The Father’s Loving Care
“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.”
Matthew 10:29-31
Matthew 10 records one of Jesus’ longest teachings in scripture. Jesus is sending his twelve disciples out to share the news of God’s kingdom throughout Israel. There is a shift from the immediate mission to Israel to the future, ongoing, mission of spreading the gospel throughout the world. Jesus warns his disciples that there will be persecution and followers of Jesus will suffer as Jesus’ suffers. This passage contains the well-known scripture that we should not fear those who can only kill the body, but we should fear God, who has authority over the eternal destiny of body and soul. As Jesus calls his disciples to take up their crosses and embrace God’s will above their own, which will lead to suffering, we find verses 29-31 and the loving encouragement that they are.
The Smithsonian Magazine estimates that there are over 50 billion birds in the world and that 1.6 billion of them are house sparrows.* Looking at just the United States, it is estimated that 13.7 million birds die each day.** Birds die from eating pesticides, being eaten by feral cats and other animals, flying into objects like wires and windows, and loss of habitat.*** Whatever the cause of the death of 13.7 million birds per day, God knows every single one of the birds and the reason they die. Stop for a moment and think about the vastness of God’s knowledge and the intimate care he takes for each of the 50 billion birds in the world. God knows each bird individually so that when they need food, he provides it. Matthew 6:26 reminds us, “Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.” God is intimately involved in feeding the birds. Birds are not “lucky” when they find food and shelter to survive. God is providing for them at every moment of the day.
Matthew 29:30 goes on to talk about the hairs on our heads. The average person has 100,000 hairs (and hair follicles) on their head.**** The average person loses between 50 and 100 hairs each day from washing and brushing their hair to it falling out when you are sitting on the couch. New hairs are also growing all the time. God knows every single hair on your head. When one falls out, God knows the new number. When new hairs grow, God knows the number. This is amazing knowledge, but Matthew 10 calls this omniscient God, “your Father”.
Your Heavenly Father is in total control of every aspect of your life, down to the hairs on your head. He plans and cares for the smallest details. Often scripture uses the “lesser to greater” type argument. Romans 8:32 is one example. If God didn’t spare his own Son, why would God not give you everything you need? The argument is that God has already given you the greatest gift he has, of course he’s not going to withhold a smaller thing that you need. The same is true for the hairs on our head. God knows all the details of your hair, can he not also control every other aspect of life? The answer is a resounding “of course he can”!
Look at the birds today. Look at your hair brush as you get ready for the day. Remind yourself that your Father is in control and his providential care extends over every aspect of your life.
*** ibid
**** https://www.healthline.com/health/how-many-hairs-on-a-human-head#averages