God Our Provider - All Our Daily Bread Daily Devotionals for 2026

Bible in a Year : 1 Samuel 10-12, Luke 9:37-62

Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin.
Matthew 17:27

Today's Scripture & Insight : Matthew 17:24-27

In 2024, teenager Keegan happily reeled in a two-foot barramundi. But his happiness became elation when his little sister pointed out a tag on the fish. His catch was worth one million dollars as part of an Australian fishing competition. The annual event had been held since 2015; Keegan was the first to win the coveted top cash prize.

However slim the odds of catching that fish, the odds were far lower that a fish caught at random would have a coin in its mouth. But in Matthew’s gospel, Jesus instructed His disciple Peter to “go to the lake and . . . take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin” (17:27).

The context of this unlikely catch was a question of whether Jesus paid the temple tax (v. 24). The irony of insisting that Jesus—God’s Son—pay a tax to support God’s temple, wasn’t lost on Him. He pointed out that the king’s children don’t pay taxes to the king (vv. 25-26).

But there was no need to “cause offense” and distract others from His teaching by being perceived as a tax evader (v. 27). So Jesus instructed Peter to catch that fish, which had the exact amount to pay both His and Peter’s tax! Perhaps in part it was a reminder to Peter—and to us—that God is a provider who is always with His children as they follow Him.

By: Monica La Rose

Reflect & Pray
When have you experienced unlikely events in which you saw God’s hand at work? How does trusting Him free you to live in obedience?

Loving God, please help me rest in Your provision as I follow You.