2 Kings – Bible Study Lesson 10
Just for your thoughts:
2 Kings – Bible Study Lesson 10
Title:
Good Times? No, God-Appointed Moments
"Good timing is not coincidence but God's providence."
– Harold Wilmington
Reading: 2 Kings 8:1–6
The events mentioned in this passage might appear to have happened by chance.
But we must understand that they were events appointed beforehand by God.
Elisha had already told the mother of the boy he had raised to life that there would be a seven-year famine in the land. To escape the famine, she lived in the land of the Philistines. After the famine ended, she returned to her country.
After the specified seven years, she came back from the land of the Philistines and approached the king to reclaim her house and land.
At that very moment, Gehazi was speaking with the king about how Elisha had raised the boy to life. At that exact time, Gehazi introduced the Shunammite woman to the king.
When the king inquired about the reason for her visit, she presented her petition.
Then the king commanded one of his officials:
"Restore all that was hers, including all the income from her land from the day she left the country until now."
– 2 Kings 8:6
These were not events that happened by coincidence. Nor can they be merely described as “good times.”
They were blessings appointed by God in advance.
There is no such thing as a "good time" for us. Everything that happens in our lives is a God-appointed event.
Though it is said that Ruth “happened to come” to Boaz’s field to glean, even that was preordained by God.
– Ruth 2:3
When Abraham saw a ram caught by its horns in a thicket to offer as a sacrifice, it was not a random incident.
– Genesis 22:13
When Pharaoh’s daughter saw the basket containing baby Moses in the river, it was not a coincidental act.
– Exodus 2:5
When King Ahasuerus could not sleep and had the book of records read to him, and learned that Mordecai had exposed a plot by two of the king’s officials, Bigthana and Teresh, to assassinate him – that too was not by chance.
– Esther 6:2
Our God sees everything in advance and plans accordingly.
In English, the word "providence" can be understood to mean “prearranged” or “planned beforehand.”
"God providentially controls events in our life."
For a person who knows God, it is essential to have the faith that every unexpected event in life is actually a God-ordained moment.
It may take years to understand why certain things happened. But all those events are part of God’s divine plan.
For a person who walks with God, there is no such thing as a coincidence or random miracle.
Here are also the words of Warren Wiersbe regarding this:
“Our English word ‘providence’
comes from two Latin words, pro and video, which together mean ‘to see ahead, to see before.’
God not only knows what lies ahead, but He plans what is to happen in the future and executes His plan perfectly.
Perhaps a better word is ‘prearrangement.’
In no way does God's providence interfere with our power of choice or our responsibility for the choices we make and their consequences.”
When we are submitted to Him, it is a great truth that He holds all the events of our life under His control.