Eat - Eat - Eat

Eat—Eat—Eat

By Judy Vandiver

My grandfather’s favorite words were. . . “Eat—Eat—Eat.” My father is known for repeating the phrase, and now, at every family get together, my brother issues the command: “Eat—Eat—Eat.” It seems like every time we gather, food is the central theme.

It’s not hard to see why family, friend, and other social get-togethers revolve around food. God saw our need for food before He created us. In addition, just as He provided the essential element of water, He provided the nutrition and fuel that would keep our bodies in working order.

Genesis 1:11-13 states:

Then God said, "Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds." And, it was so. The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the third day.

I love that we see a set plan to God’s creation. Nothing was done by happenstance. There was no big bang. All of creation was planned for us. It makes me thing of the days before each of my children were born. Steve and I planned and prepared for their arrival long before their actual birthdays.

When our first child arrived, we named him David. But before he was born, we shopped for a crib, baby clothes, diapers, diapers, diapers. We also made sure we had baby bottles and formula. Our child would need to eat. It was up to us to provide for him and to have those things ready before he arrived.

Before God created humans, He prepared for the arrival. He created vegetation, seed-bearing plants, and trees that bore fruit.

Ah, the anticipation God must have felt as He made the nursery ready; as He stocked the formula; as He made sure our needs would be provided! And it was only the third day. He had more plans to set in place before our birthdays.

When I look at my life, I know that just as God prepared the world for all humans, He also prepared my world especially for me. He planned who would raise me, who my friends would be, and designed a helpmate custom-made for me. He knew what I would face during my days, and He planned strengths and weaknesses that would help me. (Yes, He even planned my weaknesses—places in life where I would have to depend on Him.) He knew where the highlights of my life would be and I believe He smiled. He knew where my darkest moments would be. . . and that will lead us into His next plan in creation. More about that in the next Bible study.

To Ponder on:

1. Think of an event you had to “wait” to arrive. Maybe a wedding, a birth, or a Christmas celebration.
2. What things did you do to prepare for the big event?
3. As the day grew closer, how did you feel?
4. In what ways do today’s verses relate to your anticipation of your big event?
5. What areas of your life can you see that were prepared by God?