“Test me in this, says the Lord Almighty, and see if I will not open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessings that you will not have room enough for it” - Malachi 3:10 (NIV).
Whenever there is a drought in the land there is good reason to ask what would be the cause. Such understanding could be to our benefit.
In ancient Egypt there was once a draught that God from which we capture an important lesson. It all started with Pharaoh’s dream that he couldn’t interpret. Only it was a prisoner called Joseph who came up and advised Pharaoh how to manage an impending famine.
God gave Joseph knowledge what to do by planning ahead. Once the famine came Egypt was well positioned with silos filled with grain. “And the whole world came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph, because the famine was severe everywhere” (Gen 41:57). Planning for lean times was the key to Egypt’s salvation.
Another draught happened during the reign of King Dairus, but this time the causes were a direct consequence of the people neglecting God’s work. “You have planted much, but harvest little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are never warm. You earn wages, only to put it in a purse with holes in it” (Haggai 1:6).
Obsessed with their concerns, God had brought on a draught to them. “You expected much, but see, it turned out little. What you brought home, I blew away. “Why?” declares the Almighty God. Because of my house, which remains in ruin, while each of you is busy with your own house” (verse 9).
To end this draught God advised the people, “Go up the mountains and bring timber and build my house so that I may take pleasure in it and be honoured, says the Lord” (verse 8). This was a draught that the people had the power to manage only by re focusing their behaviours.
Today hereto we could be facing a drought where we need God’s wisdom as ever before. Perhaps God is telling us to plan ahead for lean times. Or it could be that we did neglect His work, obsessed with our needs, and this drought was the only way to capture back our attention.
Prayer for today: Lord Almighty Father, creator of heaven and earth, today with a draught looming in the land from the corona virus pandemic, I seek your wisdom as you gave to Joseph and prophet Haggai, how to overcome seasons of scarcity, and even thrive for your glory!
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08/05/2024 - 09/05/2024 All day“Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:15)
The culture of sharing gifts runs through scriptures and is at the heart of the Gospel. Upon realizing that Jesus Christ had been born the three wise main did not just go empty handed. “On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh” (Mathew 2:11).
When Jacob decided to return to his country, he went with gifts to soften the heart of his twin brother Esau, whom he had left maddened at him for various wrongs. “Then he selected these gifts from his possessions to present to his brother, Esau: 200 female goats, 20 male goats, 200 ewes, 20 rams, 30 female camels with their young, 40 cows, 10 bulls, 20 female donkeys, and 10 male donkeys” ( Genesis 32: 13-15). The reason was, Jacob thought, “I will try to appease him by sending gifts ahead of me. When I see him in person, perhaps he will be friendly to me.” So the gifts were sent on ahead, while Jacob himself spent that night in the camp” (vv 2—21).
Esau was already a wealthy man and had no need of the gifts presented. But Jacob pleaded with him. “Please take this gift I have brought you, for God has been very gracious to me. I have more than enough.” And because Jacob insisted, Esau finally accepted the gift” (Genesis 33: 11). This symbol of good touched Esau, brightened his heart, burying the old acrimonious relation.
Taking after these two instances believers should be in the habit of sharing gifts. We should visit each other not empty handed but like the wise men with gifts, not so much that those we are gifting are lacking, but as a way of blessing them. Proverbs 11:25-26, says, “Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.”
Most importantly we bless each other with gifts because we have received the most important gift there is in life, the gift of salvation. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, today I thank you for the most precious gift of all that you gave me of eternal life through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, and so I pray that I may not hesitate to share this gift and bless those with as much whom you enable me to meet, this I pray in Jesus’ name.
