Of Chickens and Sheep or: the God who answers!

By Helen Jesze, 8^th March 2024

“Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.”

1 Peter 5:7 ESV

“But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?”

Matthew 6:30 ESV

Recently I heard Jonathan, a young preacher tell a story about his grandparents. It was when they were very young evangelists and had very few openings for ministry and not much money. One day when the larder was almost bare and not much in their purses, they made known their situation to Jesus, believing that somehow he was going to help them. They then went down to the town and held an open-air at the corner of a street. Grandma played her piano-accordion, they both sang and then Grandad preached to a curious crowd which had gathered.

As they came home and approached their little rented house, they could see a large group of chickens walking down the hill in front of them. They turned in their gate and went into the barn. Grandma and Grandad looked at each other in surprise. The chickens stayed there all night and in the morning, Grandma went into the barn and was amazed to find that each hen had laid an egg – 21 in all! She gathered them up and put them in a basket. Suddenly the hens were on the move and walked up the hill again. Grandma followed to see where they were going and they turned into a farmyard. Grandma went and knocked at the door and a woman answered.

“Hello,” Grandma said, “your hens all came into our barn last night and laid a lot of eggs, so I have brought them back to you.” “What?” said the woman, “My husband hates those chickens because they never lay any eggs for us! They must like you, so you keep the eggs!”

Grandma and Grandad were overjoyed at God’s provision, and this wasn’t the only occasion. Every time they had almost run out of eggs, the chickens came again and laid more eggs for them! After they had lived there for three years, they moved somewhere else. One day, the farmer’s wife met Grandma. “Why, you’re the egg- lady!” she exclaimed. “Do you know, ever since you have moved out of that house the chickens have never gone down there again, and they don’t lay any eggs for us, either!!”

God had cared for his children, speaking to those chickens to bring provision for them! They did not have to feed the hens or clean up after them for they simply came, laid their eggs and left again! What a humourous and marvellous story! We serve a God who can speak to his Creation. He brought the animals, birds and fishes to Noah to go into the ark; he caused the big fish to swallow and save Jonah the Prophet from drowning; he put the ram on Mount Moriah so Abraham would have an offering to bring to God instead of his son, Isaac; when Balaam would not listen to the angel’s warning, God caused the ass to speak to his disobedient servant… These are just a few examples where God has shown how he uses animals to fulfil his purposes!

George was in Scotland speaking at a Christian Centre. There was a large area of grass round the building and the lawn-mower had broken down. They had no money to have it repaired, so they prayed for God to help them. That same day some sheep walked up the drive and walked onto the grass. They began to graze, not haphazardly and just anywhere, but they ate from one side to the other, methodically, until all the grass was short and neat again. Then the sheep left and walked off! God had done it again!

I am sure many of you have experienced God’s provision, if not with chickens or sheep coming! I know, many times George and I had very little food or money. Once when we lived in Germany as young missionaries, living ‘by faith’, a Christian man from a nearby village came and dumping a large box of groceries and a 100 German Marks note on the kitchen table, he exclaimed, “There you are then! Please forgive me!” He went on to explain that the Lord had been nudging him to bring us food and money but he had not obeyed. “Then I became ill,” he went on, “and while I was lying in bed, the Lord spoke to me, saying ‘the Jeszes do not have enough food to eat. How many more times must I tell you?!’ So here I am! I’m so sorry!!” Of course we forgave him and thanked him and Jesus so much for this provision. Then there was the time God multiplied the oil in the heating system! The engineer had no explanation that the tank was still so full, although we had had the heating on all the time! There were many other occasions where God stepped in, but that is enough for today.

Perhaps some of you are in need today. I want to encourage you that Jesus Christ said he is the same yesterday, today and for ever. What he has done in the past or for others, he can do for you too! Let’s pray together:

Dear Heavenly Father, your Son, our Saviour said that you care for the birds, the flowers, not even a sparrow falls to the ground but that you notice. Yet we, your children are of much more value than them. So today, I bring every one of my friends here to you. I pray your blessing and provision would fall upon them in a mighty way, that you will provide jobs, food, housing, money – unexpected blessing to come over their path. You are the faithful One, who cares for us. Thank you for your help in the past. Thank you for the miracles and answers to prayer, which we will never take for granted. We give you all the praise and glory, and are expectant for your intervention on our behalf! In the Name of Jesus, we pray, Amen.