Isaiah 8: 9 - 11
Well, maybe it wasn’t Coke, but this is a great story…
Marcia, my wife, is a missionary to International Students at Michigan State University in East Lansing. A great blessing of God came to her ministry in the form of the ability to purchase a house VERY near to the campus. It was perfect. Plenty of room for English and Bible classes to meet, an attached apartment for caretakers and income, and so close to the housing of the students that were most being served by this ministry. And they had 100% funding to buy it!!
The only problem was that it was also close to a house of worship of a non-Christian religion. And they were quite vocal at the city council meeting in speaking out against the approval of this house for such purposes. Since the house was not going to be a residence, the city council must review and vote on it for approval. At that time, it was tough for new things like this to be passed.
To make matters worse, a particular city council member was dead set against it. And made it clear that he was! Well, when it came time to vote on it that evening, for some reason, he stepped out to get a drink. While he was gone, they voted, and passed approval for Marcia’s house! When he returned, with Coke in hand and a dismayed look on his face, the council member re-took his seat and they continued on with the night’s business.
How real verse 10 which we just read is in a time like that! Try to make a plan against God? He’ll defeat it. Say something to oppose God? It won’t stand. When God has planned for something to happen, it can’t be stopped!
“God is with us!” it says at the end of verse 10. “If God is for us, who can be against us?” says Romans 8: 31. He IS for us, and as given us the body and blood of His Son for us.
Thank god today for the plan of this house, and the plans that he has brought to reality in your life. Thank him for frustrating the plans of wickedness against you and your plans that he wills!
BTW – The vote count that night? 3 – 2!!! A tie = disapproval
- Richard M.