by Sis. Arlene Head
...and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?
Esther 4:14
Have you ever wondered why you were in a particular place at a particular time in your life? I think we all probably have sometimes. In thinking about God's Divine Providence, I always think about the book of Esther. The purpose of the book of Esther is to demonstrate the sovereignty of God and His care for His people. The key to understanding the book of Esther is found in the word providence. Providence means "to provide in advance."
God shows His provision for His people. God is like the unseen rudder on the ship. When God is not seen at the steering wheel, then He is the backseat driver. Providence is the hand of God in the glove of history. God's hand is seen in several places in the Bible. One example is when the storm clouds of starvation were approaching in Egypt, God raised up Joseph for the occasion. When the Philistines and the Midianites oppressed Israel, Samson and Gideon were raised up by the Lord to lead. Another example is when God made the shepherd boy named David king to lead Israel into victory. God always had the right person at the right place at the right time.
Not only did God use people in the Bible days - He is still using people today. I want to tell of a personal experience in how God proved His divine providence to my family.
On June 8, 2014, it was just another ordinary Sunday morning. I got up and started preparing Sunday lunch. My husband came from his office and asked me who was I inviting over for lunch. I told him that I did not know yet. I said we never know who will be at church. So after church, I turned to my mother who sits right behind me and told her and daddy to come and have lunch with us. Then I saw Ken and Kim Skinner that was sitting on the back row that has not been to the church but one other time since we had been at Hilltop. I went and ask them to come also. They said they would love to come.
I went to our house and finished getting everything ready. My daddy, mother, and my sister came in first. My mother just sat down while I finished setting everything on the table. I should have known something was wrong with her then because my mother does not normally do that. She would always come in and jump right into the kitchen to help. Everyone finally got here so we asked the blessing and began to eat.
We ate and were finishing up our dessert when I noticed that my mother was slumped over on my dad's shoulder. I called to her but received no answer. That is when everyone knew something serious was wrong with my mother. Ken and I laid mom down while my husband called 911. I tried to call my brothers while Kim started doing CPR on my mother. You see Kim, just a few weeks prior to this, completed a CPR class. God had her there right where she could help my mother. My brother Jeff and his wife Patty got to my house and they began to help Kim with administering CPR until the paramedics got there. It was a very scary time for my family but I believe with all my heart that God placed Kim at Hilltop Holiness Church on June 8, 2014 for a divine purpose.
Just like God allowed Esther to become Queen to save her own people I believe that God placed Kim to save my mother's life. Even the doctors said if it had not been for her then my mother would not have made it. I truly want to be in the right place and at the right time doing what God wants me to do. He knows the future. What about you? Do you want to be in God's perfect will?
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.
Romans 8:28
