“Long before Zacchaeus couldn’t see Jesus, the tree was already planted to meet his need.”

Matthew 6:8

There is a certain assurance that we should have about life since we are believers. This assurance has nothing to do with expecting everything to always go our way, but instead having everything to do with resting in knowing that God will always provide. He’s concerned with every minute detail of our lives. There is nothing He doesn’t know and there is no need that He cannot fill. Sometimes He uses us to meet the needs of others and these are times that we should be eager to serve. In Zacchaeus’ case, his wanting to see Jesus would allow him to provide and also be provided for.

Tax collectors were despised as they were Jews who worked for the Roman Empire. Zacchaeus was no different. He was the chief tax collector in Jericho and this work allowed him to be wealthy. When he heard Jesus was coming through Jericho, he ran ahead of the crowd to get a glimpse of Jesus from a sycamore tree because he was short in stature. He lacked the height to see Jesus, so the tree afforded him the view (Luke 19:1-4). That alone should cause us to stop and take inventory of our own faith. While this story of a tree may seem trivial to some, consider the symbolism in it: our desire to be faithful and  our desire to honor God makes up for what we lack. Our lack is canceled when we endeavor to go beyond the captivity of only considering what we do not have. Zacchaeus did not let his short stature stop him. And when Jesus called him down to tell him that He would fellowship at his home, Zacchaeus found salvation and those who were financially needy were provided for (Luke 19:5-9).

In Matthew 6:8, the Word says, “...your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.” Isaiah 65:24 says, “Before they call I will answer;  while they are still speaking I will hear." To take this a step further, God sending His Son to die for us before we were even cognizant of needing a Savior is indicative of His nature to provide before we know that we are in need. I can name, as I am sure you can, countless times where I came into a situation that was already resolved because God had gone before me. The need didn’t even register because it had already been taken care of. I didn’t even experience the captivity of lack because God, in His preemptive wisdom and provision, had already made a way. There is a song where the lyrics say, “Where there is no way, He’ll make a way.” Zacchaeus just wanted to see Jesus. He never dreamed he’d be hosting Him at his house. The Jews probably thought there was no way Zacchaeus would ever find salvation and redemption. The sycamore tree proved otherwise.

Being captive to lack starts in the mind and is manifested in our words when we say, “I don’t have……” God knows what we don’t have, but His provision is not based on what we have, but on His nature. I’ve often heard that anxiety can be described as worrying too much about the future. I sometimes think about upcoming situations and then think about what I have or don’t have to meet the needs of those situations. We should all work to be more like Zacchaeus. He saw an opportunity to see Jesus and his needs were met. We should do the same: just seek to see Jesus and our needs will also be met.

Prayer for Release: Father God, You know my needs! You know what provision will be necessary for me today, tomorrow, and next year. Thank You that through the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit, I can just focus on Your Son and all that You have already done for me, and my needs will be met.