God provides – Page 4

Jeremiah 24:1-10 – Good Figs

When you picture these people being taken into exile, away from everything that’s familiar, the vision is not pretty. Imagine the despair and longing for how things used to be! In today’s reading, God uses the vision of figs as more than just a depiction of good and evil. Jeremiah now has a much different picture of how God sees those living in exile. They represent the good figs.

Have you ever stopped to think about what the people left behind in Jerusalem must have been thinking? Did they feel victorious because they weren’t the ones whisked away into the unknown? Perhaps they felt superior having been spared this brutality. According to the fig story, their reality is quite the opposite.

Jeremiah 13:1-14 – Jeremiah’s Underwear

Read Jeremiah 13:1-14

3 dancing Aztecs wearing loincloth and head dress

Don’t you love when God uses “real life” items to make his point? Jeremiah often tells vivid stories given by God to illustrate Judah’s destiny. But I’m not sure how many loincloths I’ve seen being used in my lifetime in areas of the world where I’ve been. It would have made a lot more sense to people in Jeremiah’s day. Linen belts would be intimate pieces of clothing, like underwear. Linen was also used to make the priests’ robes, so it could be seen as “holy.” But the way God uses this illustration is stunning!

The message for us is not “be careful, linen doesn’t hold up too well if it’s buried in the ground.” What was the message you heard? God said to Jeremiah, “This shows how I will rot away the pride of Judah and Jerusalem.” Fun fact: linen gets stronger when wet, so when Jeremiah is told to not wash the garment, the linen is actually dry, its weakest state.

Philippians 4:10-14 – Finding Contentment

Read Philippians 4:10-14

Have you ever gone to bed hungry? Thankfully, I do not answer “yes” to that question. But there are plenty of people in this world who do. Paul was probably not immune to that reality, yet his faith was strong.

Some of the most faithful people I’ve encountered are those in poverty. Their trust in God’s provision and the resulting joy the experience is infectious. It’s also humbling to realize how weak my own dependence on God is in comparison.

1 Corinthians 1:1-9 – What We Need

Read 1 Corinthians 1:1-9

Don’t feel awkward about reading someone else’s mail. As we get started with Paul’s first letter to the church in Corinth, it might feel a little like we’ve invaded a personal relationship. Instead, feel the peace and grace of God that Paul wishes on the young church.

“I always thank my God for you and for the gracious gifts he has given you.” Paul is one of those Bible heroes that I look forward to having long conversations with some day. When I read his letters, I imagine he is writing to me, and that is exactly how we should approach Paul’s letters. It will also be helpful to think about what the original audience would have been thinking.

1 Kings 19:1-8 – The Let Down

Read 1 Kings 19:1-8

Man looking into space with his head in his hands

It’s almost as if Elijah is giving up! We might wonder how he could even be afraid of Jezebel’s threats after the mighty way God showed up and used him. He probably did realize that, in spite of her oath, Jezebel’s gods wouldn’t kill her if she wasn’t successful. That just meant that Jezebel’s anger would live on, too.

Under the broom tree we see Elijah asking to die. He felt like he had done all he could. He was exhausted. He was depleted. It’s not surprising considering the great emotional high he just experienced on Mount Carmel.