How God Provides #4

4. God Provides through the Hands of your Enemies

There was a widow who was very vocal in her prayers to God. Every day she would pray loudly concerning her needs. However, all this did not go well with her neighbour, who was a total atheist. He was totally disturbed by this woman’s loud prayers.

One day, this woman, as usual, was praying aloud about her needs. This time, however, God did not seem to answer as quickly as He would normally. Hence, this woman was even more violent in her praying. This piqued the atheist even more, who decided to teach this woman a lesson that proved that there was no God.

He went to the supermarket and bought almost two cartloads of groceries and other household items. Then, quietly, he climbed from the backyard and pushed the two sacks full of things onto the kitchen floor.

The noise alerted the woman, and she stopped praying, only to find her prayers answered. Profusely, she started thanking the Lord, and then the doorbell rang - it was the atheist. He mocked her, saying, “there is no God; it was I who did it.” The woman was shaken. Nevertheless, she got back to prayer and, as usual, vocalized her prayers, saying, “I thank You Lord for your provision, and you even used the devil to deliver it” This incident may be funny, but there is an element of truth to it.

When a man’s ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. (Proverbs 16:7)

When a man’s ways please the Lord, He will make his persecutors his promoters.

God commanded His prophet, Elijah, saying, “You shall drink of the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there. So he did according to the word of the Lord; he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith, east of the Jordan. And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning and bread and flesh in the evening, and he drank of the brook. (1 Kings 17:4-6)

As a child, I remember when the local fisherman would come outside our home. The moment he would take the fish out, he would be encircled by a host of crows! At the slightest opportunity, they would dart in, grab a few pieces and take off for a feast!

It was through such birds, whose nature is always to take and steal, that God provided for Elijah, His prophet. Therefore, if God can do it for Prophet Elijah, then God will do it for you and me as well.

The Lord is no respecter of persons. (Acts 10:34) He is not a God of partiality. (Romans 12:11) What he did for Prophet Elijah, He will do for you and me as well.