November 23, 2023
Topic: UNDERSTANDING DIVINE STRATEGY (I)
Text: Psalm 105
Memory Verse: “Moreover, He called for a famine in the land; He destroyed all the provision of bread. He sent a man before them – Joseph – who was sold as a slave. They hurt his feet with fetters, he was laid in irons, until the time that His word came to pass, the word of the LORD tested him”. – (Psalm 105:16-19).
“Although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened”. Paul wrote this in Roman 1:21, establishing the fact that un-thankfulness, arises from a state of despondency and a natural, human inclination to forget the good things God has done in the past in the face of a current problem. It is also a carnal man who takes mercy and grace of God for granted – but not David, who in this Psalm gave vivid details of God’s eternal faithfulness.
To praise and be grateful to God therefore, an understanding of God’s strategy needs to be known, because He can work His purpose out through seemingly “foolish” ways (1cor 1:27-29). Take for instance, Abraham’s commission and God’s instruction in Gen 12:1 to leave his country and family to an “unknown” place. He did, until he got to a place in Gen 12:5-6 called Canaan where peoples and nations already were! God then promised immediately to give him the land. How feasible was this, with people living there?
David in the Psalm above (vs 8-12) noted God’s faithfulness to that same covenant, even when it was humanly incomprehensible. Why? That promise came when the people were not only few but were strangers and sojourners! David thought that this was too important to ignore and not thank God.
Dear Christian, bad circumstances should never stop you from praising God because God can prove Himself even in that situation to work all things for your good. David recollected in vs 16-19, that while dwelling in Canaan (promised land); God called “for a famine”- surely, this is not what anyone prays for; BUT this process and the event leading to it, fulfilled God’s purpose of preserving a posterity through Joseph, until the time God’s word and promise came to rich fulfillment! Difficult circumstances, dear friends, should be seen as Divine strategies to test our obedience and stepping-stones to our lifting, (James 1:2-3). We should love and praise God during trials, just as joseph did.
In understanding Divine strategy, put to mind Jesus’ teaching on worries/anxieties that lead nowhere except depression and other health related issues. Jesus noted that, “Look at the birds…, the flowers of the field…” (Matt 6:25-34), and God’s miraculous provision in His Sovereignty. If in the Psalm stated above (vs 37-41), a people with 430 years of hard slavery – no money, no GPS to give direction, physical obstruction like Red Sea with no boat; troublesome, very powerful and well organized/armed nations ahead to dislodge even when they had no arms. They would have to go through the wilderness (no houses etc.), no food, no water, etc. Yet, God made all these available including providing light for travel and darkness for protection! Surely, David thought hard, that indeed God’s strategies are incomprehensible and worthy of thanksgiving.
PRAYER: I regret this day, my lack of understanding of your ways, because I now know that, You are forever faithfully committed to Your covenant to fulfill purpose in my life regardless of the current challenging situation I am. I yield myself to You and promise to praise You, even now.