Readings for today: Genesis 24-26
I had a professor in seminary who once delivered a lecture at a prestigious academic conference. During his talk, he shared a story about flying into a new city where he had never been. He hailed a taxi at the curb and asked the driver to take him to his hotel. Along the way, he needed to stop for something but was in a hurry so prayed a quick prayer that the cab driver would be able to find a parking spot close to the store. When they pulled into the lot, another car was pulling out right next to the door. He was able to run in and get what he needed. He praised God for getting him a parking spot. After his lecture had finished, there was a time for question and answers. One of his colleagues stood up and challenged him on his fundamental understanding of what had happened in his story. He grew animated as he challenged my professor, saying, “How dare you suggest God cares about parking spaces when so many people are suffering around the world today. How can you claim God answered your prayers for something so trivial when He refuses to answer the prayers of others who are living in life-threatening circumstances?”
It’s a challenging thought. Especially when cast against the backdrop of the monumental evil and suffering around the world. Who are we to claim God’s personal and direct intervention in our lives when so many cry out to Him and their prayers seemingly go unheard or unanswered? I admit I wrestle with this tension myself, mainly because of the places I’ve been and the things I’ve seen. But then I read a passage like today where it is clear God intervened in the life of Abraham and his servant. He orchestrated a divine appointment at a well between the servant and a seemingly random woman who turned out to be a kinsman of Abraham and a perfect match for Isaac. Every step of the way seemed preordained as God led the servant to a particular region of the Middle East and a particular city. He arrived at a particular time at a particular place where the women were gathering to get water. He asked for a particular response from the woman he approached and as he finished prayer, Rebekah happened to be the next woman up in line. It’s an astounding string of events that leads the servant to the exact family he was looking for at the exact right time to meet Rebekah who was at the exact right age to be married. One could ascribe it to chance, I suppose, or fate. But as Christians, we don’t believe in such things. We believe in God who upholds the universe by His power and holds all of human life in His hands. Who are we to challenge Him? Who are we to say what God can or cannot do? Who are we to suggest God is somehow being unjust or unfair or arbitrary or capricious?
The providence of God is, by definition, mysterious. We cannot answer for why God chooses to intervene in some places and not others or in some lives and not others. We cannot answer for why God prioritizes the seemingly trivial at times rather than the serious and life-threatening. We cannot answer for why God says “yes” to some prayers and “no” to others. What we can do is trust the following about God’s nature and character. God is omniscient. He knows all and sees all and His understanding is way beyond anything we might begin to comprehend. It’s entirely possible God is acting in ways we cannot see to bring about His perfect will. God is eternal. He doesn’t just take temporal factors into play when He makes His decisions. He keeps eternity in view. God is good. He knows what is best for us and always acts in our best interest even when we aren’t sure what that might be. God is omnipotent. He is more than able to more than we can ever ask or imagine. This is why we can trust in His providence even when we don’t understand.
Readings for tomorrow: Genesis 27-29