What other biblical instances show God's provision in unexpected ways? Genesis 22:13 — God Provides a Substitute “Then Abraham looked up and saw behind him a ram in a thicket, caught by its horns. So he went and took the ram and offered it as a burnt offering in place of his son.” Abraham climbed Moriah expecting to surrender Isaac; instead, he discovered a ram already waiting in the thicket. The provision came at the last possible moment and from a direction he never anticipated—behind him. Scripture repeats this pattern again and again. Ravens at the Brook (1 Kings 17:4–6) • “I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.” • Elijah obeyed, and unclean birds hand-delivered bread and meat twice a day—heaven’s catering service in the wilderness. The Bottomless Flour Jar (1 Kings 17:14–16) • A Gentile widow facing her last meal hears, “The jar of flour will not be exhausted and the jug of oil will not run dry.” • Day after day, the same handful of flour stretches to keep three people alive until the drought ends. Bread From Heaven (Exodus 16:4, 13-15) • “Behold, I will rain down bread from heaven for you.” • Each morning Israel gathered unfamiliar wafers (“manna” = “What is it?”), perfectly portioned, spoiling if hoarded—daily dependence baked in. Water From a Rock (Exodus 17:6) • “Strike the rock, and water will come out of it.” • Solid granite becomes a flowing spring, refreshing a nation in the desert. Quail on the Wind (Numbers 11:31) • “A wind went out from the LORD and drove quail in from the sea.” • Meat lands right at camp—so abundant it lies knee-deep for miles. The Widow’s Oil Overflow (2 Kings 4:2-6) • Empty vessels gather; oil pours until the last jar is full. • Debt canceled, future secured, all from a single flask. Twenty Loaves Feed a Hundred (2 Kings 4:42-44) • Elisha sets small barley loaves before a crowd. • “They will eat and have some left over.” They do—echoing a miracle Jesus will later multiply. A Coin in a Fish’s Mouth (Matthew 17:27) • Temple tax deadline looms; Jesus says, “Take the first fish you catch… you will find a four-drachma coin.” • One cast, one fish, exact change. Five Loaves for Five Thousand (Luke 9:16-17) • Jesus blesses the picnic-sized lunch, hands pieces to the Twelve, and everyone eats until satisfied—twelve baskets of leftovers underscore the surplus. Overflowing Nets (Luke 5:6) • Seasoned fishermen return empty; at Jesus’ word they drop the nets again. • So many fish swarm in that the nets begin to tear—business-saving abundance in one haul. Breakfast on the Shore (John 21:6, 9-13) • Post-resurrection, the disciples try fishing by old methods; Jesus directs a cast to the starboard side. • Another net-breaking catch, plus a charcoal fire already burning with fish and bread—provision prepared before they ask. The Supreme Provision: The Lamb of God (John 1:29; 3:16) • Every earlier provision points forward. On another hill, God again supplies the sacrifice—this time His own Son. • What Abraham experienced in miniature, Calvary fulfills completely: “Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” Takeaway Themes to Savor • God sees the need before we do and places the answer “in the thicket” ahead of time. • Provision rarely arrives by predictable channels; expect creativity. • Obedience positions us where the supply is waiting. • Each gift—whether bread, coin, or ram—previews the greatest gift: Christ Himself, God’s flawless and final provision. |
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