Sometimes God allows us to participate in His plans – and sometimes he doesn’t. Either way, we get blessed to be amazed at how He gets things done. Here are some examples…
1. When we get to participate – clear instructions what/where/when
Genesis 6:13-16 – And God said to Noah, “I have determined to make an end of all flesh; for the earth is filled with violence through them; behold, I will destroy them with the earth. Make yourself an ark of gopher wood; make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and out with pitch. This is how you are to make it: the length of the ark three hundred cubits, its breadth fifty cubits, and its height thirty cubits. Make a roof for the ark, and finish it to a cubit above; and set the door of the ark in its side; make it with lower, second, and third decks.”
Exodus 25:23-30 –“And you shall make a table of acacia wood; two cubits shall be its length, a cubit its breadth, and a cubit and a half its height. You shall overlay it with pure gold, and make a molding of gold around it. And you shall make around it a frame a handbreadth wide, and a molding of gold around the frame. And you shall make for it four rings of gold, and fasten the rings to the four corners at its four legs. Close to the frame the rings shall lie, as holders for the poles to carry the table. You shall make the poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold, and the table shall be carried with these. And you shall make its plates and dishes for incense, and its flagons and bowls with which to pour libations; of pure gold you shall make them. And you shall set the bread of the Presence on the table before me always.”
Matthew 21:2 – Jesus then sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied there and a colt with it. Untie them and bring them to Me. And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them on immediately.”
Acts 9:10-12 – And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for a man of Tarsus named Saul; for behold, he is praying, and he has seen a man named Anani′as come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.”
2. When we get to observe God at work, acheiving a plan/promise in the face of incredible odds
More than 700 years before Jesus’ birth, Isaiah prophesied that a virgin would give birth to a son, and that his name would be Immanuel, which means “God with us”.
But you, O Bethlehem Eph′rathah,
who are little to be among the clans of Judah,
from you shall come forth for me
one who is to be ruler in Israel,
whose origin is from of old,
from ancient days.
God amazes me. With no specific instructions to Joseph or Mary, Jesus was born in Bethlehem.
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- According to some sources, in the month of March, 8 B.C. (the month Joseph and Mary were married), Caesar Augustus decreed that all inhabitants of the Roman Empire should be numbered, that a census should be made which could be used for effecting better taxation. Mary was already pregnant with Jesus, so it was unavoidable that Joseph and Mary would need to travel during her pregnancy to comply with the decree.
- Since Joseph was of the family and line of David, as told to us in Matthew 1, Bethlehem was the registration place for people from the line of David. So Joseph and Mary traveled to Bethlehem. The trip probably took almost a week.
- Bethlehem was overwhelmed with the influx of people coming to register for the census. It is no wonder that all the places to stay would be full. So Jesus was born in a lowly place where animals were kept, and placed in a manger to keep him warm.
- With such humility, Jesus said “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
Is your soul at rest?