God’s Provision In Crisis
The world has been hit with a crisis right now, a pandemic and most economies are crumbling. But does God make provision for his children in times of crisis? Well, we know so; the scriptures tell us so. If that’s correct then let’s examine God’s provision in crisis with relevant examples from scriptures. But much more, you will see what God expects of you if you want to sustain His provision in crisis.
God is all knowing, He can never be taken unawares. Before a crisis hits, He knows and will in keeping with His covenant almost always reveal the situation to His children and will also make a way of escape or sustenance in the midst of the crisis for all that will listen. Plus, even in His mercy, He still makes ways for His children in the midst of the crisis if they did not know about it or if they did not prepare for it as it were. He never leaves nor forsakes you no matter what. (That’s His nature)
The scripture makes it clear that there were several crises during the times of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. There was a famine in the days of Abraham, God made provision for him allowing him to move to Egypt for a while and there He sustained and even increased him more (See Genesis 12:10-20) Then again, there was a crisis (famine) in the time of Isaac. Again, God gave him divine instructions as to what to do, He did, and not only was he sustained in the midst of the crisis, He prospered immensely, became very great that the people and kings of His time were afraid of his – they envied him (See Genesis 26:1-17)
And then came the time of Jacob. The crisis bit the world so hard that the entire family of Jacob hard to move like his grandfather Abraham to Egypt to sojourn a while. But before this time, God had sent Joseph (Jacob’s son whom his brothers sold for envy) ahead of them. God was with Joseph all the way and prosper him in all he does; from Potiphar’s house to being prime minister of Egypt, God was with him blessing his work and efforts. But the question is what was it about Joseph that God saw fit to always bless and reward with results – faithfulness.
Joseph – The Faithful Servant
The number one thing about Joseph was his faithfulness to God and to people. First, he was faithful to his father when he sent him to go check on his brothers and the sheep they are taking care off. When he did not find them where they would usually be, he went the extra mile to looking for them just so he will deliver the father’s message and take words back to their father regarding their safety, well-being and up keep and of the flock. That faithfulness cost him his life – he was sold into slavery by those he went looking for. (See Genesis 37)
In Egypt with Potiphar his master, Joseph served faithfully and the master made him the manager of his house and businesses. (See Genesis 39:4-5) Then again, he was imprisoned for false allegation levied against him by Potiphar’s wife. (See Genesis 39:7-20) Yet, in prison, God brought him into favor with the prison warden that he committed the affairs of the other prisoners to him. And he was so faithful and good that he took responsibility and accountability for everything that was done in the prison by his fellow prisoners so much so that the prison warden did not border to supervise him ((See Genesis 39:21-23).
Of course, you know that he eventually landed in the palace and became the prime minister of Egypt such that God used him to minister and administer his provision in crisis. (See Genesis 41-50) So what was it about this young man that God’s provision in crisis will be administered by him!
Joseph – God’s Manager In Crisis
God always needs a manager. In short, the crisis is a result of bad management. And when God wants to arrest a crisis, he looks for managers to employ. This was why he used Joseph to manage a crisis in his time: Joseph was faithful through hard and honest work (Matthew 24:45, Luke 16:10) we saw Joseph from his Father’s house to be prime minister of Egypt stay faithful in all. Be faithful through hard and honest work. Joseph was faithful in loving his boss.
That was why he did not sleep with Potiphar’s wife and that was why he bought all the land of Egypt for pharaoh and not for himself and also gave him all the money from sales (Genesis 47:14-20). Be faithful in loving your boss. Joseph was faithful in loving his job. God expects you to be faithful in loving your job. (Proverbs 27:23, 28:20). Joseph knew and practiced good administration. (See Genesis 41:37-56) Good administration is central to management. To enjoy and sustain God’s provision in crisis, you must learn administration.
Joseph had and applied God’s wisdom in Crisis (See Genesis 41:33-36, Psalm 105:22). You have God’s wisdom, use it. God does not waste resources, He will provide. But first and foremost, He wants to see the manager spirit in you. And you have to prove that by being faithful in all things, and then by hard and honest work, by love your job, by an understanding of administration, and practice godly wisdom then his abundant provision will eventually come.