Sometimes it is difficult to trust the Lord for financial provision, although He promises to take care of our needs over and over in the Bible. This fact is something we must get in our spirit, lay hold of, now before a time of real economic crisis.<\/p>\n
Revelation 6:5-6<\/strong> describes a coming financial crisis: \u201cWhen the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” I looked, and there before me was a black horse! Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures, saying, “A quart of wheat for a day’s wages, and three quarts of barley for a day’s wages, and do not damage the oil and the wine!”<\/strong><\/p>\n The black horse is a symbol of famine, with the scale a symbol of shortage of food and rise in price. A liter of flour was considered a day\u2019s wages by the Greek historians Herodotus and Diogenes, and barley flour was considered the food of the poor (2 Kings 7:1<\/strong>, 16<\/strong>, 18 John 6:9<\/strong>, 13<\/strong>) and used to feed animals (1 Kings 5:8<\/strong>). There is no consensus about the meaning of \u201cdo not damage the oil and the wine!\u201d<\/strong><\/em>\u2014it could mean that the oil and wine are to be used sparingly in time of famine. It is interesting that both oil and wine are symbols of the Holy Spirit. It is also interesting to note that war (2nd seal) preceded this famine and death (4th seal) followed.<\/p>\n God\u2019s children would do well to memorize and meditate on the following passages: \u201cThe days of the blameless are known to the LORD, and their inheritance will endure forever. In times of disaster they will not wither; in days of famine they will enjoy plenty\u2026If the LORD delights in a man’s way, he makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand. I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread.\u201d Psalm 37:18-25<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cThough the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food,\u00a0 though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD,I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights.\u201d Habakkuk 3:17-19 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? \u201cRejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.\u201d Philippians 4:4-7<\/strong><\/p>\n The whole Bible is a story of God\u2019s blessings on those who choose to believe in Him: The Bible gives more examples, and, I\u2019m sure, we can each give our own testimony of God\u2019s wonderful provisions. We need to remember these when we begin to doubt His love and care.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Sometimes it is difficult to trust the Lord for financial provision, although He promises to take care of our needs over and over in the Bible. This fact is something we must get in our spirit, lay hold of, now before a time of real economic crisis. Revelation 6:5-6 describes a coming financial crisis: \u201cWhen<\/p>\n
\n\u201cThe LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff,\u00a0 they comfort me5 You prepare a table before me\u00a0 in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me\u00a0 all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.\u201d Psalm 23<\/strong><\/p>\n
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\n“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, `What shall we eat?’ or `What shall we drink?’ or `What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.\u201d Matthew 6:25-34 Luke 12:22-29<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nHe provided His people with food from heaven for 40 years (Exodus 16:11-35<\/strong>). \u201cMen ate the bread of angels; he sent them all the food they could eat.\u201d Psalm 78:25<\/strong>
\nHe had Elijah provide for a widow (1 Kings 17:10-16<\/strong>).
\nHe provided food that lasted for forty days for Elijah (1 Kings 19:5-8<\/strong>)
\nJesus made a little into much: Feeding of the Five Thousand (Matthew 14:13-21 Mark 6:30-44 Luke 9:10-17<\/strong>) and the Four Thousand (Matthew 15:29-39 Mark 8:1-10<\/strong>).<\/p>\n