I have been thinking back through some of the historical accounts in the Bible of where God has shown out big. God rarely does the exact same thing twice, but I believe there is one consistent thing that you will find if you look closely -- you always have to DO SOMETHING and it usually doesn't make sense to the world. Let's briefly look at a couple of those events in history:
The parting of the Red Sea.... God didn't just part the Red Sea, he told Moses to hold out his rod over the sea to part it. He did so and God parted the Red Sea for the Israelites to walk over on dry ground.
The crossing of the River Jordan into the Promised Land.... God told the priests to carry the Ark of the Covenant across the River (which was flooded) and into the Promised Land. The moment the priests stepped foot into the river, it became dry ground for them to cross.
The conquest of the city of Jericho...... God told the people of Israel to march around the city of Jericho... and they did each day until the appointed day that God caused the walls to fall.
God told Noah to build an ark and gave him very specific instructions for doing so. Keep in mind... up until that day it had never rained as the earth was watered by a mist that came up from the ground. Noah obeyed and was ridiculed, but God caused a flood to come upon the earth and destroyed it and everything in it..... except for Noah, his family, and 2 of each animal he had brought in just as God has said.
When the Israelites were in the wilderness God provided manna from heaven to feed them. However, it required them to actually go out and pick up their DAILY supply. God specifically told them to not pick up more than one day's supply. Those who did pick up more than one day's supply of manna found that it all spoiled and they didn't get more the next day.
Peter walked on water, but he had to first get out of the boat.
In order to have eternal life, you have to surrender to Jesus. He is the way..... He is the ONLY way. But you do have to do something... you have to surrender and have no "Plan B".
God led Julie and I to adopt Hannah........ so far He has provided each step of the way, but only after we take the action in that step. As soon as we make the appointment for the first Home Study meeting, the amount is provided. As soon as we make the appointment for the last Home Study visit, the amount is provided...... get the idea.
With that historical background from Scripture, I want to share what God did today..... As I mentioned a couple of days ago, we would have to pay $450 on our first home study visit.... we made that appointment and had that visit and God provided. Our social worker wants to have the 2nd and 3rd visit next week and the last visit (when the last payment to them is due) on 1/5/2011. We really need to get our GBI background checks done and complete our required training prior to 1/5/2011, but we didn't have the money for any of the above, so we pray and wait...... If you have already read Julie's blog from today you know the rest of the story...... A close friend was at work and in the course of doing her job was carrying on conversation with a customer. In the course of that conversation she was sharing about our adoption and how God has provided each step of the way. At the end of the conversation the lady gave her $200 cash to give to us to help get Hannah Home. That $200 combined with $20 that we had already been told we would be given tonight will pay for both the GBI backgrounds and the training. We were literally at the point to where our adoption would have started to slow down if we didn't get these two things done now, but God provided just the right amount at just the right time. This all happened within hours of my making the appointments for the rest of our home study even though we didn't have the money to pay for it all.
God obviously wants to show us (us personally, but also those of you who read our blogs or follow our adoption) that He is in control, that He is the provider, and that we can virtually walk on water if he tells us to as long as we are willing to get out of the boat...... that is what faith is all about.
If you don't hear from us again until after Christmas, we wish you all a Merry Christmas!
Ben
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