What Can We Expect From God?

The CAN-DO Bible® Devotional Year 2 — Trimester 2 — Day 24

Photo by Leo_Visions on Unsplash

This past week, I was reminded again that God truly gives good gifts (Matthew 7:7–11).

After my husband divorced me, I made a very intentional decision. I chose to take Isaiah 54:5 as truth for my life:

For your Maker is your husband; Yahweh of Armies is his name. The Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer. He will be called the God of the whole earth.

I even had that verse engraved on my wedding band, which I still wear to this day. To some, this might seem extreme. But when you’ve been abandoned more than once, it becomes very easy to entrust your heart to the One who has never left you and never will.

Since that time, I’ve seen God’s hand in specific, practical ways, bestowing gifts only He could give.

One of the biggest came in 2022. I had retired from corporate life and was trying to see if I could make it as a writer. I had some money set aside in my 401K and decided to purchase a small cargo van. My dream was to travel to festivals, sell books, and live the “van life” for a season.

What I didn’t know then was how rare those vans had become due to pandemic shortages. For months, a wonderful woman at a Ford dealership called me every time one came available. These vans were in high demand — so much so that people would often snatch them up within hours. Yet, at just the right time, God made sure I got one. With only six miles on it, I drove away in late 2022 with a brand-new van for $24,000. It felt like a kiss from heaven.

Over the next year, I used it for a couple of festivals and camping trips. But by fall 2023, I had started working full-time with Compassion International, and my need for the van diminished. Then, in 2024, God blessed me again with a little 2013 Subaru Impreza. It wasn’t brand new, but it allowed me to pick up grandkids from school and go places that the van never could. Another gift at just the right time.

Recently, I realized it was probably time to sell the van. After all, I was paying insurance on a vehicle I hardly drove. When I checked its value, I was stunned: the van I bought for $24K is now worth between $25K and $27K! Very few vehicles in the U.S. ever appreciate in value, and usually only after decades as “classics.” Yet God gave me a gift that not only carried me through a season but also increased in worth — just like the parable of the talents (Matthew 25).

As we read today of the principle of firstfruits in Numbers 15, we are reminded that the Israelites were told to bring the first and best of their harvest as an offering to the Lord. In a way, that van was a firstfruit in my writing journey. I dedicated it to Him, and He multiplied it.

And so, like the psalmist, I find myself saying:

Yahweh lives! Blessed be my rock. Exalted be the God of my salvation (Psalm 18:46).

Romans 15:13 sums it up best:

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope in the power of the Holy Spirit.

That’s what I’ve experienced. God gives good gifts. Sometimes they look like vehicles, sometimes like opportunities, and sometimes simply like peace in the middle of change. But whatever form they take, they always arrive at just the right time.

So today, I am praising God for His faithfulness and for reminding me that He is not only my Redeemer — He is also my generous Husband who loves to bless His bride.

Great is Thy Faithfulness

Numbers 15:8–21

8 “‘When you prepare a bull for a burnt offering or for a sacrifice, to accomplish a vow, or for peace offerings to Yahweh, 9 then he shall offer with the bull a meal offering of three tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with half a hin of oil; 10 and you shall offer for the drink offering half a hin of wine, for an offering made by fire, of a pleasant aroma to Yahweh. 11 Thus it shall be done for each bull, for each ram, for each of the male lambs, or of the young goats. 12 According to the number that you shall prepare, so you shall do to everyone according to their number.

13 “‘All who are native-born shall do these things in this way, in offering an offering made by fire, of a pleasant aroma to Yahweh. 14 If a stranger lives as a foreigner with you, or whoever may be among you throughout your generations, and will offer an offering made by fire, of a pleasant aroma to Yahweh, as you do, so he shall do. 15 For the assembly, there shall be one statute for you and for the stranger who lives as a foreigner, a statute forever throughout your generations. As you are, so the foreigner shall be before Yahweh. 16 One law and one ordinance shall be for you and for the stranger who lives as a foreigner with you.’”

17 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 18 “Speak to the children of Israel, and tell them, ‘When you come into the land where I bring you, 19 then it shall be that when you eat of the bread of the land, you shall offer up a wave offering to Yahweh. 20 Of the first of your dough you shall offer up a cake for a wave offering. As the wave offering of the threshing floor, so you shall heave it. 21 Of the first of your dough, you shall give to Yahweh a wave offering throughout your generations.

Romans 15:1–9a

1 Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 Let each one of us please his neighbor for that which is good, to be building him up. 3 For even Christ didn’t please himself. But, as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.” 4 For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that through perseverance and through encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. 5 Now the God of perseverance and of encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, 6 that with one accord you may with one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

7 Therefore accept one another, even as Christ also accepted you, to the glory of God. 8 Now I say that Christ has been made a servant of the circumcision for the truth of God, that he might confirm the promises given to the fathers, 9a and that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written,

Psalm 18:43–48

43 You have delivered me from the strivings of the people. You have made me the head of the nations.

A people whom I have not known shall serve me. 44 As soon as they hear of me they shall obey me. The foreigners shall submit themselves to me. 45 The foreigners shall fade away, and shall come trembling out of their strongholds. 46 Yahweh lives! Blessed be my rock. Exalted be the God of my salvation, 47 even the God who executes vengeance for me, and subdues peoples under me. 48 He rescues me from my enemies. Yes, you lift me up above those who rise up against me. You deliver me from the violent man.

Psalm 18:49, Romans 15:9b

49 Therefore I will give thanks {9b praise} to you,

Yahweh, among the {Gentiles} nations, and will sing praises to your name.

Romans 15:10–13

10 Again he says,

“Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people.”

11 Again,

“Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles! Let all the peoples praise him.”

12 Again, Isaiah says,

“There will be the root of Jesse, he who arises to rule over the Gentiles; in him the Gentiles will hope.”

13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope, in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Psalm 109:21–31

21 But deal with me, Yahweh the Lord, for your name’s sake, because your loving kindness is good, deliver me; 22 for I am poor and needy. My heart is wounded within me. 23 I fade away like an evening shadow. I am shaken off like a locust. 24 My knees are weak through fasting. My body is thin and lacks fat. 25 I have also become a reproach to them. When they see me, they shake their head. 26 Help me, Yahweh, my God. Save me according to your loving kindness; 27 that they may know that this is your hand; that you, Yahweh, have done it. 28 They may curse, but you bless. When they arise, they will be shamed, but your servant shall rejoice. 29 Let my adversaries be clothed with dishonor. Let them cover themselves with their own shame as with a robe. 30 I will give great thanks to Yahweh with my mouth. Yes, I will praise him among the multitude. 31 For he will stand at the right hand of the needy, to save him from those who judge his soul.

Meditation Moment

Dear God,

Your loving kindness, Yahweh, is in the heavens. Your faithfulness reaches to the skies. Your righteousness is like the mountains of God. Your judgments are like a great deep. Yahweh, You preserve man and animal. How precious is Your loving kindness, God! The children of men take refuge under the shadow of your wings. They shall be abundantly satisfied with the abundance of Your house. You will make them drink of the river of Your pleasures. For with You is the spring of life. In Your light we will see light. Oh continue Your loving kindness to those who know You, Your righteousness to the upright in heart (Psalm 36:5–10).

Amen.

Meditation Music Moment

Is this your first time reading a blog from The CAN-DO Bible®? Subscribe and Follow: medium.com/@temahloralee

Purchase this trimester of The CAN-DO Bible® today!