God is in the Details

Posted on July 15, 2013 by Pastor Dave

It has been said that “the devil is in the details,” but I would have to disagree. I believe that it is God who is in the details. Jesus Himself said, “Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But the very hairs of your head are numbered. Therefore do not fear; you are of more value than many sparrows” (Mt. 10:29-31). As we read through the stories in Scripture and listen to the testimonies of Christians throughout history, we can’t help but see the hand of God in the details of life, orchestrating the events to carry out His purposes, which God told Isaiah would “be established” (Isa. 46:10).  Since God is omnipresent (everywhere present) and omnipotent (all powerful), He can be involved in the events of individuals world-wide simultaneously. Many will write off His involvement in our lives calling it “coincidence” or “a stroke of luck,” but in God’s economy, there is no such thing.  I would prefer to call them “God sightings.”  They may be in major events in our lives or in minor details. But to God there are no “big” or “little” issues, since He is omnipotent.  Here are just a few recent “God sightings” in our lives.

     We go for a walk nearly every day, the majority of the time on the same route, but recently decided to take one of our optional routes. We came upon a little girl and her little brother who had been out for a bike ride. The chain had come off the little girl’s bike and they didn’t know what to do. I was able to get the chain back on and get them on their way.
     On a recent trip to Oregon, we wanted to get some strawberries to take home to Montana. The day before we left the weather looked pretty threatening, but we decided to go to our daughter’s favorite strawberry farm to see if we could pick. The girl at the fruit stand told us that the fields were too wet from the recent rains and they weren’t letting anyone pick until the next day. Disappointed, since we had to head back to Montana the next day, we were about to leave, when the girl’s mom, the owner of the farm, showed up and said,” If you don’t mind getting a little muddy, you are welcome to pick.” We had beautiful sunshine while we picked. It wasn’t really very muddy at all, and just as we got our berries weighed and loaded into the pickup, it began to pour! 
     When we got home from our trip to Oregon,  we had a message that a friend from the church I pastored was in the hospital. I went down the next day to see him but he had been released the previous afternoon. I noticed, however that our pastor and Jeremy, a member of the church we now attend were in the waiting room. I went in to see them and discovered that Jeremy was headed in for surgery. He badly injured a knee in an accident while we were gone. I sat down and spent some time with Jeremy before he left for surgery. That Sunday at church his wife told me that since she couldn’t be there with Jeremy, she had prayed that someone would come by to see Jeremy and help him stay calm before surgery.
     We needed to go to Kalispell (90 miles away) a couple weeks ago to see the chiropractor. On the way into Kalispell, our cell phone rang and it was Mark, a businessman in Kalispell, who had been planning a trip to Libby to see us but his wife had had to have surgery so he hadn’t been able to come. He “happened” to see us driving through town. After our chiropractic treatments we were able to have lunch and visit with him, and saved him a trip to Libby.
     Then we got this email from a friend who attends our mid-week Bible study. She shared the following story. “I have been getting my truck and horse trailer ready for a trip to Kalispell this weekend. Earlier I had found a blasted packrat nest in the engine of my truck. The packrat had gotten into the cab and shredded everything from gloves to ribbons to napkins and pulled them out into his nest in the engine. I pulled the nest out and blew the rest of the debris out with the air compressor, getting rid of each and every piece of hay and paper that could ignite. I took the truck and trailer to the Troy o-mok-see last Saturday. When I started my truck that morning, the ‘Fuel Filter’ light came on. It shouldn’t have, since I changed it last summer and it’s not something that needs changing very often. I called a friend who brought up a new filter.  When he opened the housing where the fuel filter is, it was full of packrat debris too!  It hadn’t even occurred to  me that I could get that housing open, or that there was a way for the rat to get in it. One of napkins the packrat had pulled out of the cab was still whole and had apparently blown out of the housing during my trip to Troy.  It was resting against the turbo charger which gets extremely hot. The napkin was scorched on the edge. Thankfully I had only gone to Troy and back (50 miles round trip). If I had gone to Kalispell (close to 200 miles round trip) with that napkin still there, I would have surely had an engine fire! I was cursing the fuel filter problem. Now I’m thanking God for His timing!”
     It’s not the devil who is in the details. He is not omnipresent, nor is he omnipotent. It is God who is in the details. Satan is powerful, but he is no match for our sovereign God. What a comfort and peace it gives to know we can trust the details of each day to Him, knowing that “God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Ro. 8:28). So, “Cast all your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you” (I Pet. 5:7).  “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight” (Pr. 3:5,6).
   
                                                                                                        Forever His,
                                                                                                            Pastor Dave
    
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About Pastor Dave

Until my retirement 2 years ago, I pastored an independent Bible church in Northwest Montana for nearly 38 years. During that time I also helped establish a Christian school, and a Bible Camp. I am married and have children and grandchildren. The Wisdom of the Week devotional is an outgrowth of my desire to share what God is doing in my life and in our world, and to challenge you to be a part.
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