Economic downturn… recession… uncertainty… international unrest.  When Christians hear of these things we should automatically think of Proverbs 3:5, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding.”

In times of uncertainty Christians should rest heavily upon the providence of God.  This is the idea that life is NOT random, but under the control… guidance… and direction of God.  God is sovereign over all things, people, nations, and leaders.  Consider a case in point…

The Children of Israel began to multiply in Egypt to the point that Pharaoh made a decree that all male babies were to be killed.  But the midwives feared God and allowed the babies to live (Thus God honored them by giving them families).

The day came when one woman bore a male baby and was able to hide him for three months.  But the time came when she could do so no longer.  She decided to put her three month old baby into a small basket and set it in the Nile river.

   Consider:  The Nile moved swiftly with waves, currents, eddys, twists, and turns.  There was no way to predict what would happen to the child.  The Nile was also full of crocodiles that could have easily made a meal of a three month old baby.  For a mother to place her child in a situation was truly putting him in the hands of God.

The baby’s sister watched to see what would happen to her infant brother.  It just so happened by coincidence that day Pharaoh’s daughter was bathing when she saw the basket in the river.  When the child was retrieved by servants, the sister went to Pharaoh’s daughter and asked if she could find a Hebrew to nurse the child for her.  Pharaoh’s daughter agreed and said she would pay the Hebrew woman to do so.  Thus the mother of the child did not only have her child returned to her… not only was she able to nurse the child… she was paid to do it!  And it all happened by coincidence!

Think of all the random things that happened by accident for these events to occur.  The basket was made perfectly so it wouldn’t leak and sink… the currents just happened to take the basket to the right place… Pharaoh’s daughter just happened to go to the river at the right time and in the right place… she just happened to see the basket… the baby’s sister miraculously came up with a plan on her own about finding someone to nurse the child… Pharaoh’s daughter randomly decided to disobey her own father’s command… and the mother of the child was able to negotiate a contract for her services.  All by accident, by chance, by coincidence!

Or was it?  Is it possible that all those things were indeed random or was God working behind the scenes?

Moses’ mom “Trusted the LORD with all her heart and did not lean on her own understanding” when she put her baby in the basket and set it adrift in the crocodile infested Nile.  How else could what happened be explained?  I guess some are more comfortable in chalking it up to coincidence, I’m just not one of them because of Isaiah 46:9-10…

    Remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose…

What does this have to do with the economy and our life?  Everything!  God is in control.  Nothing is taking place, nor will anything take place, that God is not already aware of.  It is all part of His master plan to glorify His name.  Therefore Christians can be at complete and total rest regardless of what happens around us.  No matter how confused others may be, Christians are at peace because God is still on His throne and Isaiah 46:9-10 leads us to live Proverbs 3:5 as exemplified in this story from Exodus!