There is grain in Egypt

Gen 42:1 When Jacob learned that there was grain for sale in Egypt, he said to his sons, "Why do you look at one another?"
Gen 42:2 And he said, "Behold, I have heard that there is grain for sale in Egypt. Go down and buy grain for us there, that we may live and not die.

On March 30, 2008 I preached from this text at The church@brookside.While reading Charles Spurgeon's Morning and Evening (a must read for every believer!) I was blown away by Spurgeon's insight on this text, God seems to speak to me every time I read Spurgeon's words. As it has often been said, it's a pretty good idea for all of your spiritual heroes to be "dead guys" because there is no chance for them to fall into a moral failure.

Spurgeon correctly draws a parallel between God's provision for Jacob in his day and God's provision for Christ's followers today. There was no way for Jacob to foresee the life saving provision of grain (in the midst of a great famine)which God would provide. Likewise we receive God's full and abundant provision for our lives from the most unexpected sources. To carry the Biblical truth even further, the provision of grain in Egypt was made possible because of the sinister plot of Joseph's brothers to sell him off as a slave to Egypt. What man meant for evil, God used for good....pretty cool, huh?

In recent months I have witnessed my own "grain in Egypt" story. As you know 2 years ago I began to lead a little band of mostly elderly believers to replant the once great Wornall Road Baptist church here in Kansas City. From a small group of 20 with no money and very few resources, God has given us great abundance. Our attendance is well over 100 and we enjoy connecting to 4 "daughter churches" who share our building. Money has never been a problem, God has always provided, leadership has never been a problem, again God has provided.

Today in our worship service we ordained to the pastoral ministry Kumar Venugopal, Kumar was born in India and raised as a devout Hindu. Today, by the sovereign grace of God Kumar is a Christian. Beyond his conversion, God has richly gifted him as a teacher, preacher, evangelist and leader. Our church needed a pastor to serve on our team who could lead in the area of evangelism...Kumar is that pastor. For those of us at The church@brookside, there was "grain in India". God met our need from the most unlikely of places...pretty cool, huh?

Now I am praying for grain for the Light House. My full time voactional ministry is serving as the Executive Director of the Light House. The Light House is a ministry to mothers and their babies. We are a state licensed residential maternity home and adoption agency. We have assisted with more than 1000 births and 350 adoptions.

In recent weeks the number of young ladies we are reaching has steadily increased as have all of our expenses. Mother's Day is a big day for the Light House, nearly 40 area churches will conduct special "baby bottle offerings" for us. But for now, and I mean today, we are facing critical financial needs. Daily we pray for God's provision, and today is no different. This coming week is critical for us. Our "grain bins" are empty...and yet we know there is grain in Egypt...maybe you are the one, like Joseph in Egypt through which God will chose to supply our need. If you have been patient enough to read this blog to this point...it maybe because God is going to move you to provide the "grain". In all of my 25 years of ministry, I have never faced a week like I am about to face...our ministry needs are so great, and our resources are simply not enough.

Each day as we open the mail at the Light House we are blessed by our partners who support us, and do so faithfully...but for this week, for the time between now and Mother's Day the donations from our regular partners will not be enough. Yet, the grain will come...and next Sunday evening I look forward to sharing with you a very current "grain" miracle...and maybe God intends to use you in that miracle.