Did You Lack Anything?
And he said to them, “When I sent you out with no moneybag or knapsack or sandals, did you lack anything?” They said, “Nothing.” He said to them, “But now let the one who has a moneybag take it, and likewise a knapsack. And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one. For I tell you that this Scripture must be fulfilled in me: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors.’ For what is written about me has its fulfillment.” And they said, “Look, Lord, here are two swords.” And he said to them, “It is enough.” (Luke 22:35-38)
In these final hours before the cross, Jesus prepared His disciples for a change. Once, He sent them out with nothing—and miraculously, they lacked nothing. God’s provision was supernatural, constant, and clear. But now, He tells them to take their belongings, even to buy a sword. What changed?
Nothing changed about God’s care and provision, but the method would shift. Jesus was about to be numbered with the transgressors, fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecy. The cross was near, and the world would treat the disciples the way it had treated Him. Persecution would inevitably come. The season of miraculous provision had not ended, but God was now about to provide through practical means – through obedient preparation, through wisdom, and sometimes through hardship.
Jesus was not contradicting His earlier instructions; He was purposefully inviting them to trust again – this time in a different way. God’s provision is not a formula or some kind of magic. Sometimes He multiplies loaves and fishes; other times, He tells us to bring a bag and a sword. Either way, the call is the same: obedience.
When God calls you into something uncertain, don’t let fear or anxiety rule your steps. Don’t hesitate because you don’t understand how it will all work, just do what He says. If He says “go,” then go. If He says “stay,” then stay. Trust that God always sees the whole picture, even when we don’t.
Jesus modeled this perfectly, knowing full well the pain ahead, and He still obeyed the Father’s will of willingly being counted among sinners to save us. Jesus didn’t trust in comfort or clarity, He trusted in the Father – even unto death.
This is a call to follow in the footsteps of our Savior. Whether God leads you by miraculous supply or by practical preparation, let go of the worry that tries to grip your heart. Say “yes” to His will. Lay down the need to understand every detail, and walk forward with open hands. Where God is guiding you, He will provide for every need, in every season, and in every calling.
Take time to thank God for His provision and ask for forgiveness when you have tried to control outcomes or let fear guide you instead, and then ask the Father to teach you to trust Him like Jesus did, being obedient to do whatever He calls you to, and walking in the confidence that trusting in His provision brings. And may we all learn to walk in our calling as Jesus did, saying, “Father, not my will, but yours, be done.”