Provisions

Matt.6:25-26 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?

As biologists and managers we try our best to provide the very best for the wildlife that is in our care. Many of us have spent many hours in school to learn as much as possible to better take care of our beloved critters. We plant the very best foods for them to eat and do other things to enhance their habitat. We even sometimes have to do some predator management to protect our babies. We do all of these things and even more to have a strong and healthy population on our managed properties.

When I think about these provisions that I personally make for the wildlife I manage, I cannot help but think about God’s provisions for us. I think even us trained biologists have a thing or two to learn about provisions from our Lord. It is amazing how He takes care of all His creation. From the fowls of the air to the flowers in the field, God provides for them. However, the Bible says that we are much better than they are to our Heavenly Father.

As most of you know by now the wild turkey is my favorite species of wildlife. Since the mouth of June is the time when poults, baby turkeys, are hatching out all over the nation, I would like to use the mamma hen to illustrate this Bible text. It is amazing the instincts that God provides all wild animals. For the next few devotions we will see how the mamma hen takes care of her poults from the instincts and lessons that God provided her with. All the while illustrating how God takes care of us.

As most of you know, turkeys are ground dwelling birds. Every activity that they perform is on the ground except for sleeping and sometimes avoiding danger. The exception to this rule in turkeys is the mamma hen. Once all of her eggs are laid, all of her activities are on the ground until her eggs are hatched and her offspring can fly. Imagine what she and her clutch are up against.
1. Predation
2. Problems with Incubation (The elements)

Hopefully during this series of devotions you will understand how God provides for nature and how God provides for you. Remember this phrase said by Jesus in our text, “Are ye not MUCH better than they.”

In the next few devotions you will see how turkey hens provide for their poults and how God provides for His people. You will see:
1. Provision of Schooling
2. Provision of Substance
3. Provision of Security
4. Provision of Strength

If you are part of the family of God you are blessed to have the Heavenly Father as your personal provider. Please join us next week to see how the mamma hen provides for her babies by teaching them some things and how God “schools” us on some things to better take care of us.

God Bless and Happy Hunting.

Posted by Mark Newell