How can we trust God's plan when circumstances seem unfavorable? Seeing God’s hand in Acts 7:21 “When he was set outside, Pharaoh’s daughter took him away and brought him up as her own son.” (Acts 7:21) • Moses’ life began with a death sentence under Pharaoh’s decree, yet God orchestrated rescue through Pharaoh’s own household. • What looked like abandonment—an infant placed in the Nile—became the gateway to royal education, leadership training, and eventual deliverance for Israel. • This snapshot reminds us that God’s plan is active even when the setting feels hostile or hopeless. Why unfavorable circumstances do not override divine sovereignty • God rules over rulers – “The king’s heart is a watercourse in the hand of the LORD; He directs it wherever He pleases.” (Proverbs 21:1) – Pharaoh’s daughter, part of an idolatrous empire, became a tool in God’s redemptive storyline. • God’s purposes override human intent – “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good, to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” (Genesis 50:20) – As with Joseph, Moses’ bleak beginning furthered a deliverance far bigger than one life. • God is never late – “He has made everything beautiful in its time.” (Ecclesiastes 3:11) – Rescue at three months old positioned Moses at the precise moment Israel would later need a deliverer. Practical ways to anchor trust when life feels out of control 1. Remember past rescue stories • Moses, Joseph, Daniel—God’s track record proves He specializes in reversals. • Personalize by recalling moments He has carried you before. 2. Filter circumstances through Scripture, not feelings • “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.” (Proverbs 3:5) • Feelings fluctuate; God’s words remain. 3. Lean on the certainty of His character • “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8) • If His nature is steadfast, His plan is dependable. 4. Walk by faith-filled obedience • Moses’ parents hid him “by faith” (Hebrews 11:23). Small obedient steps today prepare the way for tomorrow’s deliverance. 5. Speak truth to the soul • “Why, O my soul, are you downcast…? Put your hope in God.” (Psalm 42:11) • Replace internal murmurs with God’s promises. Scriptures that reinforce the lesson • Romans 8:28 – “We know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.” • Isaiah 55:8-9 – His thoughts and ways are higher than ours. • Psalm 37:23-24 – The steps of a man are ordered by the LORD; though he falls, he will not be hurled headlong, for the LORD upholds his hand. • Jeremiah 29:11 – Plans for welfare, not calamity, to give a future and a hope. • 2 Corinthians 5:7 – “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” Living the truth today • Identify one discouraging circumstance and deliberately place it under God’s authority, affirming aloud that He is working even in what you cannot see. • Spend time meditating on Acts 7:21 this week, tracing how an “unwanted” beginning became the platform for salvation history. • Share a testimony of God’s unexpected provision with someone else; retelling His faithfulness fuels fresh trust. Trust flourishes when God’s unchanging Word outweighs changing circumstances, just as the Nile cradle gave way to Pharaoh’s palace and, ultimately, to the Red Sea’s parted waters. |
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