When the Children of Israel were in the wilderness, God fed them manna from heaven. 2Corinithans 3:5 tells us that God is our sufficiency. He takes care of our every need. He does this for each of us, and He did it for His people that were living during Old Testament times. The scriptures tell us that the manna God rained from heaven completely nourished the people. None of them got sick and they had plenty to feed their families. The truth we need to digest from this wonderful record of God's provision is that He hasn't changed. He's the same yesterday, today, and forever. Modern day thinking has caused some to conclude that when it comes to His provision, marriage is excluded, but this isn't the truth. If there's any semblance of this notion in our minds and hearts, we need to abolish those thoughts and renew our minds to God's Word.
God has given us His Word so that we can walk with Him and learn to structure our lives so that we walk in His truth and not become blinded by the tricks of the devil. Numbers 23:19(NLT) tells us, "God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind." Modern times may bring higher levels of intelligence and convenience, but God is not moved by any of it. We are modernized only to the extent that He allows us access to His wisdom through Jesus Christ. History has proven that as we know more, we think of more clever ways to destroy one another and turn our backs on God. As believers, we can never allow humanity's advances to cause the truth of God's goodness and sovereignty to slip in our minds and hearts.
Marriage is the institution God set up from the very beginning, with Adam and Eve. Marriage belongs to Him, and He has given it to us because it serves His plan and purpose. Heavenly Father is not like us. We vacillate constantly with our plans, intentions, and desires; but God never does. Marriage is a blessing, and again, like all blessings, it belongs to God. We are absolutely in right standing to pray in the powerful name of Jesus Christ for this blessed union to come to pass in our lives.
Some of us think and pray for marriage as if it's a new thing that God has to do in our lives. Marriage has already been established in His Word as part of His Will. It is as organic and natural to life as breathing. Many have tried to take marriage outside the boundaries of God's plan, and they are missing the blessing altogether. It would be absurd to think for one moment that God doesn't know the best person for our lives and hasn't included this in His plan for us. He knows us far better than we could ever know ourselves, and there are some qualities in our personhood that have yet to mature. There are areas where we should have grown beyond the baby's milk stage, but we haven't. It impossible for God to fail and He never makes a mistake. Marriage will naturally come into our lives when walking in His Will through Jesus Christ is the greatest desire of our lives. This is the level of spiritual maturity that puts out the welcome mat for God's treasures.
In many instances, many single believers are out of balance when it comes to their expectations for marriage. They want to receive much but give little, and of course, none of us will ever admit to such a thing, but the reality is that being out of balance in this way will not allow for the kind of spiritual maturity marriage requires. In Exodus 16:16-20(NLT), God has given us a tremendous example of how He views balance. This passage tells us, "16 These are the LORD's instructions: Each household should gather as much as it needs. Pick up two quarts for each person in your tent." 17 So the people of Israel did as they were told. Some gathered a lot, some only a little. 18 But when they measured it out, everyone had just enough. Those who gathered a lot had nothing left over, and those who gathered only a little had enough. Each family had just what it needed. 19 Then Moses told them, "Do not keep any of it until morning." 20 But some of them didn't listen and kept some of it until morning. But by then it was full of maggots and had a terrible smell. Moses was very angry with them."
An understanding of God's Will and Word regarding His provision is absolutely critical. Singledom comes with all kinds of lists, tips, questions, and analysis, and these all claim to move the dial further along. Some of them might actually be helpful, but the reality is that faith comes by hearing the Word of God. Faith requires truth, and only the truth will bring the victory Christ has given us. When we lack the humility to deliver everything over to God, we are prioritizing our agenda over His. We begin asking for all kinds of qualities and characteristics in the person we will marry, when we ourselves are not equal to what we're asking for. We want someone loving, compassionate, loyal, and generous, when some of us haven't worked those fruits into our own lives sufficiently.
God told the people, "Gather what you NEED." It's obvious from their actions that they couldn't be trusted to be true to their own needs. They took more than they needed, and this brought about a stench that the Father would not tolerate. Here's the thing we can't afford to miss; God knew their needs, and this was spiritually and perfectly calculated into His provision. Please make sure you don't miss the revelation of this awesome truth. Because God's provision could in no way be manipulated, those that gathered a lot, had nothing left, and those that didn't gather enough had just what they needed.
The gratitude and understanding of God's perfection and sovereignty cannot be out of place when we are desiring marriage. The desire for marriage is not outside of God's Will. It is a benefit of being in His Will. He, and He alone, takes care of what's in His Will. ■
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
"Balance Requires the Right Measurement", written for findchristianman.wordpress.com. Copyright©2022. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
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