Meeting the Need

The people of Beth-shemesh were harvesting wheat in the valley, and when they saw the Ark, they were overjoyed! The cart came into the field of a man named Joshua and stopped beside a large rock. So the people broke up the wood of the cart for a fire and killed the cows and sacrificed them to the Lord as a burnt offering.1st Samuel 6:13-14 NLT

I find stories of people going the extra mile for someone else to be captivating. Stories that involve elements such as knowing someone likes a certain something, but it’s not readily accessible or convenient, but expending the time and effort to make it happen – even when it’s not a birthday or special occasion. What a reflection of Christ-like character – whether intentional or not. And there are those who anticipate the needs of others and provide for those needs before they actually happen, so that when they do arise, the provision is already there. I love those kinds of things. I think they so typically portray God’s nature. God who has the plan and makes provision to ensure its success. Always meeting the need.

In this story, Israel had lost the Ark of the Covenant, and it was not good. God made it so that the Philistines HAD to return the Ark of the Covenant, but here He went the extra mile. I didn’t see it coming. As part of the Philistines returning the Ark, they built a cart and sent it with untried livestock; in doing so, included the wood and animals for the burnt offering. The cows stopped by a large stone, which was also convenient and necessary for the preparation. God had the plan and made provision to ensure its success. God more than met the need that day.

In Genesis 22, it did not look good at the time prior to the provision, but Abraham believed God no matter what and was obedient. God provided the ram in the thicket for the sacrifice necessary before proclaiming the Abrahamic blessing.  According to Scripture, obedience is better than sacrifice. God had the plan and made provision to ensure its success.

In Matthew 26 and Mark 14, in the Garden of Gethsemane, it didn’t look good. In front of Caiaphas and the High Council, on into Pilate’s and Herod’s courts and finally at Golgotha, it didn’t look good. But God was in the process of providing just what we needed.

Christ was obedient unto death and becameThe Perfect, once and for all Sacrifice who - according to Hebrews 9:12 - With his own blood—not the blood of goats and calves—he entered the Most Holy Place once for all time and secured our redemption forever.

Verses 13-15 continue, Under the old system, the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a young cow could cleanse people’s bodies from ceremonial impurity. Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds so that we can worship the living God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins. That is why he is the one who mediates a new covenant between God and people, so that all who are called can receive the eternal inheritance God has promised them. God's idea. God's plan. God's Son. That's what I call meeting the need.

Prayer:

Father,

          The more I get to know You, the more I am humbled by Your immeasurable love for us. You see us through the perfecting Blood of Christ. There is no other option but to offer ourselves in return. Let us not insult You or denigrate the provision You have made for us. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen