There was a time when my mom and dad were in big financial trouble. Dad was out of work, and none was to be found in our hometown. So, on a Saturday, they packed up their car, tossed us kids in the car and started driving, intent on finding work before the few dollars they had run out.
Dad was going to stop in every town until he found work. He reached a moderately-sized town before noon that day and started driving around looking for factories. He knew their offices would be closed for the weekend but the family was in dire straights, and he wasn’t going to waste the precious little time they had before really bad things started to happen.
It turned out that there was a large factory in town and when he pulled into the parking lot one of the big loading-dock doors was open, and he saw some men sitting around a large electric motor, working on it. Dad walked over and started up a conversation. One of the guys was a supervisor, and before long he offered Dad a job and told him to come back on Monday to start work. That was great, but there was still some daylight.
Dad was a dedicated Christian. He knew that God moves in mysterious ways and God also moves in practical ways. So, Dad continued to drive around town and snagged two more job offers that Saturday. Now, confident he had work, Mom and Dad searched for an apartment, found one, moved in that same weekend and Dad went to work for on Monday.
Here’s what Jacob said when he and his clan were caught in famine: When Jacob learned that there was grain in Egypt, he said to his sons, “Why do you just keep looking at each other?” He continued, “I have heard that there is grain in Egypt. Go down there and buy some for us, so that we may live and not die.”
Genesis 42:1-2 (NIV)
By nature, we’re all frogs. Troubles start slowly heating the water we’re in. Up and up it goes until we’ve been boiled alive. Sometimes, God uses trouble to get our attention and get us moving.
God provides but we must acquire His provision, whether it be manna from heaven, rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem, salvation, or food for our table. For us to live by faith that faith requires action (James 2:24). Be bold!
Photo by Steve Harvey on Unsplash