Rolling the Dice – God Is In Control
Monday, March 8
Rolling the Dice – God Is In Control
The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord. Proverbs 16:33
The book of Proverbs is filled with what wisdom is and how we can obtain it. Solomon’s proverbs are for receiving the instruction of wisdom. It is in this book we find today’s verse. Proverbs 16:33 says, “The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.” This verse of wisdom reminds us that all things happen by the choice and power of God. He rules all things in the universe, even games of chance. Learn wisdom. You will have an informed view of life and a solid basis for great faith. Nothing surprises the LORD – He planned everything, even the things that surprise you.
For the past year life has caught many of us off guard and we are often left to wonder, what’s next. Many of us just want a road map in which God tells us exactly how life will go, hills and valleys, but the wise know this is not a good idea. Because if we knew, then we’d probably get in trouble as we ‘try to help God out’. This is why it is important for us to know we may cast the lots (call the shots) but ultimately God plans will be fulfilled.
Consider the life of Joseph. Joseph means either “May the Lord add” or “He has taken away”. Joseph was the 11th and favorite son of Jacob and first son of his beloved second wife, Rachel. Although Jacob had many sons with Leah, his first wife, Rachel, who was Jacob’s true love, was distraught that she could not give him children. She prayed, pleading with God to bless her with a child. She became pregnant and gave birth to her first son, Joseph (Genesis 30:22). Much later, she also gave birth to Joseph’s only full brother Benjamin, whom Jacob also loved a great deal. You would think this is the end and they live happily ever after but that is far from the truth. As Joseph grew older, it did not go unnoticed that Jacob greatly favored young Joseph. Joseph was a confident, Godly young man and didn’t hesitate to tell his brothers of a dream that seemed to flaunt his supreme destiny. Unwise, yes I know but it was this roll of the dice, this unwise decision that eventually matured Joseph into the person we come to know and appreciate.
This week we will be covering a number of challenges from the life of Joseph and through each circumstance we will see that although Joseph hit a few bumps in the road, God was still in control.