“A prudent (wise) man foreseeth the evil (danger), and hideth (gets prepared): but the simple (foolish) pass on (continue blindly on), and are punished.”
Proverbs 22:3
Proverbs is a book of wisdom. In its pages, we can find many contrasts between what the wise are like, and what the foolish or wicked are like. When looking at Proverbs 22:3, we notice that a wise person will look ahead, seeing danger approaching and prepare for it. On the other hand, a foolish person will not pay any attention to what is getting ready to happen and ends up suffering for it.
I know that the church is full of teachings that say, “Don't worry, Be happy.” We hear teaching and preaching all the time that says, “God would never let his people suffer.”
Alternatively, “If you have faith, you don’t need to concern yourself. You’re just giving in to fear. After all, God gave the children of Israel manna in the wilderness.”
That all sounds wonderful, but is it scriptural?
“By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which is by faith.”
Hebrews 11:7
It was faith that caused Noah to believe God’s warning to him that danger was ahead. It was faith that caused him to move with fear and get prepared.
Could God have saved him and his family without the ark? Absolutely! It was all a matter of obedience. If Noah hadn’t built the ark and provisioned it as instructed by God, the fact is, Noah and his family would have died in the flood.
In Genesis chapter forty-one, another account of preparing for disaster is told. The King of Egypt has two dreams one night, very troubling dreams. A young man named Joseph, known as an interpreter of dreams is called to the king to explain the dreams.
The dreams are a warning from the Lord, there would be seven years of plenty followed by seven years of severe famine. Unless something is done tens of thousands of people will die.
Joseph is full of God’s wisdom. He instructs Pharaoh what needs to be done.
“Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint officers over the land, and take up the fifth part of the land of Egypt in the seven plenteous years. And let them gather all the food of those good years that come, and lay up corn under the hand of Pharaoh, let them keep food in the cities. And that food shall be for a store to the land against the seven years of famine, which shall be in the land of Egypt; that the land perish not through the famine.”
Genesis 41:34-36
In Proverbs once again there are some words of wisdom concerning preparation for hard times. We are instructed that there are four things, which are little upon the earth, but they are exceedingly wise. One of which is:
“The ants are a little people not strong, yet they prepare (make ready, put up) their food in the summer…”
Proverbs 30:24-28
The Lord Jesus; Himself gives us this warning:
“Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves…”
