Our Provider!

"It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.' "

(Matthew 4:4)

This is a verse Lord Jesus uttered making a comparison between two entities: bread and the Word of God. Just having a look at the background of the scene where He told this, Jesus so as to fulfill all righteousness underwent baptism with water, saw a heavenly scene where the heavens opened, saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, lighting upon Him, heard the voice of God. Immediately after being in the beautiful presence of God, He was into a path of wilderness, fasting, and hunger. When He overcame them, we see that Angels came and ministered to Him. As a children of the living God, made in His own image, we can be assured that He prepares a table for us even in the wilderness, He is a God who provides us with manna, He is a God who satisfies us with goodness. All these Jesus knows very well -- the way God lead His people in the wilderness, the way he fed Elijah through ravens, etc. And Jesus also knows that His Father God is good enough to provide Him food even in the wilderness. He also knows that His God feeds even the birds of the air. So Jesus wants to say that let our daily bread be not a point to ponder in our life. He also knows He has to cross the path of wilderness.

Then how does the Word of God be compared to the bread?

Lord Jesus in order to give a steadfast reply to Satan, quotes the Word of God given to His people in the wilderness (see Deut 8:3). Why our God has said that man will live by the every word that comes from the mouth of God? If you see v. 1 in the same chapter (Deut 8:1), God clearly commands His people to do all His commandments so that they will live, multiply, enter and possess the promised land. God has placed us in this world with a purpose – this we all know. And once it has been accomplished, He will take us to the land He has promised us. So Jesus wants to re-emphasize the Word of God that it is not only by bread alone but also by the Word of God which will make us to live a righteous life, a life pleasing to Him, to accomplish the purpose for which we have been planted, to do His very will; to be fruitful and multiply in all our endeavors, in all the things we do, in every thing God wants to see us – multiplying, expanding, increasing; to sum up, to be fruitful. The very living of ours before our God by His Word will help us to enter into the promised land, to eternity, to be with our Creator, to be with our Sovereign Lord, to be with our Savior, and to possess it as ours because the one who owns is our Father, our God, He has given us the privilege to call Him as "Abba, Father!" So as His heirs we have the privilege to possess the Land for ours.

Dear beloved people of God, when we see one another interesting but contrasting event happened in Peter's life, he too as like Jesus had an experience, a wonderful revelation, in the Mount of Transfiguration, where he saw Jesus transfigured, Moses and Elijah descended, His face shone like the sun, His clothes became white as light. It was really a beautiful experience. But when comes to the purpose of God, Peter failed to accept the will of God through the Word of God, rather he tried to be an obstacle because of his mortal thinking. Instead, he should have followed how Jesus overcame the situation by replying with the Word of God.

So I just want to emphasize that whatever be the situation or the circumstances, maybe we are in need of much a lot of things, just be in the presence of the Lord, hear His Word, and act accordingly. This will really help you to "live and multiply, and go in and possess the land". I am not against bread, but be know for sure that the God who feeds the birds of the air is with us. He has created us in His own image and He will look after all our needs. May He be our Jehovah Jireh!