Provision

Reading through the Old Testament and the New Testament simultaneously is awesome because you get to see interesting thematic parallels that affirm the reality of God's spiritual truths.

For example:

In Exodus, we read how God led the Israelites on a desert path towards the promised land - this path was the long way, as Scripture says that they could have cut through the Philistine country, a path that was shorter (Ex. 13:17). Chapter 16, specifically, talks about how in their hunger and discomfort, Israel grumbles against God, and God - hearing their distress, supernaturally provides an abundance of quail and wafer-like-bread (manna) for the duration of the 40 years that it took for the entire community to read the border of Canaan. This passage reveals how thorough His provision is when He deliberately leads His people into circumstances that are difficult and wearisome (is "wearisome" even a word?). Essentially, if He is leading, He will provide.

The truth of God's compassionate and caring nature is more fully revealed to us through Jesus Christ. In Matthew 14:13-21, we read how Jesus longs to provide for his followers both spiritually and practically. The large group that had gathered to see and hear him remained far from home for the majority of the day, longing to hear him preach, but having nothing to eat. Instead of sending the multitude away, he miraculously tranforms 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish into a portion sufficient to satisfy over 5ooo people. He provided radically, wonderfully, and completely for those who had literally followed him. Similarly to the Israelites in the Desert of Sin, the crowd must have learned in a radical way that if they follow him, they will be provided for.

It's cool how God deeply longs to, and does provide for His people in ways that are so exceptional and thorough, when we choose to follow Him closely and authentically.