Dear Members and Friends of IBCZ,
One of the lessons from Exodus 1, which we studied last Sunday, is that sometimes God disrupts our lives. There will be occasions when God allows certain circumstances into our lives that are difficult and painful, not what we expected or desired. However, we must see that this is an aspect of God’s grace.
God disrupted the lives of the ancient Israelites living in Egypt when a new Pharaoh came to power, one who did not know of Joseph and how Joseph helped save the Egyptians from starving during the seven years of famine. He was exceedingly cruel in his treatment of the Israelites. Yet, through this the Israelites reached the point of being willing to leave Egypt and follow Moses into the Promised Land – a land that was crucially important in God’s purpose for them. If their circumstances would have remained pleasant and enjoyable, they would not have been willing to follow Moses.
There will be times when God wants to move us on to a new act of obedience or a new step of spiritual growth, but we may be reluctant to take that step because we are so satisfied with our present situation. Thus, God may graciously allow some kind of disruption in our life so we will embrace this new thing God has for us.
One person who experienced this in a most severe way is Joni Eareckson Tada, whom as you probably know, broke her neck in a diving accident at age 17. For more than 50 years now she has been a quadriplegic. It took her a long time to get to the point of realizing God was opening a whole new life for her, for she has reached literally millions of people, sharing her faith in Christ from the platform of her wheelchair.
A friend told her shortly after her accident something that changed her whole perspective. He said, “God permits what he hates to accomplish what He loves.” God has a loving purpose for all of us. God may sometimes permit something that not only we hate, but God hates also. In those times let us remember that God is good, and in all things He works for the good of those who love Him.
Grace and peace,
Pastor Bob