All I Have Needed Thy Hand Hath Provided
Not long ago, a decision was made to move from having two very different worship services at First Baptist to having just one. I was tasked with overseeing the transition and the execution of future services. I remember thinking, in the time between the decision and the announced date for the first combined service, “I have no idea how this is going to come together.”
When I say that, I don’t mean I was lost on how to plan a service. I mean this wasn’t an idea that originated with me, neatly outlined with all the details. This was something the board felt God was instructing us to do—and a successful outcome would not depend on our planning skills, but on God’s provision and leading.
In essence, we knew where God was leading, but we didn’t have all the answers.
At that time, I was reading through the book of Exodus, and one day I came across Exodus 31:1–6:
“The Lord said to Moses, ‘See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship, to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver, and bronze, in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, to work in every craft. And behold, I have appointed with him Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. And I have given to all able men ability, that they may make all that I have commanded you.’”
There are chapters of instructions leading up to these verses, and as I was working my way through them, I kept thinking to myself, “This seems like a big ask from God.” There were detailed instructions on how to build the tabernacle and how it should look. I kept wondering, How is Moses going to communicate all this to the workers to get things the way God wants… there’s too many unknowns?
For example, Exodus 26:1 says:
“Moreover, you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen and blue and purple and scarlet yarns; you shall make them with cherubim skillfully worked into them.”
I read this and immediately started asking a ton of questions!
What do cherubim look like? Do all cherubim look the same, or are there variations? Does someone need to explain what cherubim look like to the workers, or is it common knowledge? What direction are they facing? How many should be included? How far apart should they be?
There’s no shortage of supplementary questions that arise when looking at the instructions for how the tabernacle should be built.
But remember what God said in Exodus 31:
“I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship…”
“And I have given to all able men ability, that they may make all that I have commanded you.”
I know those verses weren’t written specifically for me, but when I read them in light of the upcoming transition, it was as if God was saying to me, “You don’t have to have all the answers, because My Spirit is at work in the lives of people to accomplish My will.”
In those chapters and in our story at First Baptist God has put in people the skills and insight to help us follow where He is leading.
If God is leading in a certain direction, then certainly He will arrange and provide for His will. In other words, He is faithful.
Lamentations 3:22–23
“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.”
Psalm 100:5
“For the Lord is good; His steadfast love endures forever, and His faithfulness to all generations.”
Psalm 36:5
“Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens, Your faithfulness to the clouds.”
This Sunday, we are celebrating one year since combining worship services. And when I look back on the last year, I would say with confidence: God is faithful.
I asked around and wanted to share some of the responses to the question: “How have you seen God be faithful over the past year at First Baptist Church Allentown?”
- “God is drawing people to Himself. We are part of the process, but the results are not due to our efforts.”
- “God is moving in the hearts of people to put their trust in Him and to be baptized.”
- “God is bigger than me. He’s using all different gifts in the congregation to accomplish His will.”
- “Relational growth – God is providing a network of relationships between new attendees and established members.”
- “Encouragement through attending a worship service among different generations and people groups—learning, singing, and fellowshipping together.”
- “Significant life change in every generation. There are many stories of what God is doing in people’s lives personally to help make them more like Him.”
Our closing hymn this week is “Great Is Thy Faithfulness.”
This is a hymn that, if you have any background in the church, you’re likely very familiar with it. The Hymn speaks of God’s personal faithfulness to us—His unchanging nature, His daily promises of forgiveness, peace, and strength.
There’s a line in the chorus that says, “All I have needed Thy hand hath provided.” When I think back over the past year, I can say that statement has been true for our church.
I would also say that I still don’t feel like I know the final destination of where God is leading us—and I don’t think I’m supposed to. That way, we aren’t tempted to take the process into our own hands.
However, I do know this: Where God is leading, He will provide. Because our God is faithful.
Adam