The LORD Provides Bounty

Bounty: 1: something that is given generously, 2: liberality in giving: generosity 3: yield especially of a crop – Merriam-Webster Online

This morning I continue my study on the word “will” and find myself in Leviticus. I know, riveting words written about the law. But, that is it when you really study the different laws and their impact.

I am in chapter 26 in the passage, as titled in my bible, “Blessings for Obedience”. Here the LORD has given instruction on how to approach the worship of Him. He then provides the condition:

“³If you walk in my statutes and observe my commandments and do them,” — Leviticus 26:3 (ESV)

The LORD says, do this and if you do… He identifies the actions required and then the reward for doing so. Isn’t that how it should always be, and isn’t that how the LORD has always been with His instruction. He tells us what we shall do and then what the reward is for doing so. He did it in the garden with the man and woman, He did with Noah, and here He is with the Israelite people. Follow my commands and you will be rewarded.

“⁴Then I will give you…” — Leviticus 26:4 (ESV)

And the reward is great and wonderful and more than we could imagine. As we continue to read in the passage, the LORD provides, rain for the crops, crops of wheat until time for grapes, and grapes until time for planting. And He provides peace and power to overcome. And all of this in generous supply.

What a reminder to me about following and giving glory to God, He will reward for the work done and that reward will be great. His provision will be generous and I will not need anything beyond His reward. I am to do His will and reap the bounty in return.

What is your approach to the LORD? Are you looking for reward from Him? What if you obeyed Him knowing that He will provide bounty?

God May Make it Difficult

“²¹And the Lord said to Moses, ‘When you go back to Egypt, see that you do before Pharaoh all the miracles that I have put in your power. But I will harden his heart, so that he will not let the people go.’” – Exodus 4:21 (ESV)

What is this, the LORD sends Moses to work for Him. Tells him exactly what to say and what to do. And for his trouble, the LORD hardens the heart of Pharaoh. Obeying the LORD is not where the work ends, there is more to it.

The LORD told Moses that just telling Pharaoh in His name was not going to work. Not because it would not, but because the LORD was going to make it not work. Isn’t this just a bit contrary to what we might believe to come from the LORD. Aren’t we to obey the LORD and in doing so, He will take care of us? Why then would the LORD have us do something that would not work, shouldn’t it be that the LORD wants that things carried out in His name be done and take care of that which He intends? Well, yes, but there is more to it.

This is of course one of those things that makes it difficult for me. The LORD has something for me to do, I do it, and yet the result does not come out as planned. Why would the LORD do such a thing?

He is not doing it to get the result “we” have planned. There is a greater result that He is working toward, and I am just one part of the plan to get to that result. The LORD is working on His plan, to get His result, not mine.

So, with this in mind, I go back to verse 21 as above. Moses was to do the work of the LORD and tell Pharaoh to let the people go, and on the LORD’s design, it would not happen. It could have happened, if it were of God’s design, but it was not and did not. The LORD had something greater in mind and this was only part of the design.

Notice how this all plays out. The LORD has a task for us, we take care of that task and yet the result is not there that we expected. We are to continue on with the tasks that God has for us, and know that He will get the result He is working toward, and that result may not come for some time, or be different than we expected.

It is not that the LORD is making things difficult, He is having them play out just as He designed. I have to look to the LORD and know that His wisdom will produce the result He wants and my role is to do the work He has for me. The work He has for me is the work He has for me. The result of that work is not for me, just the work itself. It may be difficult and the result may not be felt by me, but it is the work the LORD has for me and that is where I have to be focused.

I look at my bible study and writing each morning. Where is the result? How many have I reached? Is it touching people the way the LORD intended? Is there more that I should be doing? How do I get more responses, and know that I am reaching the people to make a difference in their lives? Why is it that I don’t see more results? Is there an easier way to get things done? Why, Why, Why? Well, this is the work the LORD has for me and I have to know that it is the work, not the result that is my responsibility. He will get the result that He has planned. He is not making it difficult, He is simply leading me to follow Him.

What is your thoughts on the tasks that God has for you? Are you looking at them to get a specific result and thinking why so difficult to get that result? What if you saw them as part of God’s plan and those tasks are not difficult, but just designed to get a result that is just part of that plan?

The LORD Blesses Even When It Does Not Seem Possible

I know, this seems like something that I have studied and written on over and over again. I do agree that the LORD provides just what and when we need. And yes, all we need do is ask from our heart. But, do we obey when He challenges us to do so?

“¹Now there was a famine in the land, besides the former famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went to Gerar to Abimelech king of the Philistines. ²And the Lord appeared to him and said, ‘Do not go down to Egypt; dwell in the land of which I shall tell you.’” – Genesis 26:1-2 (ESV)

I look here this morning and see a couple of things going on. One, there is a famine and it is natural to look for ways of surviving. Two, Isaac does just that by working to make his way out of the famine area to one of more prosperous times. When looking at it all, it would be natural to make way to Egypt, an area where the Nile provides plenty of water for to survive, not just for the one or two, but for great numbers of people.

Isaac would be working to survive with his family and clan. So making way to Egypt would make complete and total sense. But God. He said no, stay where you are and I will make you prosperous and bigger than you can imagine as He promised Abraham.

“’³Sojourn in this land, and I will be with you and will bless you, for to you and to your offspring I will give all these lands, and I will establish the oath that I swore to Abraham your father. ⁴I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and will give to your offspring all these lands. And in your offspring all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, ⁵because Abraham obeyed my voice and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.’” – Genesis 26:3-5 (ESV)

And so Isaac stopped his migration and settled where he was. And he dug wells and found water. Not just enough to survive, but to prosper. So much so, He became the premier family and clan in the area and was asked to leave. And he did, and settled in another area not far, dug wells and found more water in an area that needed it.

All of this prosperity was not of Isaac or luck, it was of God. Isaac was well aware of the generosity of the LORD. Here we find Isaac in an area of need. The LORD provided what and when he needed it. And even in this area of famine, the LORD’s provision was so great and continually giving. Everywhere that Isaac dug a well the water was found. And thanks solely to the LORD, Isaac was granted prosperity.

I have to remember that the LORD provides what and when I need. And to go along with that, He provided even when things seem impossible. Nothing is too big for God to do. When things seem the darkest it is my obedience to Him that sustains me. I obey and am rewarded.

What is your approach when things are the darkest? Are you looking to make things happen on your own? What if, even in those times that seem impossible, you were to obey the LORD and allow Him to provide?