Corona Devo 719

When David arrived at Mahanaim, he was warmly greeted by Shobi son of Nahash...and by Makir son of Ammiel from Lo-debar, and by Barzillai of Gilead from Rogelim. (28) They brought sleeping mats, cooking pots, serving bowls, wheat and barley, flour and roasted grain, beans, lentils, (29) honey, butter, sheep, goats, and cheese for David and those who were with him. For they said, “You must all be very hungry and tired and thirsty after your long march through the wilderness.”  ~2 Samuel 17:27-29

King David and a group of his loyal followers were (literally) fleeing-for-their lives from David's son, Absalom. Their trip had already been stressful and long, and it was nowhere near over.

But the Lord provided respite for David and his crew in the warm greeting and provision of friends. Three men met them at Mahanaim and the supplies, food and kindness that they shared with David humbles me.

May it also move us to greet someone (warmly!) at their "Mahanaim" today.

We know people that are making a long march through the "wilderness" today.

We know people whose spirits/bodies/hearts/minds/health are very hungry and tired and thirsty today.

How can we warmly greet them today?

The men at Mahanaim brought sleeping mats, cooking pots, serving bowls, wheat and barley, flour and roasted grain, beans, lentils, (29) honey, butter, sheep, goats, and cheese for David and those who were with him (2 Samuel 17:28-29). We might not have sheep and goats, but we do have flour, beans, butter, cheese and the like. What can we do with them today to bless someone trekking through a wilderness in their lives?

Who is God placing on our hearts right now that is "very hungry and tired and thirsty" (in any sense of the definition)?

A few years ago, when my mom passed, I recall a friend of mine bringing over (what I remember as) dozens of liters of soda, juices, and bottles of water. Somehow she knew that our days would be full of family and get-togethers, and that beverages would be a simple but necessary need. She was right. I am still thankful...not for (just) the drinks, but for when she arrived at our "Mahanaim" and warmly greeted me and my thirsty crew by providing beverages. She did that because she knew that we must all be very hungry and tired and thirsty after our long march through the wilderness of grief.

Good friends of ours just endured a major surgery this week for one of their teen children. We've been deep in prayer for the child and the family too. The stress, worry, fear, and even helplessness in walking through something like that would be overwhelming, and I wanted to support them but not (at all) intrude. I made a meal and some goodies to share but I just couldn't feel settled on when the "right" time would be to bring it to them. The child wasn't home from the hospital yet, and I didn't know if the parents were with him or at home.

Then I read the Bible today. These verses told me that it was time to bring a warm greeting and food because they must all be very hungry and tired and thirsty after their long march through the wilderness of surgery and in ramping up for their next phase of "what's next". The details (who was home) weren't my concern--God would work them out.

And of course, He did. The parents and child came home a few hours after we dropped the food. Mom said she was too overwhelmed to eat, but that it blessed her because her crew was fed and happy. That was my prayer in doing it, and this is God's plan in planting the very hungry and tired and thirsty in our hearts and minds.

So...who is arriving at Mahanaim that needs us today? Who pops in your mind that must be very hungry and tired and thirsty after their long march through the wilderness of whatever they are facing today?

Let's meet them.

Meet them with a smile, a meal, a note, a phone call, a visit, or whatever they (specifically) need. It might be help with their taxes, it might be beverages for funeral gatherings, it might be sleeping mats. Ask God to show you, and He will.

What do they need? Shobi son of Nahash, Makir son of Ammiel, and Barzillai of Gilead thought-about/empathized-with/planned-out what David and his crew would need, and they brought sleeping mats, cooking pots, serving bowls, wheat and barley, flour and roasted grain, beans, lentils, (29) honey, butter, sheep, goats, and cheese for David and those who were with him. (2 Samuel 17:28-29).

And they did it out of kindness. David was warmly greeted by these guys at a time when he needed support. That is provision that's priceless.

The family of Christ provides respite for others with warm greetings and provision in God's name. It's humbling to receive this and a blessing to give it.

May we be moved today to meet someone who is very hungry and tired and thirsty after (or in) their long march through the wilderness. May we greet them warmly and with provision. And may God be glorified through it.

Blessings,

Sarah

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com