Then Elisha said, “Listen to the word of the Lord; thus says the Lord, ‘Tomorrow about this time a measure of fine flour will be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria.’” — 2 Kings 7:1
A little girl is taken captive by a marauding enemy general. She ends up being instrumental in his coming to faith. Highly classified military plans keep getting leaked to the other side. Then an army despatched to capture the source of the leak is blinded. When they attack again they hear the sound of two armies marching against them; so they flee. Their retreat ends up reversing the economy of the nation they were trying to invade; transforming it from abject poverty to incredible abundance. In less than 24 hours. Literally, overnight.
Such are the paths of providence that we are able to trace in just two chapters of God’s Word (2 Kings 5-7). Hopefully, this causes us to contemplate the greatness of His sovereignty; His ability to superintend the minutiae of our lives with surgical precision to bring His sovereign purposes to pass. Yet without being the author of sin; or causing us to sin.
Hopefully this will also cause us to reflect on a potential danger: the danger of taking His providence for granted. After all, we’re well aware of how constant exposure to brutality and bloodshed can make us insensitive to violence. But are we aware that perhaps constant exposure to the mercies of God might desensitise us to His providence?
Sure, we may give thanks for His spiritual and material blessings to us. But in addition, can we pause to consider how these blessings have come our way? For in attempting to trace the paths of His providence, hopefully we will realise, to some degree, the extent of God’s love for us, and the richness of His mercies towards us (Lam 3:22-24). And may this add a depth to our worship and thanksgiving that has not been there before.