God Provides in Strange Ways

You may be wondering how God will provide for you in times of disruption such as we’re experiencing. King David’s world was quickly disrupted when his son, Absalom rebelled and tried to kill him. David, his household and those most loyal to him fled from Jerusalem, crossed over the Jordan River and came to Mahanaim. I’ve read the Bible for years—and just recently saw something very interesting. 2 Samuel 17:27 says, “When David came to Mahanaim, Shobi, the son of Nahash from Rabbah of the Ammonites, and Machir the son of Ammiel from Lo-debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim, brought beds, basins and earthen vessels, wheat, barley, four, parch grain, beans and lentils, honey and curds and sheep and cheese from the herd, for David and for the people with him to eat, for they said, “The people are hungry and weary and thirsty in the wilderness.”

The first person listed who brought food probably brought the most or he would not have been listed first. Who was this guy? The brother of the Ammonite King David had recently conquered! 2 Sam. 12:26-31 tells how David took the crown from the king of the Ammonites and subjected them. That king was Hanun, son of former King Nahash. Now that king’s brother is bringing supplies to save David, and the people with him. Does that sound bizarre? Ravens brought bread and meat twice a day to Elijah when he was hiding in the wilderness, for several months. But this is just as strange—to have the son of an enemy king, recently conquered, bring the life sustaining supplies.

God never gets tired of displaying new ways of sustaining his people. On a trip to Arkansas years ago I met a missionary by the last name of Golden. He told us about bringing medicine for people in Honduras through Mexico and being charged tariffs that took all his food budget. He got the medicine safely to his mission but had no money for food. That’s when they discovered that during their absence pack rats had invaded their home. They found a big rat’s nest of shredded paper behind the kitchen stove with a fresh $20 bill on top. There were no teeth marks on the bill. All together, they found five rat’s nests in their house and in each one was a fresh $20 bill with no teeth marks. God had provided via pack rats!

One of my favorite personal stories of God’s provision happened one December years ago. I was traveling as a teacher/evangelist, but had hardly any meetings in December. I remember going for a prayer walk and telling God, “I’m in big trouble, Lord. Even if someone sent me $1,000 it wouldn’t be enough. I really need $3,000.” After the prayer walk I went to the post office and found a small envelope different in size from the ones we send in the monthly partner packets. It was thick—and as I opened it my hands started to shake. I found a $3,000 check made out to me personally, sent from someone in New Mexico. From New Mexico to Creswell, Oregon would have taken about five days in the mail. That’s my story of God answering my prayer five days before I prayed it.

Now you and I may be wondering—how are WE going to make it. Let’s thank and praise God that He is the provider, the shepherd, the keeper of our souls, our Father, our hope, and our sustainer. I love the song WAY MAKER and particularly the lines where we sing to God, “Way maker, miracle worker, promise keeper, light in the darkness. My God, that is who you are.” To that songwriter I say, “Well said!”

God bless you all. In Christ’s affection, Wes Daughenbaugh

PS When David’s armed men fought against the much larger army with Absalom God used trees of the forest to kill more enemy troops than David’s army did. The Bible says, “The battle spread over the face of all the country, and the forest devoured more people that day than the sword,” 2 Sam. 18:8, ESV. Picture that. Usually, people escape into the forest and it hides them from pursuers. In this case, angels must have pulled back the tree branches and let then TWANG and whack the approaching troops, knocking them out of commission. When Joshua fought one battle, God rained hail down on the enemy troops and the hail killed more than the sword. (See Joshua 10:11) Hail killing troops makes sense, but the forest devouring people? I’m counting on God doing it again—but IT might be something different that we’ve ever seen before! Expect! Believe! PTL.