What other biblical stories illustrate God's intervention through ordinary circumstances? A Sleepless Night and a Sovereign Hand Esther 6:1: “That night sleep escaped the king, so he ordered the book of the chronicles… to be brought in and read to him.” One bout of insomnia flips an empire’s destiny and showcases God’s quiet orchestration. Everyday Errands That Redirect History • Joseph sent to check on his brothers (Genesis 37:13-14) → sold into Egypt → “God intended it for good” (50:20). • Saul hunting lost donkeys (1 Samuel 9:3-4) → bumped into Samuel → crowned Israel’s first king (10:1). • David delivering lunch (1 Samuel 17:20) → hears Goliath’s taunts → slays the giant, launching his public ministry. • Rebekah drawing water (Genesis 24:15-20) → becomes Isaac’s wife, securing the covenant line. • Ruth gleaning grain (Ruth 2:3) → “she happened to come” to Boaz’s field → enters Messiah’s genealogy. Unlikely Conversations That Change Lives • Captive servant girl to Naaman’s wife (2 Kings 5:2-3) → Naaman healed and confesses “there is no God except in Israel” (v. 15). • Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well (John 4:6-7) → entire village hears, “this is indeed the Savior of the world” (v. 42). • Philip meeting the Ethiopian eunuch reading Isaiah (Acts 8:27-35) → gospel carried toward Africa. • Lydia by the riverside (Acts 16:13-15) → God “opened her heart,” and the first European church is planted. Seemingly Random Settings With Strategic Impact • Baby Moses in a Nile basket (Exodus 2:3-6) → raised in Pharaoh’s palace → liberator of Israel. • A Roman census (Luke 2:1-7) → moves Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem, fulfilling Micah 5:2. • Paul’s house arrest (Acts 28:16, 30-31) → unrestricted preaching to all who visited, letters that still disciple the church. Threads That Tie These Moments Together 1. Ordinary circumstances—lost sleep, lost animals, routine chores—sit under God’s precise oversight (Proverbs 16:9). 2. Human choices stay real; divine purpose steers outcomes (Genesis 45:7-8). 3. Each scene advances the redemption story centered in Christ (Ephesians 1:10). 4. What feels incidental to us is intentional to Him; “in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths” (Proverbs 3:6). Living the Lesson Today Insomnia, errands, casual chats—none are too small for God to weave into His saving plan, just as He did on that pivotal Persian night. |
    |