I know we "know" that God provides for our needs, but sometimes we can't see how it's going to work out. Sometimes we have walked away from our life with God and don't think we should call to Him. Sometimes we have walked so far away and are so spiritually dry and weak that we can't call out to Him. Well, guess what. There is good news.
Isaiah 41: 17-20
17 The poor and needy seek water, but there is none, their tongues fail for thirst. I, the Lord, will hear them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.
Let's stop there. This along is enough to make me say "Praise the Lord" as I have experienced this myself. We know from many scriptures in the New Testament that the tongue is important in our relationship with God. It is with the tongue we are defiled, because out of the mouth speaks the abundance of the heart. However, we can surrender our tongue to God and confess Him with our mouth, in fact we are commanded to do so. When we have no words to say and can only cry "Jesus" He hears and answers. But what about those times when we can't even open our mouths? We have been bruised, battered, and broken or we have simply just chosen to live life without God to the point we have no way to get back. We don't know where to turn, can barely think, and much less make sense. This is where God comes in. Actually, He is always there. He tells us He will hear us even when our tongues fail. He can hear our heart. How close do to you to be to someone to hear their heart? How well do you have to know someone to know what is really going on in their heart and mind? That means that no matter how far we have strayed from Him, He has never left us. God loves us so much He will walk through valleys, across deserts, and over mountains just so He can be there to hear the last feeble faint cry for Him. What an amazing love!
Well, it's wonderful to know He hears us, but what next? What hoops to we have to jump through, what tasks do we have to check off to get where we can live with Him again?
18 I will open rivers in desolate heights, and fountains in the midst of the valleys; I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water.
19 I will plant in the wilderness the cedar and the acacia tree, the myrtle and the oil tree; I will set in the desert the cypress tree and the pine and the box tree together,
20 That they may see and know, and consider and understand together, that the hand of the Lord has done this, and the Holy One of Israel has created it.
After He hears us, He provides for us. Often at that point of weakness we don't know where to turn to be fed and watered. I'm sure a lot of wives and mothers can relate. You forget to eat and now have to find food and prepare it, but you're so hungry you can't think straight (which is why we eat too much fast food, but that's another issue). We can be that way spiritually. If we have walked so far from the spiritual "kitchen" or "store" that our mouths can't even call out, how can we know which way to go? In vs. 18 & 19 He tells us He will create what we need where we are, right there in that deserted place, the place of hurt, confusion, and doubt. He will give us water. When your body has gotten to that point, all it can accept is fluids until it's stronger. God knows how weak we are. Just like He won't give us more trials than we can handle, He isn't going to add to our confusion by giving us more spirituality than we can handle. God is so tender with us it's almost unfathomable.
After reviving us with that miraculously created spiritual water He will see to our needs. At first glance it appears He provides us with shelter in the desert by giving all these trees, and He is. However, there is more to it than that. He listed specific trees for a reason. I mean, would God really just waste words? If He said something, there is a reason. So after a little research I found these trees listed have multiple uses. Cedar wood is used for shelter and the oil is used to keep away destructive moths and as an antiseptic. Acacia trees can provide protein, have medicinal values, and the structure of the tree itself it's a natural defense because of the thorns. Myrtle has long been used in different ways in different cultures for the purposes of healing, strength, and vitality. Oil is used for cooking, healing, preserving. Cypress wood is durable and easy to carry. It's also resistant to moisture damage and is a great fire wood. The inner bark and seeds of pine are a good food source, and occasionally sugar crystals form on the leaves. Right there is proof that God knows we need a little extra sweetness some times. Pine is also used in medicines and every day items such as clothing, canoes, baskets, and cooking boxes.
So, not only does God stay close enough to hear our heart's cry and create water for our thirst, He then provides for life with food, shelter, clothing, warmth, and tools. This isn't just physical provision. He has given us His Word, the Bible, the apostles and prophets, and teachers, pastors, and evangelists. Most importantly, we have the Holy Spirit. He provides all these things to us, in the desert, just so we will know and understand His greatness and the greatness of His love for us.
In closing, even when we have left a life with God, He loves us enough to stay so close He can hear our heart's cry. Upon hearing that cry He then revives us with His water, refreshing and renewing our spirit. Then He continues to provide what we need to live a life with Him, both spiritually and physically, shelter, food, warmth, defense, healing, clothing, and tools. He does it all. He is all.
Thank You, Lord, for Your loving kindness and tender mercies. Hallelujah to Your name.
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