Article April 27, 1918 Issue

Sufficiency

EVERETT EDGAR KING

In these days when there seems to be such a great shortage in the world's food supply, it is instructive to review Bible history and see how in times past those who were willing to obey and trust God had their needs met on different occasions. This was true in the case of Hagar and Ishmael. Hagar had taken food and water with her for a journey into the wilderness, and when this supply was exhausted, she and her son lay down to die; but the cries of the lad were heard by his heavenly Father, who showed them where there was a well of fresh water. Mrs. Eddy says on page 7 of Science and Health: "The 'divine ear' is not an auditory nerve. It is the all-hearing and all-knowing Mind, to whom each need of man is always known and by whom it will be supplied."

While the children of Israel were wandering in the wilderness during their passage to the land of Canaan, they were fed on manna and on quails. Divine Mind bountifully provided for them in spite of their murmurings against Moses, who had so wonderfully delivered them from the bondage of Pharaoh. Later on in the same journey, when the supply of water failed and they had little hope of finding another, Moses smote the rock in Horeb according to the command of God, and water came forth to supply their need. When the famine came in the land of Gilead, Elijah was warned by God that he should leave that country and dwell by the brook called Cherith. Water was provided by the brook and food was supplied by the ravens. When the brook dried up, God directed him to a widow of Zarephath, who, He said, would sustain him. We are all familiar with the story of how she shared with him her last morsel of food, and how the meal and the oil wasted not until the day that God sent rain upon the earth.

At the time when the wine had failed at the wedding in Cana of Galilee and his mother had appealed to him for relief, Jesus rose to the occasion by demonstrating that Mind is the true source of supply. Because he always obeyed God's law he knew that God would sustain him in any activity which he undertook. On account of the spirit of ready obedience which the beneficiaries showed, the supply fully met the need. When Jesus and his disciples needed the tribute money, Jesus told Peter how to get it. Peter obeyed without a question, and he found it in the fish's mouth, just as Jesus had told him. The divine supplies are generous, and they are sufficient for the occasion. Each day's needs are met when they come. Spiritual food is not hoarded, yet there is enough for each day.

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