Tenth Round Knockout预览

His Providence

Plague 6: Boils

As Pharaoh’s heart became harder, the plagues became more intense and personal. Next, God instructed Moses to toss dust from the furnace into the air, and as a result, horrible boils or sores broke out on men and animals. The magicians of Pharaoh’s court were helpless. They could do nothing. Egypt’s little-g gods were useless in ensuring the health of the nation (Sekhmet, a goddess with power over disease got crushed). But still Pharaoh refused to let God’s people go.

God is provident over our wealth and our health. His will prevails. Do you understand the providence of God in your life? You may work hard and work smart and have impeccable credentials, but God determines whether or not you will advance. The providence of God’s hand moves us and moves the events of history. Have you stretched beyond your own understanding and begun to trust in His? You can do everything “right” and succeed. You can do everything “right” and fail. God’s providence is over and above all and goes beyond human understanding.

So much of life is flat-out unexplainable. Why our life turns the corners it does is beyond figuring out. Only the providence of God can give explanation to the twists that leave us scratching our heads. Some people derail faith by throwing a penalty flag on God’s actions, while others learn to embrace whatever He brings. Those who derail unknowingly claim with their attitude and actions to know more than they do. To the contrary, those who embrace find comfort in letting a trusted Guide lead the way.

Joel and Emily Skaggs are embracers. With a beautiful little girl already, and another child on the way, suddenly they’re considering the possibility of a little boy with Down syndrome. They were confident of their decision to continue the pregnancy. The Skaggs embraced the providence of God, knowing that in His sovereignty He chose their family to receive the blessing of Seth. It wasn’t an accident, a defect or a handicap. As parents, they will struggle as we all do, but sweetness will blossom in their marriage too. Seth is my little buddy at church. High fives and hugs are our connections as the Lord has used him to teach me about His providence.

Pharaoh should have learned of God’s sovereignty through the first six plagues, but Round 6 is complete, and he staggers back to his corner.