We didn’t have money for the unexpected bill

We didn’t know what we were going to do but somehow I had an anticipation God knew. God had been working on my contentment and the lack of money seemed a perfect challenge for learning more about God’s ability to provide. I decided I wouldn’t be discontented or worried.

In the book Larry and I wrote titled, “God’s Intriguing Questions: 40 Old Testament Devotions Revealing God’s Nature”, Larry and I examine a strange question God asks in Psalm 50:13. It seemed to provide the same challenge for all bill-paying challenge: “Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats?”

God is addressing the Israelites who believe they are offering sacrifices to Jehovah because He is weak, impotent, needy, thirsty, and hungry. The pagans around them have influenced the Israelites to believe Jehovah is like their god which they think actually eats the sacrificed food.

In Psalm 50:10-13, God explains,

“For every beast of the forest is mine,

the cattle on a thousand hills.

I know all the birds of the hills,

and all that moves in the field is mine.

If I were hungry, I would not tell you,

for the world and its fullness are mine.

Do I eat the flesh of bulls

or drinks the blood of goats?” (ESV)

The pagans believe they must bribe their gods in order for their needs to be provided.

But the God of the Israelites wants to provide out of His great love.

God established the sacrificial system not as a means for His people to bribe Him or earn His favor, but to point to the future sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.

God knew exactly how He would generously provide for the most important need of all: reconciling sinful people to Himself.

In effect, God is asking in Psalm 50:13: “What is your motive in giving the sacrifices? I don’t need you to provide for me. I want to provide for you. My resources are unlimited and I am generous.”

TWEET THAT: How much we believe the powerful truth of God’s generous nature can be measured by our level of contentment.

Then we are resting in His assurance He knows what’s best and will generously provide it, just like God did for our unexpected bill.

Soon after finding out about the bill, I heard a crash in our back yard. Our ten-foot-high brick wall was adjacent to a busy street. I used a chair to crawl up and look over the fence. A car had smashed into the brick wall.

Thankfully, the driver took responsibility and his insurance company estimated how much it would cost to repair the brick wall and then gave us a check. When my neighbor who owned a construction company heard of the amount, he said, “I can fix the wall for lots less than that.”

And he did.

And guess what? Yes, you can guess. The unused amount was exactly the amount we needed for the unexpected bill.

I almost felt like I could hear God say, “If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and its fullness are mine.” Interestingly, but not surprising, verse 15 in Psalm 50 says, “…call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.”

God has received glory many times as I’ve used that story to remind myself to be content and also to share with others in my writing and speaking. It reminds me God wants me to be content knowing He will provide according to His will. He is generous and caring.

What other examples or concepts in the Bible assure you God is generous? Or maybe you have a story where God provided in a surprising way. I would love to hear!

If you want to learn more about the questions God asked, check out our two books, one on New Testament questions and one on Old Testament questions:

God’s Intriguing Questions: 60 New Testament Devotions Revealing Jesus’ Nature

God’s Intriguing Questions: 40 Old Testament Devotions Revealing God’s Nature (available Print, Kindle, and Audio)