Miraculous Provision

Miraculous provision reminds us that God supplies every need when we step out in faith. Trust Him to provide in unexpected ways.

“The full cost is to be paid … from the royal treasury out of the taxes of the provinces beyond the Euphrates River, and that without interruption. And whatever is needed … it is to be given to them daily without fail.”—Ezra 6:8–9 NASB

To many Jews, it must have seemed that the Temple would never be rebuilt because it was an overwhelming and impossible task. Returning from exile, they had limited resources and faced enemies determined to prevent their efforts.

At first these enemies succeeded in having the king of Persia stop the work. But years later, the work resumed because of the bold inspiration of God’s prophets.

Once again, their enemies tried to stop them, appealing to Darius, the new king. After searching the records, Darius learned that the Jews had been ordered to rebuild the Temple by King Cyrus himself. As a result, Darius ordered everyone to “stay away from” the Jews and their work (v. 6).

Amazingly, Darius also ordered the Persian Empire to pay for the entire project. They were to be given “whatever is needed…without fail” (v. 9). No one was to violate this edict upon penalty of death. The command was to be “carried out with all diligence” (v. 12).

These Jews found that when they stepped out in faith and acted in obedience, God miraculously provided for them from a very unexpected source, their enemies were silenced, and God’s work was finished.

Today, God still honors this kind of boldness and rewards people who live by faith. Don’t give in to discouragement or threats. Be strong in the Lord. He is ready to meet your needs, even in miraculous ways.

Reflection Question: Where do you need to trust God’s provision in your life?