Examples for the Will of God and His Mercy

By Archdeacon Habib Guirgus

Our Savior said; "Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?" (John 18:11). He also said to Pontius Pilate; "You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above" (John 19:11).

The Apostles also said, in one accord, in their prayers; "who by the mouth of Your servant David have said: 'Why did the nations rage, and the people plot vain things? The kings of the earth took their stand, and the rulers were gathered against the Lord and against His Christ... to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done" (Acts 4:25-28).

Herod the king desired to kill the Savior, but rather he killed thousands of children in Bethlehem and his hands did not touch Jesus, for 'His hour has not come yet'.
The Jews demanded to kill Him several times, and could not, 'for they have no power at all against Him, at that time'.

The people of Nazareth "Rose up and thrust Him out of the city; and they led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, that they might throw Him down over the cliff... but He passed through the midst of them, He went His way" (Luke 4:29,30), for His hour has not come yet.

Again, the Jews picked up stones to cast at Him, but their hands were halted and did not carry the act, and rose up to capture Him, but His hour has not come yet. But when "the hour has come" (Mark 14:41) which He had prepared and designated in His divine will, He then said to them; "this is your hour, and the power of darkness" (Luke 23:53).

King Saul sought David everyday to seek his life, but could not for he was not given power over him from above, "For God did not deliver him into his hands" (I Samuel 23:14, 15). Therefore, this is our assurance that nothing will be done against us unless God allows it and/or permits it.

Joseph's brethren sought to destroy him, but God sent him to Egypt to save many lives, for this he said to his brothers "Do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life... and God sent me before you to preserve a posterity for you in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So now it was not you who sent me here, but God" (Genesis 45:5-8).  He also said: "Do not be afraid, for I am in the place of God? But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive" (Genesis 50:19,20).

"The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; He makes the plans of the peoples of no effect. The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of His heart to all generations" (Psalm 33:10, 11).

"There are many plans in a man's heart, nevertheless the Lord's counsel-that will stand" (Proverbs 19:21).

The Lord also said; "My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure" (Isaiah 46: 10).

"Whatever the Lord pleases He does, in heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deep places" (Psalm 135:6).

Do what you want, and proceed in life as you wish, but surely you shall fulfill the will of God.  Despite the much mediation you will use and ask to intervene, certainly you will fulfill His will and His consultation.

Joseph asked the chief butler of Pharaoh to "remember him when it is well with him, and show kindness to him; and make mention of him to Pharaoh, and get him out of this house" (Genesis 40:14), but God wanted for him glory and to be master over Egypt, so "the chief butler did not remember Joseph, but forgot him" (Genesis 40:23).

Kish the son of Abiel... a Benjamite, a mighty man of power, send his son Saul to fetch for the lost donkeys. And Saul and his servant could not find it. they decided to go to the city where an honorable man of God is there to show them the way they should go. That man was Samuel the prophet who told them not to be anxious about the lost donkeys, for they have been found. And it came to pass that God told Samuel in his ear the day before Saul came, that 'the man of whom I spoke to you, is the one who shall reign over My people (cf. I Samuel 9:3-27).

"Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How un-searchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has become His counselor?" (Romans 11:33, 34).

For the Lord God said; "My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts" (Isaiah 55:8,9).

Saul of Tarsus attacked the Church viciously, and breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord and he used to enter the houses of the Christian believers, men or women, that he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. And as he journeyed he came near to Damascus, and God led Saul to Him, and send him to preach the Good News to the Gentiles to believe in the Lord (cf. Acts 9:1-9).

As Samuel turned around to go away, king Saul seized the edge of his robe, and it tore. And it was sign that "The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from him" (I Samuel 15:27, 28).

It was the Lord that sent Achish to call David in a cunning and mischievous way, but God managed David's departure to go after the Philistines and fight them (cf. I Samuel 29: 6-11).

It was the will of the Lord God who allowed King Ahasuerus to become restless one night and read in a history book to save Mordecai from the evil plot of Haman (cf. Ester 4:14).  Therefore, it is impossible to know the great and eternal intentions and purposes of God.
It could be a tribulation or a hardship which leads to enormous good, therefore, let us submit to the Lord in all things, so He may guide us according to His purpose and intentions for things meant to be, thus gaining His protection and care "For He is the Lord. Let Him do what seems good to Him" (I Samuel 3:18). If things did not go your way, do not be angry but thank the Lord saying; Yes, O Lord, let it be Your will, for such has been the pleasure before You: "Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved" (Psalm 55:22).

"Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you" (I Peter 5:6, 7).