Story of Joseph

As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. – Genesis 50:20

We can’t control all the circumstances that happen to us in life but we have to remain confident that God is in control and will we will end up exactly where he intended us to be. Joseph was eventually positioned in a place where he would save not only his family but all of Egypt during a famine. This is what we can learn from Joseph’s story.

Story of Job

The Lord blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the former part. He had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen and a thousand donkeys. And he also had seven sons and three daughters. – Job 42:12-13

Many people know the story of Job. He has wealthy, healthy and a righteous man. Then the Lord allowed satan to take all those things away from Job thinking that he would turn his back on God. But this wasn’t the case and God restored everything that Job lost. Though this was a difficult time for Job it was all within Gods will for him. And God restored more back to Job in the latter part of his life. If you are going through anything, know that God is in control and can restore you. Just believe.

Woman at the well

Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.” So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. And because of his words many more became believers. They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.” – John 4:39-42

It just so happened that this Samaritan woman needed to get water from the well at the very time that Jesus was sitting there. This is just a simple thing, getting water. But it was a divine appointment and as a result many people belied in Jesus and followed him. So we need to remember that sometimes the little, simple everyday things that we do can turn into a divine appointment that God had determined for you to have.

Abraham and his son

Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.” Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. “So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided. – Genesis 22:12-14

This was a time of testing for Abraham. He was asked to sacrifice his only son who he loved. Not only that, he waited a long time for this promise of a son to happen in his life. And now God tested him by asking to sacrifice him. Abraham didn’t know that this was a test and God was making provision for him through a ram that was stuck in a thicket. While we are following God obediently, we have to remember that God is making provisions for you that you can mot see. His providence will lead you to what he has provided in the right time.

Story of Samson

Then Samson reached toward the two central pillars on which the temple stood. Bracing himself against them, his right hand on the one and his left hand on the other, Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines!” Then he pushed with all his might, and down came the temple on the rulers and all the people in it. Thus he killed many more when he died than while he lived. – Judges 16:29-30

Samson was a mighty man and killed many of the enemies of the Lords people but he had a lust problem. Delilah subdued him and cause him to lose his mighty power and he was captured by the enemy. Though he was shackles, in his last display of strength, he was able to collapse the building and kill many Philistines in his death. Though this is unfortunate that Samson died this way, it still showed Gods providence in order to accomplish His will. God doesn’t endorse it but he still uses it for a greater purpose.

The jailer

The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized. The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole household. – Acts 16:29-34

You may think that you go to work just to make a living but God has ordained what you do and where you work. It’s Gods providence working here in these verses. The jailer probably thought he was going for a normal night shift at work but this time Paul and Silas were there. It was a divine appointment ordained by God. Don’t neglect the importance of your workplace. God could be using you to save a person or an entire household as what happened in these verses.

Story of Jesus

Who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him. – 1 Peter 3:22

Finally this is the ultimate example of Gods providence. Jesus was born and immediately was in danger of being killed by King Harod. He continued to grow and when he was about 30 started his ministry healing many people and reaching many about the Kingdom of God. Then being captured, crucified and buried people thought it was over but this was Gods plan all along. For Jesus to die for our sins and be resurrected on the third day. Now He sits at the right hand of God with all power, authority and intercedes for us. Everything working out for good! Praise the Lord.