook, and the ravens would provide food for him there (I Kings 17:1-6). As God promised, the ravens - an unclean, scavenger, corpse-eating bird - brought him bread and meat in the morning, and in the evening he would drink from the brook. I have imagery from a Bible storybook I read as a child where these birds carry this food in their beaks and drop it off to Elijah. If I were Elijah, I would have so many questions - where is this bread coming from? Is it clean? What kind of meat is this? How do I clean it? Can I eat this? Yes, I was scornful!!!
God's provision is not always what we're familiar with or what we think it should be, but it is what we need. This food sustained Elijah while increasing his dependency on God. He became more attuned to the word of God.
When Jesus promised the gift of the Holy Spirit to his disciples, they had no idea what He was talking about, yet it was the best gift he left them and us. Through Him, we live and have our being; through his Spirit, we are empowered. Because we have the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, we are equipped for the journey ahead. We are equipped to handle whatever life throws at us. Just like Elijah was.
In this season, I'm relearning how God's provision can take many forms, sometimes showing up as ravens with much-needed bread. It may be a no to something I thought I needed; it may be a yes to an unexpected opportunity; it may be peace during a storm; it may be friends showing up when you need them; it may be a kind word from a neighborly messenger; it may simply be a change in perspective so I see his Hand of provision. Sometimes I justify my rejection of God's provision by saying I'm a picky eater. While that may be true, God is a good God; so despite our pickiness, we aren't left wanting.
Drink from the brook and eat what the ravens bring you, for I have commanded them to bring you food. (1 Kings 17:4)
Ultimately, my likes and dislikes won't matter if I'm willing to trust God. Are you trusting God to provide?
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Love this analogy here today! Oh my am I a picky eater sometimes when it comes to God's provision. Great thoughts and encouragement, thank you!
ReplyDeleteHow often do I correct my kids when they complain about their food, but I do the exact same thing to God's provision! Thank you for the helpful reminder.
ReplyDeleteI can be picky, too, particularly, when it comes to what I think might not be clean or have been in the fridge for more than a couple of days, so I'm with you on the raven thing. But, by the grace of God, he has taught me that what he provides really is just what I need. Not that I've arrived or never struggle with it, but I know it to be true.
ReplyDeleteThanks for reframing this, in the lands of plenty we should be grateful for the bounty we have.
ReplyDeleteNylse, I love the connection you make here. This>>"God's provision is not always what we're familiar with or what we think it should be, but it is what we need. " Is so true.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for sharing this with Sweet Tea & Friends March Link-Up.
Nylse, such a good post. "God's provision is not always what we're familiar with or what we think it should be, but it is what we need." So true - He will always give us what we need. "God is a good God; so despite our pickiness, we aren't left wanting." I am a picky eater so this post so resonated with me. I am so very grateful that despite my pickiness, God always fills me and never leaves me wanting. Thank you for sharing this post!
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