Unbelievable Provision

No way will that idea ever work! No way can that plan succeed. These thoughts come to us a lot when we think about doing things for the glory of God. Perhaps it is evangelism. Perhaps it is church planting. Perhaps it is putting together something special for the church. But often we look at our world, see that something appears very difficult or highly unlikely, and we just declare it impossible.

 

But think of how impossible it was for Israel to leave Egypt. There is just no way that the nation of slaves would be released by the more powerful Egyptians. But God got his people out.

 

Even more unlikely is this thought:

 

Exodus 12:35-36 – 35 The people of Israel had also done as Moses told them, for they had asked the Egyptians for silver and gold jewelry and for clothing. 36 And the Lord had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they let them have what they asked. Thus they plundered the Egyptians.

 

God told the Israelites to ask their Egyptian neighbors for treasure. Just imagine. The Israelites were thought of as disgusting by the Egyptians. The Israelites were slaves, a dirty shepherding people who had been assigned to make mud and straw bricks for building. They had no class. They had nothing to earn them favor with the Egyptians.

 

Just imagine the Israelites going to their Egyptian neighbors. “Hey, I was just thinking; how about you give me a bunch of gold and jewels? How about handing over to me your family fortune?” That was not going to happen. No way.

 

But it did. How? God gave the Israelites favor in the eyes of the Egyptians, and the people handed treasures over to Israel. God used that treasure for the building of the first tabernacle and for the establishing of Israel as a nation. God did the impossible, because he was accomplishing his larger plan.

 

What do you think is impossible? Perhaps you should ask if what you want to do fits the large plan of God. Perhaps you should remember that God can and does change the hearts of people to bring them to places you might never think possible. There is no heart change that is impossible if God is involved. Politicians, authorities, banks, neighbors, family members, all have hearts that the Lord can influence. So take heart, pray, and trust the Lord. He provides in unbelievable ways.