Ruth 2:1-4 NKJV
“There was a relative of Naomi’s husband, a man of great wealth, of the family of Elimelech. His name was Boaz. So Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, “Please let me go to the field, and glean heads of grain after him in whose sight I may find favor.” And she said to her, “Go, my daughter.” Then she left, and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers. And she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech. Now behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said to the reapers, “The Lord be with you!” And they answered him, “The Lord bless you!”
INSIGHT
–The word divine in Greek is written as theios and it means Deity while provide is pronoeo in Greek and it means to give or take thought for. Divine provision signifies the belief in God, who actively supplies and sustains us with what we need, both materially and spiritually, demonstrating His caring and benevolent nature. The name Boaz from these passages is suggested to mean, “in him is strength” demonstrating the power of God who provides supernaturally by His power and love for us. Ruth a foreigner found favor before Boaz and instructed that she gleans and gathers after his young women who reap among the sheaves and not in any other field. Ruth collected an ephah of barley (equivalent to 35 liters or kilos) on the first day which was a surprise to her mother-in-law Naomi. God is reminding us today that He is our Provider and we should not be anxious or fearful for He knows our needs even before we ask Him and we are more valuable than the birds of the air that do not reap nor sow but the Lord feeds them.
PRAYER
We bless Your name Oh Lord our God for You have been our faithful God, we worship You and adore You. Blessed be our Lord God Almighty, for You have not forsaken Your kindness to us and our generations. We thank You for Your constant provision upon our live, families and nation at large. Lord we thank You for You have been our Jehovah Jireh, and we have never lacked. Father we surrender our lives unto You and repent every sin and iniquity. May You cleanse us and wash us with Your precious blood Lord Jesus. We commit all our businesses and jobs unto You that You may prosper and bless all that concerns us and the works of our hands. May You provide for all our needs and those who lack, this week and beyond according to Your riches in glory in Christ Jesus. May You lead us to triumph in all our life’s matters and fight for us in all the battles we face for the battle belongs to You and we are more than conquerors in You Christ Jesus our King. Lord we put our trust in You and exalt You. We thank You for we know You have heard us and will do all according to Your divine wonderful will for us. We pray this in matchless name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Further reading: 2 Corinthians 9:8, Philippians 4:19
1 Kings 17:10-16 NKJV
“So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, indeed a widow was there gathering sticks. And he called to her and said, “Please bring me a little water in a cup, that I may drink.” And as she was going to get it, he called to her and said, “Please bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.” So she said, “As the Lord your God lives, I do not have bread, only a handful of flour in a bin, and a little oil in a jar; and see, I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it, and die.” And Elijah said to her, “Do not fear; go and do as you have said, but make me a small cake from it first, and bring it to me; and afterward make some for yourself and your son. For thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘The bin of flour shall not be used up, nor shall the jar of oil run dry, until the day the Lord sends rain on the earth.’ ” So she went away and did according to the word of Elijah; and she and he and her household ate for many days. The bin of flour was not used up, nor did the jar of oil run dry, according to the word of the Lord which He spoke by Elijah.”
INSIGHT
–The Lord used His servant prophet Elijah to demonstrate the power of divine provision given by faith. The widow of Zarephath despite facing extreme poverty and famine, demonstrates faith and hospitality by offering food to the prophet Elijah, even though they only had a little left and thought they would die. The Lord provided plenty of food supply to them, enough for their needs until it rained. Similarly, when Hagar was running away from Sarah together with his son Ishmael. They reach the desert of Beersheba and their food supplies were used up. Hagar placed Ishmael under a shrub and she sat across him weeping lest she sees her son die. The Lord heard the cry of Ishmael and provided water from a well divinely. Hagar and her son dwelt in the wilderness for a long time and Ishmael married an Egyptian there (Genesis 21:14-21). This teaches us that the Lord is able to provide even in situations that seem impossible. God calls us to trust in Him and have faith for His miraculous divine provision then we shall see and taste His goodness.
PRAYER
Abba Father You are Powerful and Glorious. You are highly lifted up in all the heavens and all the earth. Dear Lord You visit the earth, water it and greatly enrich it. Your river Lord is full of water, You provide for us food and all our supplies for You are our Father. You water our ridges abundantly and settle our furrows. You shower us with the rains, Your blessings and enable our growth and prosperity. You crown the year with Your goodness and our paths drip with abundance. They drop on the pastures of the wilderness, and the little hills rejoice on every side. The pastures are clothed with flock, the valleys with grain and shout for joy. Lord we praise You for You are great and all Your deeds are wonderful. We exalt You for You are enthroned over all. Dear Lord May You sanctify us with Your precious blood. We thank You for Your precious Holy Spirit and Your constant provision of rain and fruitfulness in season and out of season. We continue to trust in You in all our matters and our needs. May You provide for those who lack and visit all those who are in need of You. May You provide for all those who are struggling to feed their families and provide for their basic requirements. May You teach us how to put our total trust and faith in You even in times of dire need and lack. May You teach us how to keep Your statutes and commands and to stay loyal to You, to obey You even when we do not understand. We pray for joy and gladness even as we trust and wait on You Lord. We pray this knowing that we shall testify of Your great works in our lives for all we have been waiting for, therefore we thank You Lord. We pray this believing and trusting in Jesus Mighty Name, Amen.
Further reading: Psalms 65:9-13, Acts 14:17
Luke 5:3-7 NKJV
“Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat. When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink.”
INSIGHT
–At the lake of Gennesaret, Jesus taught a great multitude from Simon’s boat. They were eager to hear to word and pressed around Him. Jesus then instructed Simon to cast his nets into the deep. Simon expressed both frustration and doubt having toiled the whole night without success. To demonstrate his unbelief, Simon cast one net and not nets as instructed until it was tearing off. This resulted in an astonishingly large catch that broke their net, demonstrating God’s power and the importance of obedience and faith. Simon repented having experienced the power of Christ even as the boats were both filled with fish and began sinking. Jesus is calling us to cast our nets into the deep for a great catch. Whatever we are praying for and expect Jesus to answer us, we are called to have faith in Jesus.
PRAYER
Your steadfast love never ceases dear Lord Jesus, Your mercies never come to an end, they are new every morning, great is Your faithfulness. We cast our nets into the deep by faith dear Lord Jesus knowing that You can do everything by Your power and nothing is impossible with You. Nothing is too difficult for You dear Lord Jesus. Do a new thing in our lives, families and nation dear Lord Jesus. May You make a way in the wilderness, rivers in the desert and level every mountain by Your merciful love. As waters break out, You have broken out against our enemies before us Oh Lord. Break every delay and cause us to triumph over all obstacles and challenges. We are submitted to Your will and purpose merciful Savior; our hope and trust is in You. May You help us and enable us to receive a great catch in every sphere of our lives. We are receiving every form of breakthrough now in Jesus mighty name. Amen
Further reading: Isaiah 43:19, 2 Samuel 5:20-21
1 Kings 17:5-6 NIV
“So he did what the Lord had told him. He went to the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan, and stayed there. The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook.”
INSIGHT
–Elijah the prophet following God’s command, goes to the brook of Kerith and is miraculously fed by ravens. The ravens were appointed to bring Elijah meat, demonstrating God’s divine providence. The story emphasizes God’s miraculous provision for Elijah, even in a time of drought, demonstrating God’s power and care for His people. We are called to learn to live upon God’s providence, and trust Him for our daily bread.
PRAYER
Abba Father, You are the giver of life and all that we need. As You provided for Elijah, we humbly ask that You provide for all our needs. May You look with favor all those who lack their basic needs, that You may release Your miraculous provision. We pray for all the pastors, priests, bishop that You may provide for all Your servants merciful Savior. May Your release treasures of hidden places and train our hands to make wealth. We declare that we shall lend to many nations and borrow from none. Our Father who art in heaven; hallowed be Your name; Your Kingdom come; Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptations but deliver us from evil; for thine is the Kingdom the power and the glory; forever and ever. Amen
Further reading: Luke 12:24, Deuteronomy 28:12
John 2:3-10 NKJV
“And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, “They have no wine.” Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.” Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, according to the manner of purification of the Jews, containing twenty or thirty gallons apiece. Jesus said to them, “Fill the waterpots with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. And He said to them, “Draw some out now, and take it to the master of the feast.” And they took it. When the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom. And he said to him, “Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!”
INSIGHT
–The first miracle Jesus performed was not really to draw attention by itself but its intention was to demonstrate His power and glory. Mary her mother informed Jesus of the need to replenish the finished wine possibly to cover the shame that would accompany the bridegroom. Apostle John here testifies to the Deity of Christ having divinely provided wine for the wedding hosts and guests when it had ran out. When we accept Jesus as our personal Savior, we are able to access and drink the sweet wine that exclusively originate from Him.
SUMMARY
Divine provision is a vital theme in the Bible and it affects basically both believers and none believers. First we notice that divine provision is immensely effective given God’s favor. We find the story of Ruth who was a foreigner from Moab and prospered in the land when she obtained favor before Boaz (Ruth 2:1-4). Boaz here is symbolic to our Father who provides to all mankind both Jew and Greek. Secondly we realize that divine provision is established when faith is realized. The widow of Zarephath received daily providence together with her son when she had faith in the God of provision (1 Kings 17:10-16). Thirdly, before his encounter with the widow of Zeraphath, Elijah was instructed to go to the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan. Given obedience to God, divine provision located him and ravens brought him bread and meat both in the morning and in the evening, and he drank from the brook (1 Kings 17:5-6). Last but not least, God is our Provider and divine provision comes exclusively from Him. Jesus astonished Peter and the other fishermen, when he asked Peter to cast his nests into the deep, though he doubted given the fact that he had toiled the entire night, he obeyed partially and harvested a massive catch of fish until their boats began sinking (Luke 5:3-7).
PRAYER
Abba Father You are our Jehovah Jireh, our Provider and Source. You are the One upon whom we rely upon for all that we need that pertains to our physical and spiritual needs. Thank You for You have always provided for we need and we have never lacked. You are the one Who teaches us how to make wealth. May You Heavenly Father break every barrier and open double doors for us prosper in all things. May You sweeten our lives in You dear Jesus as You made sweet wine at the wedding in Cana. May You open the flood gates of heaven and make it rain upon us. May You keep us in perfect peace for our minds are steadfast and we trust in You. May all Your promises for us come to fruition in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. May You grant Your true salvation to us and all people dear merciful Savior. Lord may You do exceedingly abundantly more than we can ask of or think of according to the power that is at work in us. Lord we trust in You and exalt You. We believe that You are able to do more than we can think of or imagine. We believe that we shall be extremely fruitful since we abide in You and You in us. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow us all the days of our lives and we shall dwell in Your house forever. May You bless us and keep us loving Father, may You shine Your face upon us and be gracious to us. May You lift up Your countenance towards us and give us peace. Amen
Further reading: John 6:35