by Robert I Holmes

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I have always believed that God was and wanted to be involved in every aspect of our loves. If our life was a house, he would leave no room unclean and no door unopened. So it has been no surprise to find his interest in my children, schooling, educational pursuits, career, work choices, eating habits, marital relationship, gardening, prayer life and ministry. These elements are not one and the same, and they do not carry equal interest – but he makes much less distinction between them as we might.

So it is that during my time as a life coach I have found him sitting with me in one office after another, whispering secrets, giving wisdom, hinting at ways out for my clients. One might be tempted to call this “market place ministry” for it is a buzz phrase and populist term now. But really, it is doing life together with God. The Oldest parts of the Old Testament might have called it “walking with God” like Enoch did.

It is one of the paradoxes of being prophetic, that sometimes you cannot avoid being part of what happens when your word comes to pass. Joseph interprets the dreams of Pharoah's servants, and foresees seven years of drought following seven years of prosperity - and ends up right in the thick of the action helping the Egyptian Government. Elijah foresees a terrible drought hitting the land if Israel and finds himself living with a widow in Zarepath through the midst of it. Elisha lives through the midst of terrible economic circumstances in Samaria and finally sees the end on a certain day - the markets will flip and food will become available again.

A season change for me

Some years ago I had a dream in which I approached a building, and was lead inside by a master, who ran me through various tests and examinations. As I existed the building I was handed a sword. This process was repeated three times: once for music, once for prophecy and one more time for business. The swords represented anointing, or elements of the call. A weapon in my hand. But they also represented seasons in my life. As I now broach my fortieth year, I also find my attention turning to the third season: business. But like Elijah by the brook, I find myself in something of the same predicament.

I foresaw GFC I, and was signing off on the loan for our new home on the eve of the collapse. We had to make our payments through the last three years without a full time job. I also foresaw GFC II and here we are on the eve of that historic slide, signing off on a newly altered mortgage. I look to the skies and my help does not come from the rain or the clouds. I look to the soil and my provision does not come from there. I gaze to the East, where mighty cities and men of business dwell and my help does not come from there.

"I lift my eyes up to the mountains, where does my help come from? My help comes from you - maker of Heaven, creator of the earth." (Psalm 121:1-3)
"So seek first the Kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and everything you need will be provided." (Matthew 6:33)

So there is Elijah, having declared a drought to King Ahab and having fled to the Cherith wadi (or the brook Kerith) at God's explicit instruction (1 Kings 17:1-5). God provided for him with ravens bringing meat and bread - and the brook provided water for him. But the drought was severe, and the ravens grew tired and Elijah's provision literally dried up. So God told him to go to a widow in Zarepath in Sidon (a small coastal village) many miles walk from where he was. Elijah wrote no newsletter, posted no blog and asked nobody for help.

In the same way, I find myself experiencing a change of season, from full time ministry and travel to a season of work and business. Either way I am called to the prophetic. But in the season behind me I was called to Cherith, and in the season before me I am called to Zarepath. It is ver important, as the brook dries up and the raven stop visiting, that we check in with God and ask for new marching orders.

His eyes scanned the horizon, his ears listened intently to the Maker of Heaven and his feet rose to obey. A widow - hardly a welcoming prospect for provision, but nevertheless he went. He arrived just in time to join her for the last supper - her last meal. Imagine asking someone for their last $10. Imagine arriving at the very end, of the very end and then sharing that meal only to see God break through for you both! That must have been an amazing day. So it is with us,on the eve of financial collapse worldwide, the dark clouds gathering and the wolves prowling about. Our eyes must be fixed on the Author and Perfector of our faith. In him alone lies our provision.

The paradox of provision

The paradox of it though is that the provision lies also in obeying him - and this usually means getting up and saying, doing or being what he called us to be. For Joseph that meant prison. For Elijah that meant a brook and a widows house. For Elisha that meant persecution from a foreign power and a local king. What does it mean for you and I? It surely means we will find provision in obeying the call on our life - having a singular focus to obey what we are told to do, it is counter cultural, counter intuitive and counter rational.

It is not for nothing that Jesus addressed worries about provision with an admonition to seek first the kingdom of God. I don't think this was rhetoric. It was the most practical financial wisdom he could give, "Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God." The key reflection is this: you have got to know your calling. If the provision of God is in the call, you can't afford to be far from that.

There's this scene in Homer's Odyssey where he is guiding a boat past the Sirens and he asks his men to tie him to the mast and cover their ears, and not to listen to his begging or screaming, lest he deceive them into letting him off. He knows the Siren's call is deceptive and will lead him off the path of destiny into destruction! The beguiling call of the Sirens appeal reaches to the spirit and not to the flesh.

Don't you think that's a bit of a parable for life? There are Sirens on every island and rock we pass. I remember her lyrical whisper in high school: this way to sex, drugs and fitting in... I remember her call in university: yes more temptations, this course for success and that one for fame. I knew her beguiling song as I progressed through well paid jobs, executive work and the road toward success.

Underneath it all we must never forget God's calling - there lies fulfillment, there lies satisfaction and there lies provision, in the call!

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