A Simple Lesson in Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth
ββ¦he that gathered little had no lackβ¦β (Ex.Β 16:18).
βNeither was there any among them that lackedβ¦β (ActsΒ 4:34).
ββ¦that ye may have lack of nothingβ (I Thes.Β 4:11,12).
As we can see here, throughout the Bible, God has been concerned that His people do not lack for the basic necessities of βfood and raimentβ (I Tim. 6:8). However, as we shall see, theΒ meansΒ by which HeΒ providesΒ for these necessities has changed. To begin with, when the manna fell in the wilderness, Moses told Israel:
ββ¦Gather of it every man according to his eatingβ¦ And the children of Israel did so, and gathered, some more, some lessβ¦ he that gathered much had nothing over, and he that gathered little had no lackβ¦β (Ex. 16:16-18).
Here we see that God miraculously provided daily bread for Israel during their wilderness journey, and they βlacked nothingβ (Deut. 2:7). We know He also supernaturally prevented their shoes and clothing from wearing out during those forty years (Deut. 29:5). But as we turn to the New Testament, we find that the means by which God provided for the needs of His people changed. At Pentecost, we read,
βAnd all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had needβ (ActsΒ 2:44,45).
βNeither was there any among them that lacked; for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, And laid them down at the apostlesβ feet; and distribution was made unto every man according as he had needβ (ActsΒ 4:34,35).
As you can see, the means by which God provided for His people changed dramatically. Here He provided their needs by instructing them to pool their resources and live in a communal state.
Today in the dispensation of Grace, the means by which He suppliesΒ ourΒ needs has changed yet again. Our Apostle Paul tells us:
βAnd that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we have commanded you; That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothingβ (I Thes.Β 4:11,12).
Once more we see that the means by which God provides His people with the necessities of life has changed. Today a Christianβs needs are met by God as he goes about βworking with his hands the thing which is goodβ (Eph.Β 4:28).
And so we are reminded anew that while God Himself never changes, the way in which He deals with men has changed dispensationally throughout the ages. source
