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REFLECTION

Jehovah Jireh is the theme for our reflection. Jehovah Jireh means “the Lord will provide”. We witness another bad leadership regime which can be likened to the regime of King Jeroboam. This was the regime of King Ahab. King Ahab’s regime was marked with idol worship and disobedience to God’s Word, for this reason, Prophet Elijah said to King Ahab “As the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, before whom I stand, there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word.” (1 Kings 17:1)

Amid the severe drought, God made provision for His servant Elijah and the widow of Zarephath who was hospitable to the man of God. Dear friend, in the harshest condition of life God remains faithful to His servants or those who trust, obey and have a relationship with Him. To be a beneficiary of God’s providence we must be humble and obedient to God. In other words, we must trust and obey him even if we are not certain of the future and its prospects. Elijah followed God’s direction and instruction and he survived. “And the word of the LORD came to him: “Depart from here and turn eastward and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan. You shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.” So he went and did according to the word of the LORD… Then the word of the LORD came to him, “Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. Behold, I have commanded a widow there to feed you.” So he arose and went to Zarephath. (1 Kings 17:2-5,8-10) Again, the widow of Zarephath also obeyed God through the Prophet Elijah and was blessed “Elijah said to her, “Do not fear; go and do as you have said. But first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me, and afterwards make something for yourself and your son. For thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, ‘The jar of flour shall not be spent, and the jug of oil shall not be empty, until the day that the LORD sends rain upon the earth.’” And she went and did as Elijah said. And she and he and her household ate for many days. (1 Kings 17:13-15). In other words, both the prophet Elijah and the widow of Zarephath trusted and obeyed and they encountered Jehovah Jireh, the providence of God in the season of drought. Obedience to God makes us the beneficiaries of His providence. Many desire the providence of God yet few are willing to trust and obey His will, instruction and direction. “If you fully obey the LORD your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. All these blessings will come on you and accompany you if you obey the LORD your God:” (Deuteronomy 28:1-2). Jesus emphasised the relationship between obedience and God’s providence when He said ” “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.” (Luke 11:28) In as much as we seek the blessings and providence of God in a chaotic world, we must purpose in our hearts to be obedient children to God ever ready through faith to abide by the Word of God If we do not listen, read and study His Word how can we know His will and direction for us? To trust and obey and encounter Jehovah Jireh we must ensure that “This Book of the Law (Scripture) shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” (Joshua 1:8). Shalom.

PRAYER (Song: “Trust and obey” written by Daniel B. Towner in 1887)

When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still
And with all who will trust and obey

Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

Amen.