"To Go" or "Not to Go"?

God Speaks through Circumstances 

 I first learnt about the providence of God way after I became a Christian. Not that I was opposed to the idea but that I was not aware of the idea all together. At the youth group I attended we were considering the great Christian doctrine for the bible studies and divine providence was one of them. During that same time a book by Richard Belcher was released and made very good reading on the topic. I came to realize that God has not only created everything in the heavens and the earth below but is also actively upholding everything by his great power. Well that was about 10 years ago. This lesson was brought forth these past few days.

I had a great opportunity to relocate to a smaller town and take up a managerial position that would result in a career leap by light years! The subsequent events proved to me that the Lord had not approved this shift. 

Dr. Sinclair B. Ferguson

My wife refused to move or even consider the matter! I pleaded over some good three days to no avail. I thought perhaps a discussion with the church elders would help when they came for oversight the following day. I woke up preparing to be very convincing as to why I thought taking up the job was in our best interest. However all my arguments were shatter by a sermon via a podcast I heard by Sinclair Ferguson on Jacobs funeral! Imagine, it was not on “God’s Will” or “Divine Guidance” and therefore I had no clue God would speak to me using this sermon. I was not really paying full attention to the sermon but this illustration brought home the point. He narrated of a young man whom he overheard discussing with his father over a mobile phone about an international job offer he had got to work in Iraq. He was requesting for his fathers advice. Sinclair indicated that this is very rare in our days and he thought that the young man must have been a Christian. He urged us to consult with our parents both physical and spiritual. At that moment, I knew what God wanted me to do that evening when we met with the elders. They agreed with my wife that now was not the best time to relocate and advised that I don’t take up the job.

I phoned the Director and turned down the offer. He was sad that I had wasted their time and was not serious with my career. He couldn’t understand why a decision regarding my work and career move was being made by others on my behalf. He asked me to reconsider and give him a call at midday. He further warned me that that was my last chance ever of working for that organization. In essence, he was blacklisting me and would never give me a positive reference in future employments. It was a great temptation for me but the voice of God was clear. With sadness of heart and pain I called him and told him that I couldn’t take up the job.

Various thoughts went through my mind after this decision. Both positive and negative thoughts. The Lord again spoke through a puritan sermon (William Gouge) on The Progress of Divine Providence which I listened to while driving to lunch and while on the line, I took out my phone and opened the Kindle Book “Trusting God Even When Life Hurts" to continue reading and to my shock, today’s section was about divine providence. In particular that God not only determines who governs but also rules in the decisions that they make. The lot is cast into the lap, but every decision is from the Lord (Prov 16:33)! This was most assuring that God is indeed a God of Providence and that the events of last week were all ordered by Him. As to whether these providence are planted to bear fruit for another generation or we shall live to see the fulfillment of God's plans, I don't know. All I know is that these events have encouraged my faith in God that he still speaks and had spoken to me! O what a joy to hear His voice in providence and to know that he leads. I feel very sinful and unworthy that He should take an interest in me and to speak to me through circumstance. Thank you Lord!