In life, we all need sources. A source is any thing or place from which something comes, a supplier of something that we cannot produce on our own. God is the ultimate Source for all our Spiritual, physical and emotional needs, He only uses people and things as channels. The present COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on people and businesses has made it necessary for us to rediscover God as our Source.

Daryl Coley summed up this idea in his ageless song, The Giver. He said, “Everything we need He is.” All through the Bible, we are told that God is the source of everything that is good and pleasant. “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights …” (James 1:17). Paul was a man who understood God as the Source. He said, “For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen.” (Romans 11:36 NLT). Again, he said, “Yet for us there is [only] one God, the Father, Who is the Source of all things and for Whom we [have life] … (1 Cor 8:6). That was why Paul could confidently declare, “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19).

EL-SHADDAI

One of the earliest revelations of God to the Patriarchs was His name El-Shaddai, often translated as “God Almighty.” “When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless.” (Genesis 17:1). God would later say to Moses, “I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty…” (Exodus 6:3). Some Bible Scholars believe that El-Shaddai also means “The All-Sufficient God” or God that is more than enough.

This meaning is derived from the Hebrew roots El, for God and Shad, which is symbolised by the bosom of a nursing mother. It is a recent realisation by science that a mother’s milk contains all that a child needs during the nascent stage of life. That’s how the WHO came about their emphasis on ‘Baby Friendly’ breastfeeding. Just as the mother has enough milk to take care of her baby, God was revealing Himself as the One who is able to sustain His people at all times. He would go further to reveal Himself to Abraham as Jehovah-Jireh, The-Lord-Will-Provide (Genesis 22:14).

SOURCE AND SUSTAINER OF LIFE

God is the source of life. In the beginning He breathed life into Adam and he became a living soul (Genesis 2:7). Moses told the children of Israel that “He is your life and the length of your days” (Deut 30:20 NIV). The Psalmist called Him the fountain of life, “For you are the fountain of life, the light by which we see.” (Psalms 36:9). Paul said, “For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.” (Colossians 3:3-4).

Not only is God the source of life, He is also the sustainer of life. He is able to provide all that we need for our sustenance. Jesus spoke these words to His disciples, “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? ²⁶ Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? ²⁷ Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?” (Matthew 6:25-27). The Psalmist said to God, “When you open your hand, you satisfy the hunger and thirst of every living thing” (Psalms 145:16).

If He is the source and sustainer of your life then no one can snuff it out before your time. Jesus assured his disciples, “Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. ³⁰ But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. ³¹ Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.” (Matthew 10:29-31). Our hairs are not just counted, they are numbered! It means that God knew the exact hairs that fell off whilst you were combing your hair this morning. That should give us an idea of how God meticulously watches over our lives. If a sparrow does not fall to the ground without God’s permission, then nothing can happen to the believer without God’s permission. That is something to rest assured of. That was why when Pilate boasted that he had power to crucify or release Jesus, “Jesus answered, “You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above…” (John 19:11). That should be our response to people when they threaten us.

HUMAN CHANNELS

Although God is our Source, He uses people and things as channels in our lives. We should see our jobs, talents, business, profession, relationships as channels through which God meets our needs, but they must not take the place of God. Many times, people say to us, “I’ll always be there for you,” but we know that when the chips are down, not many people would be there for us. That is because human beings are limited. God is the only one who can always be there for us.

Often, God brings people into our lives, uses them, but when their season is over, He lets them go. God doesn’t want us to develop dependency upon mere men. We can see that in the life of Elijah. God told him, “Get away from here and turn eastward, and hide by the Brook Cherith, which flows into the Jordan. ⁴ And it will be that you shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.” (1 Kings 17:3-4). After some time, the brook dried up and the ravens stopped coming. The assignment of the raven in Elijah’s life was over, it was time for a fresh instruction. “Then the word of the LORD came to him, saying, ⁹ “Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. See, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you.” (1 Kings 17:8-9).  If Elijah had kept looking to the raven, he would have missed the supply at the widow’s residence. We must be sensitive to the times that a particular season is over and see the new door God is opening. Let’s stop banging on a door that God wants shut.

God doesn’t want us to make humans our source; we are not meant to look to or lean on any man. God had strong words for those who lean on men: “Thus says the LORD: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man And makes flesh his strength, Whose heart departs from the LORD.” (Jeremiah 17:5). If someone promises to do something for you and then fails, it is okay, they are not your source! Placing our dependence on people as our source opens the door for disappointment and hurt.

GOD IS ENOUGH

If you have nothing left but God, you have enough to start all over again. No doubt, the COVID-19 pandemic and its consequent economic impact has affected many people. Some businesses have been shut for over three months, people are already counting their losses. This has left people in a state of despair. However, it is important to understand that your business is only a channel, it is not your real source. God is your eternal Source and with Him, no situation is irredeemable. Amaziah, king of Judah, had invested huge resources to hire mercenaries to help him prosecute a battle against the Edomites. God told him not to proceed with the plan. Amaziah was concerned about the money he had already invested, if he was going to lose everything. “Then Amaziah said to the man of God, “But what shall we do about the hundred talents which I have given to the troops of Israel?” And the man of God answered, “The LORD is able to give you much more than this.” (2 Chronicles 25:9). God is able to make up for whatever may seem to be lost. God can command blessing upon a business such that the revenue from the remaining part of the year can make up for the lost time and money.

STAY CONNECTED TO THE SOURCE

It is our connection to the source that guarantees our supply. We must stay connected to the ultimate source of life in order to make it in life. Jesus said  “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5). The saying is true, “any river that forgets its source would dry up.” Unfortunately, when we face crisis, the first thing that suffers is our relationship with God. But that is exactly when we need Him the most. When things are tough is not the time for us to abandon those disciplines that strengthen our faith such as prayer, Bible study and fellowship.

There is a place meant only for God in your life, never let anyone or anything take that place. Let no one ever point at you and say, “I made him.” This was the reason Abraham rejected an offer from the king of Sodom. “But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have raised my hand to the LORD, God Most High, the Possessor of heaven and earth, ²³ that I will take nothing, from a thread to a sandal strap, and that I will not take anything that is yours, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich’” (Genesis 14:22-23). Abraham recognised God as the maker and owner of all things, being connected to Him is having access to all things in heaven and earth. In times like this, you need to strengthen your connection with the Source. He will restore and help you recover what has broken down in your life. When God is your source, your life would be a miracle, your life would be inexplicable.