In Genesis 20 Abram had lied about his wife Sarah, and Abimelech took her to become his wife. Yet God restrained him from doing a sinful act (Genesis 20:6-7). Abimelech was not conscious that God was restraining him, But God kept him from doing what his heart desired. God does not excuse Abram’s sin, but He did not let that stop Him from intervening in Abimelech’s mind and preventing the serious consequences of the sin. God can not olny restrain people’s actions, but even their most deeply rooted desires. No part of the human heart is impervious to God’s sovereign but mysterious control. We must remember not to look at the accounts of scripture merely as biblical history without relating them to our lives and our situations, understanding that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, God NEVER changes!. Romans 15:4 reminds us “For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.” As you read the Bible and meditate on its content, understand the lessons that God gives and the truth that reveals about our mighty God, and learn to rest in the powerful … READ MORE

God intervenes in teh hearts of people so that they make decisions and carry out actions that accomplish His purpose for our lives. This is done in such a way that these people make their decisions and carry out their plans by their own free and voluntary choices. We must understand that if God is not sovereign in the decisions and actions of other people as they affect us, then there is a whole major area of our lives where we cannot trust God. We see in the Old Testament how God moved in the life of Cyrus King of Persia to allow the children of Israel to return to the city of Jerusalem and Israel to rebuild the nation. If we do not believe that the God of heaven is the same yesterday, today, and forever, we can be reminded that in 1948 this same God worked in the hearts of the world leaders to allow the Jewish people to return to the land that God has promised to Abraham, back in Genesis 12. We need to understand that as we live and move through our lives, that God is working in the lives and hearts of men and … READ MORE

When considering how God works in the lives of people, there is no better place to turn but the life of Joseph in the book of Genesis. Joseph was hated by his brothers, sold into slavery, accused of rape, put in prison, forgotten by a prisoner who was set free, and then began his rise. He interpreted a dream for the King of Egypt, placed as second in command of all Egypt, and “happened” to meet his brothers as they came to Egypt in search of food. God in His wisdom used these events to shape Joseph into the man he was, and instead of becoming bitter over all the events of his life, he says to his brothers after the death of their father, “I know that you meant it for evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.” We need to recognize that God has a plan and purpose for all that he allows in our lives, we need to allow Him to work to mold us into his instrument as we wait upon Him to use us as He plans. … READ MORE