Providence

Verses

Ge 22:8 God will provide the lamb for Himself.

Provide (OT: 7200) ra'ah:

to see literally or figuratively, to advise oneself, behold, approve, to look upon, to present or provide, to have respect for, to see intellectually; to be seen, to reveal oneself, to be fully aware, to be in a position of trust, to select, to discover

Ge 22:14 Abraham called the place "the LORD Will Provide," and even now, it is said that, "in the mount of the LORD it will be provided" (or seen).

The LORD Will Provide (OT: 3070) Yehovah yireh:

God will see to it

Ge 30:30 Laban had little before Jacob came, but the LORD had brought him increase wherever Jacob was involved. [No direct mention of God's provision here, but…]
Ge 45:11 [Joseph says] he will provide for Israel's family through the remaining years of famine. [God says, through Joseph.]
Ge 50:20-21 [Joseph again.] You meant to do me evil, but GOD meant to do good. So, by your evil act He worked to preserve many lives. Don't fear. I will see to it that both you and your children are provided for.
Lev 25:23-24 Since the land is Mine, and you but sojourners, don't think to sell any land permanently. Indeed, you must provide for the redemption of every piece of land you have.
Jos 18:4 Choose three men from each tribe to be sent into the land. They shall walk the land and write what they see according to their inheritance. This, they shall report to me.
1Sa 16:17 Saul told his servants to provide him with a skilled musician.
1Ki 4:7 Solomon had twelve deputies, one per tribe, who were to provide for the king's household one month each.
1Ki 17:3-4 Go and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, east of the Jordan. The brook shall be your drink, and I have commanded the ravens to provide for you there.

Commanded (OT:6680) tsavah:

To establish, appoint, charge, ordain, the communication of superior to subordinate, "When God commands, it happens."

Ezr 7:20 Whatever else needs providing for in God's house, you will provide from the royal treasury.
Neh 9:15-16 You provided bread from heaven for their hunger, and for their thirst, water from a rock. You told them to possess the land You promised to give, but they were arrogant and stubborn, refusing Your commands.
Neh 9:21 For forty years You provided for them in the wilderness, and they were never in want of their needs. Their clothes did not wear out, nor were they footsore.
Job 24:23 HE provides security and support. His eyes watch their ways.
Ps 68:8-10 The earth quaked and the heavens rained down at GOD's presence, even Mt. Sinai quaked in the presence of the God of Israel. Thus, You brought plentiful rains, confirming Your inheritance when it was parched. You settled Your creatures there, and in Your goodness, provided for the poor, O God.
Ps 78:19-20 They said against Him, "can God prepare a table in the wilderness?" So, He struck the rock, and there was water to the overflowing of streams. But they continued in doubt, saying, "Can He give bread as well? Will He provide meat for His people?"

New Thoughts

"When God commands, it happens." Yet, we feel we can refuse His commands. How foolish we can be! We look at Israel's example and feel so superior in our understanding, yet we are just the same. We still choose to ignore Him unless it suits us. We still fail to claim the inheritance He has provided. We still fail to even see and acknowledge His provision before our eyes.

Abraham saw it. Joseph saw it. They understood that their God was in control, that whatever the appearance, whatever evil was in the present, He was acting still, and He was acting for their good.

The examples of Israel in the wilderness, on the other hand, show the effect of not understanding Providence. (Funny, is it not, that providence encompasses understanding in itself? God will provide provision, God will provide understanding.) In the face of His provision, they willfully blinded themselves, refusing to acknowledge His hand in their lives, His control of the situation. Perhaps because acknowledging His control over our circumstances must inevitably lead to accepting His control over us, and we don't want to think ourselves controlled. Yet, controlled we are. The only real question is whose reins we take.

Another thing that jumps out is that the spies were to report "according to their inheritance." This could be taken as meaning their report would decide their lot, but that would make for a most unreliable report, bad tactics for a military campaign. Rather, I think it reflects God's control even in this seemingly uncontrolled process. Those who had inherited understanding from God would report from a godly perspective. Those whose inheritance was in the flesh would report from the flesh's fears. "Fear God alone, or fear everything else."

The key to freedom from fear lies in knowing God provides, knowing God decides, knowing God controls. A good God, determining all the events and occasions of our lives, can leave us to expect only good from our circumstances, even when the appearance seems fit to destroy us. May we report according to our heavenly inheritance, and despise the report of our flesh!