Have you had a God Incident in your life? A coincidence when God remained anonymous?
PAX ROMA
As an example, let us return now to a very familiar story: Jesus early life. After centuries of captivity, slavery and oppression, the birth of Jesus occurs during the Pax Roma, possibly the most peaceful, safe period in the Middle East.
AN INCONVENIENT PREGNANCY
His parents, Mary & Joseph were devout believers, instructed by God. “The angel answered, and said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you, and for that reason, the holy offspring shall be called the Son of God.” (Luke 1:35) They trusted God (Matthew 1:18-25) even knowing, Mary could be stoned to death for having a child out of wedlock. (Deuteronomy 22:20-21).
HAVEN PROVIDED
Mary’s relative, Elizabeth, “barren and advanced in years,” was six months pregnant (Luke 1:7-24), and in seclusion, thus offering Mary a protective haven of empathy, comfort, and escape from Nazareth’s eyes.
CAESAR’S DECREE
Sometime after Elizabeth gave birth to John the Baptist, Augustus Caesar gave a decree “that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth…everyone [proceeded]to his own city (Luke 2:1-5). This offers Mary & Joseph another haven, Bethlehem, where Jesus is born (Luke 2:4-7)
GIFTS FOR THE JOURNEY
Maybe 2 years later, Magi from the East, came (Matthew 2:9-12). They worshiped and offered expensive treasures of gold, frankincense and myrrh to Jesus, King of the Jews. Gifts which would help the family escape to Egypt (Matthew 2:13-14). This saved them from Herod’s decree that all Bethlehem’s children, about Jesus’ age, be slaughtered (Matthew 2:16-18).
Do you see how God orchestrated these events-God incidents, protecting, not just Jesus but Mary & Joseph?
WRITING ASSIGNMENT
Now review your past. Do you see events where His anonymous hand has guided and lead you? God incidents: occurrences, where maybe, unbeknownst to you at the time, God directed your path? If so, write them up as examples and remembrances. Let your family know that God is alive and well in your life and the lives of His people.
READING ASSIGNMENT
Slowly and carefully, read Psalm 91 and Ephesians 1:3-12 regarding God incidents and His character:
Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”
“In Christ we too have been claimed as God’s own possession, since we were predestined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to the counsel of his will so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, would be to the praise of his glory.”
Pray, acknowledging the God Who directs and protects. He has given generations of believers true hope through historical incidents which display His character.