Who Really Gives - Big Brother or God?

     Sometimes we need to go back to the basics in order to understand and evaluate where we stand as a nation. 

     The percent of Americans receiving some kind of aid from the government is staggering.  But a government such as ours can’t really give without first taking.  Remember King Saul, i.e. “He will take…and give…”

     The most common Hebrew word for ‘give’ in the Old Testament is nathan which has several synonyms including ‘grant,’ ‘bestow,’ ‘deliver,’ and ‘add.’

     The word is first found in Genesis 1:29 where God has ‘given’ every green herb for food.  Then in Genesis 12:7 God ‘gave’ the land of Canaan to Abraham and his descendants.

     Immediately after the Exodus, when the estimated 2 million Israelites were redeemed from slavery and entered the barren wilderness of the Sinai Peninsula, they began to complain for lack of food and water.

     And so it was that God provided, or ‘gave’ them bread, meat, and water during their 40 years in the wilderness prior to entering the Promised Land.

     It was during that time God taught them to depend on Him for their needs on a daily basis.  Those lessons were so significant that Paul mentioned them in the New Testament.

      “Now all these things happened to them (Israelites during the 40 years between the Exodus and entering Canaan) as examples, and they were written for our admonition (instruction), upon whom the ends of the ages have come.  Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.”  1 Corinthians 10:11

     God’s provision for the Israelites was so significant that the Feast of Tabernacles, which was observed in remembrance of God’s provision, will be celebrated during the future millennial kingdom.

     God provided, or gave, everything that Israel was promised, even the ability to get wealth.

     “And you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who ‘gives’ you power to get wealth…”  Deuteronomy 8:18

     And then God issued a stern warning if Israel should ever forget who He was and what He had done for them.

    “Then it shall be, if you by any means forget the LORD your God, and follow other gods, and serve them and worship them, I testify against you this day that you shall surely perish.  As the nations which the LORD destroys before you, so you shall perish, because you would not be obedient to the voice of the LORD your God.”  Deuteronomy 8:19-20

     Therefore, if any nation forgets the source of their blessings, and/or attributes what they have to any other than God, that nation shall perish.

     Recall God’s symbolic betrothal to Israel.  The bride attributed her provisions to other nations.

     “But she did not know that I gave her grain, new wine, and oil, and multiplied her silver and gold – which she prepared for Baal.  Therefore I will return and take away My grain in its time and My new wine in its season, and will take back My wool and My linen…”  Hosea 2:8-9

     Shortly thereafter northern Israel would be overrun by Assyria and a century later Southern Judah would be overrun by Babylon.

     But God was not done ‘giving’ to His covenant people; past, present, and future.  Let’s go back to Genesis.

     “Then God said to Abraham, ‘As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name.  And I will bless her and also ‘give’ you a son by her… and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of peoples shall be from her.’”  Genesis 17:15-16

     But God’s giving gets even better.  The Prophet Isaiah recorded a future indescribable gift as God revealed a heretofore mystery.

     “Indeed He (the LORD God) says… ‘I will also ‘give’ You as a light to the Gentiles that You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth.’”  Isaiah 49:6

     God would ‘give’ His Son as the Savior of the world.

     God wants to ‘give’ everything freely to those created in His own image.

     It’s not called ‘redistribution.’  God’s provisions are truly a free gift.  We need to get out of the way and let Him do as He pleases.

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