2025: Exponential Providence
18 Nov 2024
I started reading “Delighted in God” by Roger Steer, a biography of George Muller (1805 – 1898). It was recommended by the very pleasant staff at the George Muller Museum in Bristol, England, which turned out to be the highlight of our retreat. But there was none left on the shelf. I must have looked very eager and disappointed, for he quickly went back up to the office to look and managed to scramble one last copy for meβΊ.
Jetlagged after our return to Singapore, I was delighted to find the reading light and easy.
The Amazing Life Story of George Muller
The author recounted George Muller’s decision to become a missionary in January 1826 six weeks after becoming a Christian. George’s father was ballistic as it meant all the money he had spent on this prodigal son’s education so that can live comfortably as a career clergyman would come to nothing. George had lived a reckless and wild life that landed himself in prison before he came to know the Lord. His father tearfully begged him to reconsider else he would disown him.
With two years left of study to go, George made up his mind never to take any more money from his father as it seemed wrong to do so. But it also marked the beginning of a life of prayer, determining that he will depend totally on God for what He has called him to do.
And what amazing things God had accomplished throughout his lifetime - running five orphanages, caring for over 10,000 poor and destitute orphans, with more than 50,000 prayers answered, some within the same hour or same day. I was inspired by something more but I will share at another time.
All of this was accomplished without asking any person for a single cent or taking out a loan, not to mention declining taking a salary from the church, for, to him, it will demonstrate a lack of faith in God’s ability to provide. He also needs the freedom to follow his call and not be restricted to preach where God leads him.
The author wrote on Page 19:
“For a number of events followed – the first of many during his remarkable life – which demonstrated to Muller, and later to the world, that ‘there is no want to them that fear Him’ (Psalms. 34:9)”
These words jump at me instantly
“There is no want to them that fear Him.”
“That is the word for 2025”, I hear V say.
I looked up the verse in the Bible (emphasis mine):
“Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints!
There is no want to them who fear Him.
The young lions lack and suffer hunger;
<But those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing.”
V continued: “Exponential Providence”.
“Providence”. From Dictionary.com:
- (often initial capital letter) the foreseeing care and guidance of God or nature over the creatures of the earth.
- (initial capital letter) God, especially when conceived as omnisciently directing the universe and the affairs of humankind with wise benevolence.
- a manifestation of divine care or direction.
- provident or prudent management of resources; prudence.
- foresight; provident care
Although this implies that the economy may be very bad in the coming year and the world may face a severe food crisis (“the hungry lions” makes me think of Africa) that we will need God’s exponential providence, I am nonetheless thankful and assured by this promise - that for those who fear God, they will lack no good thing - divine care, direction and guidance, prudence, foresight and resources.
For there is no want to those who fear Him.
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