I am a big "providence" guy. Though it's probably not the most popular theology, I believe that the circumstances and situations of our lives, even when painful, are either given by God or allowed by Him for reasons that are often beyond our understanding. Does this mean God brings about evil? By no means! Yet, he does permit tragedy in our lives. If we don't believe in a God who chooses to permit difficulty in our lives for our growth and for His glory, then we come to believe in a more theologically disturbing alternative: a God who is too weak or unwilling to help.
What brought this to mind was my study of Stephen's defense before the Sanheidran in Acts 7, particularly hen he mentioned Joseph and his family going into Egypt and eventually becoming enslaved for hundreds of years until their rescue by God through the leadership of Moses. What struck me was the necessity of slavery in order to move the people of Israel into the land of Promise. For, if the Hebrews enjoyed a prosperous life in the Nile Delta, why would they ever leave to pursue a land they had never seen? Moses' call to follow him out of Egypt, into the desert and into armed conflict with the inhabitants of their new real estate venture might have gathered a dozen people. Instead, God's providential timing and His plan for blessing in the midst of pain brought the entire Israelite nation out of Egypt as one! The years of pain and degradation left the Hebrew people longing for anyplace other than there.
You may be going through a trial today, as well. I will not call evil "good" or in any way dismiss the tragedies you may face; however, I do believe that no matter what, God is in control of your life and your circumstances. And that is cause to worship Him, whether your are in Egypt or the Promised Land.
Damascus steel is the strongest and yet most flexible steel used by man. It starts out as "pig iron", but as the impurities are burned away in the furnace not once but multiple times; as the steel is hammered paper thin and folded over itself, hammered and folded, hammered and folded . . . it becomes a substance that can be honed razor sharp and hold its edge; that can be bent in an arc so that the tip touches the hilt - and it will spring back to its original form with no cracks or warping. It is not the original nature of the metal that makes it so - it is the heat and pounding it has undergone that makes it able to stand the test.
ReplyDeleteGood thoughts, mom.
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