TODAY IS…

the ideal day to expect the unexpected.

“And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush.”  Exodus 3:2a NKJV

When our faith is strong we know to expect wonderful things from God. This is completely in keeping with what the Bible teaches us.

“They will speak of the glorious splendor of Your majesty – and I will meditate on Your wonderful works.” (Psalm 145:5 NIV).

But the Bible also demonstrates the ability of God to surprise us in how He makes Himself and His will known to us. Therefore, we should always be prepared and expect the unexpected from Him.

It seems reasonable to imagine that Moses was surprised on the mountain when confronted by the burning bush that was not destroyed by the flames. It is just as reasonable to imagine that Moses was even more surprised when the voice of God came from within the flames. Fortunately for the people of Israel, Moses listened and obeyed in spite of the unexpected method that God chose to inform him of his destiny.

When God called to Samuel while he was sleeping in the tabernacle, he assumed it was Eli calling out to him.

“Samuel did not yet know the Lord because he had never had a message from the Lord before.” (1 Samuel 3:7 NLT).

Although it surprised Samuel that it was God speaking to him, he did not question the reason once Eli, in his wisdom, told him who it was calling him and how to respond.

There was also Paul who prayed to be able to visit Rome in order to help the Romans grow spiritually. God did answer Paul’s prayers and he finally arrived in Rome, but it was as a prisoner. Even that didn’t happen until Paul had been shipwrecked and bitten by a poisonous snake, among other things.

Paul’s trip to Rome did happen, although certainly not in the manner that he had expected.

For hundreds of years, those who believed in God looked forward to the Messiah that God had promised. When it was revealed to the world that Jesus of Nazareth was the one who had been sent to save all of mankind, many were disappointed. That unassuming, kind, gentle son of a carpenter was certainly not what they were expecting from the creator of heaven and earth.

It is not for us to always know, nor is it for us to question, the reasons and methods of God. It is only for us to have complete faith that everything He does has a purpose.

God shows Himself through unexpected means, to unexpected people, answers prayers in unexpected ways and gave the world an unexpected savior.

Perhaps it is a wise thing, where almighty God is concerned, to always expect the unexpected.

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Taken from “TODAY IS….A Gift From God”, (C) 2013 Tony Casson