GOD’S PROVISION, AT THE RIGHT PLACE

Pr. James Victor Lubwama

1 Kings 17:2-6 (NIV)

Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah: 3 “Leave here, turn eastward and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan. 4 You will drink from the brook, and I have ordered the ravens to feed you there.” 5 So he did what the Lord had told him. He went to the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan, and stayed there. 6 The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook.

Elijah encountered many tribulations but amidst persecution, he was given a Rhema word; he was directed by the word which proceeded from the mouth of God to go to a place where God would provide for him. Some Christians are stuck is situations and the reason they do not see no breakthrough is because of the absence of the Holy Spirit in their lives who is the master of direction. The Holy Spirit was with Elijah and thus directed him to a specific place for a specific reason as we can see in the scripture above. We all need direction in our everyday life, and if you want to find purpose for your life, you need divine direction because if you lack it, life will take you wherever it likes; you will be like a sailing sheep without a captain. 

The problem we have in this generation is that we do not have a relationship with the Holy Spirit; we just go to church and ask God to confirm our plans not knowing that He already has a plan for you – a plan to prosper you and give you a good future. In order for God’s angels to serve you, you need to be stationed in the right place. God has a specific place where the ravens will come to feed you and where you will encounter a blessing. Make no mistake to go ahead of God; you’ve got to follow Him not vice versa. You will not find victory and rest for your life if you are not in the place God expects you to be; thus if you want to see God’s provision, saving hand and blessing, you must be in the place that Holy Spirit directs you to be, not where you want to be!

After resurrection, the disciples received these instructions in Matthew 28:7 (TLB); “And now, go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and that he is going to Galilee to meet them there…….” 
As a believer, you should never do anything without hearing from above from; the Lord of Lords and God of creation. We miss out on God’s blessing and direction when we do things without consulting Him first; we go out and do things on our own, encounter problems and challenges then we remember to consult him. It is important to know that God will only finish what he started - If He was never your Alpha, He will never be your Omega! If you desire God to be your Finisher, he should be your Author. You can be rest assured that if we go out with God’s direction in the first place, He will go before us and make the crooked places straight. You suffer because you don’t seek guidance from the one who is all knowing; the one who proclaims the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:10), and one who knew you before you were born (Jeremiah 1:5).

Isaiah 9:6 (NKJV) says; “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

This scripture tells us that there is someone who should counsel you before you make decisions. He knows your going in and out. But some believers do not desire that. People think every opening and idea is from God – some things are good but not right and godly! Before embarking on anything, pray to God; seek His will. Psalms 27:4 (EXB) says; “I ask only one thing from the Lord. This is what I want [seek after]: Let me live [dwell] in the Lord’s house [the sanctuary] all the days of my life. Let me see the Lord’s beauty and look with my own eyes [make inquiry; discover God’s will] at his Temple.”

God is a God of specific places! He will place you where the ravens will meet you and supply your needs; however, if you are not in the right chosen place, you will miss out on his blessings and provision. The assurance about God’s provision is that it’s not affected by earthly circumstances; despite the drought, Elijah was fed very well -  he ate of the best food that was prepared for the king. 

When you follow God's will and instructions, you will never struggle but you will always be blessed. God knows where you will go and be blessed – He is a specific God, and when he sends you, his hand goes before you; for it's His blessing that makes a difference, not people's opinions. In John 21:5-6 (GNT), Jesus was very specific on where to cast the nets; “Then he asked them, “Young men, haven't you caught anything?” “Not a thing,” they answered. 6 He said to them, “Throw your net out on the right side of the boat, and you will catch some.” So they threw the net out and could not pull it back in, because they had caught so many fish."

God has a plan for you. With God you will not skip a level and whatever level you are at, you will be the head not tail. Ask God to take you to that brook or stream where you will find divine provision; He will send the ravens to feed you and your miracle or blessing will find you there. If there is anything you need from God, present your case to him and he will guide you on where to go and what to do. He says in Isaiah 1:18 (NLT) “Come now, and let’s settle this, says the Lord…...”

Whenever you are in the right place, you will see God.