There Are No Accidents

 After being without the internet for a week, I am glad to have it back and be able to make a new entry on this blog!

Acts 18:2 And he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome.

Aquila and Priscilla had been through a lot of turmoil when the Apostle Paul met them.  

They had been uprooted from their home and their livelihood in Rome for no reason except that they were Jews.

They had to travel to find a new safe place to live, which ended up being in Corinth.  

 It had to have been a traumatic and emotionally challenging experience for Aquila and Priscilla.

But it was no accident that Claudius commanded all the Jews to leave Rome at this very time in history.

It was no accident that Aquila and Priscilla chose to settle in Corinth when forced to leave Italy. 

It was no accident that Paul’s travels brought him to Corinth after Aquila and Priscilla had settled there. 

It was no accident that they and Paul had the same trade so that Paul could not only stay with them but also work with them to support himself while he shared the gospel with the people of Corinth.

It was no accident that the Apostle Paul was able to establish a church there in Corinth that met, where else, but in the house of Aquila.  

There are no accidents with God.

Even the Emperor of Rome himself, a hater of the Jews, was part of God's "no accident" plans for Paul, Aquila and Priscilla, and the newly formed church in Corinth. 

"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good ..." (Romans 8:28). 

Paul knew this from his personal experience, and we can trust that word for ourselves as well, because there are no accidents with God. He plans and uses even what seems bad to turn our situations into good outcomes if we are loving Him and living for Him.

I don't know about you, but I need that reminder regularly.

There are no accidents with God in control of my life.

They Will Know

 

Ezekiel 12:15 They shall know that I am the Lord, when I disperse them among the nations and scatter them among the countries.

I am currently reading the book of Ezekiel, which is somewhat intimidating to me because of all the unusual and difficult-to-understand visions and messages he gives. However, I keep finding gems of understanding and insight that remind me of the power of God's Word even though I may not understand everything.

For example, by the time I got to chapter 12 in my reading today, I had encountered the phrase, 

                              “They shall know that I am the Lord”

 thirteen times, three of them here in chapter 12. 

Even though Ezekiel is describing all kinds of troubles and punishments because of the waywardness and sinfulness of God’s people Israel, in almost every context, God’s purpose is to bring His people into line and to remind them of His glory and His authority.

In chapter 12 alone I read the phrase several times:

         ✔In social upheaval (verse.15 says when they are dispersed and scattered abroad).

         ✔In physical turmoil (verse 16 explains, when facing famine and pestilence).

God’s purpose remains the same: to bring people beck to His ways. 

        ✔ In destruction and defeat (verse 20  calls it cities laid waste and land becoming desolate).

His purpose is clearly stated as redemptive. 

God, in His love and mercy, does all He can to persuade people to follow Him. 

For me, that knowledge lends a comforting and calming outlook on troubles and trials.

How Could God Do That?

 

2 Chronicles 32:1 After these things and these acts of faithfulness, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and invaded Judah.

What?  After all King Hezekiah had done to serve and honor God, even calling on Him first when the Assyrian army was threatening him and his nation,  after his actively putting his trust and faith in God, the enemy invaded. How could God allow such a thing to happen? Why would He do that?

Being faithful to God does not always mean total lack of conflict or trouble in my life.  Nor does trouble mean God is punishing me for some sin I may have committed.  

Hezekiah was a good, godly, honest king.  2 Chronicles 31:21 tells us he “did what was good and right and faithful before the Lord his God.”  He did not deserve the troubles that came from the king of Assyria.  So why did that trouble come his way?

As we continue the story of the Assyrian invasion, we get a glimpse of possible reasons God allowed those difficulties even though they had been loyal to God.   

Part of the reason God allowed this trouble with Sennacherib may have been to strengthen the resolve of Hezekiah and his people to trust God, to not let troubles affect their resolve to "keep on keeping on." The account of what happens tells us that "Hezekiah the king and Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, prayed because of this and cried to heaven" (v.26). The king had already spread out the letter from the Assyrians as he prayed for wisdom and assistance from God, but now he and Isaiah prayed again. they demonstrated resolve to continue trusting God even though it may have seemed like God was not answering their cry for help.

It also was meant to teach the Assyrians a lesson about the power of the God of Israel. Those enemies were mocking the God of Israel, and God is not to be mocked.  Later in the story we read of what happened. Verse 27 tells us: "And the Lord sent an angel, who cut off all the might warriors and commanders and officers in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned, with shame of face to his own land."

When they were defeated without a single battle it became clear of everyone that Hezekiah’s God was obviously far greater than any other god the Assyrians had encountered.  Now not only Hezekiah and his people knew this.  Now all the surrounding nations recognized the greatness of God as well.  

 Sometimes the reason for our troubles may be more than meets the eye. It may be for more than just our ultimate spiritual benefit.

I want to be Hezekiah-like in how I face my own difficulties, and trust God to use those experiences however He can.

My Purpose

Isaiah 43:7, 10 Everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made … “You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and my servant whom I have chosen; that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he.”

 I find this declaration of God through Isaiah to be affirming to me as an individual believer, follower of Christ, trying to live a life pleasing to God in my own era of history. As a Christ-follower, I am among those called by God’s name, so when I read in these verses that I was created for God’s glory, I am reassured of my value in God’s sight. 

God chose me to be who I am, to look like I do, and to have the unique qualities that I have as a person. I was formed and made in a certain way because God wanted me for His glory; that is my planned value and purpose. I can glorify God no matter what I look like, no matter how polished I am socially, or how educated I may be. I can still fill the slot God intended for me in this life.

God wants me to know Him, to believe Him, and to recognize Him as Creator of the universe, and as the only Savior. Verse 11 makes that clear: “I, I am the Lord, and besides me there is no savior.” That is exciting but cautiously so because the implication in God’s declaration of His purpose for me in these verses is that it is possible for me to not “get it” and to not live my life in His purposeful way. 

I want to fulfill my purpose as God planned it. That is where true happiness will lie, and indeed, I am finding happiness in doing just that.