“… Is There Not A Cause?”
At times, people may not know the cause of their predicament, but in all situations, God is always up to something good in the lives of His children. No wonder The Prophet Jeremiah records proclaimed the word of the Lord saying, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”(Jeremiah 29:11 NKJV)
God had a cause for sending David to the battle-front when Israel was being harassed by the Philistines: He wanted to use David to defeat Goliath, bring victory to Israel (1 Samuel 17),
and eventually enthrone David. Though David did not know what God was about to do, all he knew was that his father asked him to bring food for his brothers. That is why “… David said, “What have I done now? Is there not a cause?” (1 Samuel 17:29 NKJV). However, God had a greater cause for sending him there.
God had a reason for allowing Joseph’s brother to mistreat and sell him off to a strange land. He wanted to send him ahead to make provisions for them and their entire land. “And Joseph said to his brothers, “Please come near to me.” So they came near. Then he said: “I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt. But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life. For these two years the famine has been in the land, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting. And God sent me before you to preserve a posterity for you in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So now it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.”(Genesis 45:4-8 NKJV)
Though he spent some years in one problem or the other, by age 30 God had glorified Joseph and he died at age 110 (Gen. 50:26) – meaning that he enjoyed God’s goodness for 80 years, reigning as the prime minister of Egypt.
Hannah was allowed to be barren for a while. It was because God wanted to give Israel a great prophet through her. A portion of her song of appreciation to God after giving birth to Samuel says, “Talk no more so very proudly; Let no arrogance come from your mouth, For the LORD is the God of knowledge; And by Him actions are weighed. … Even the barren has borne seven, And she who has many children has become feeble.” (1 Samuel 2:3-5 NKJV)
“So, Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground. And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel had been established as a prophet of the LORD. Then the LORD appeared again in Shiloh. For the LORD revealed Himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD.” (1 Samuel 3:19-21 NKJV)
What hardship are you experiencing? God has a reason for allowing it to come your way. He is up to doing something special and glorious in your life. Right now, you may wonder why God would allow such happenings to come your way; be of good cheers. The end will glorify God and bless you mightily.