Mystery to us, Purpose to Him
"Well, God works in mysterious
ways," she said as we talked about our present trials. I wondered how that
was meant to be comforting. So, as I pondered the phrase, I came to see that it
is REAL comfort for suffering saints.
Moses was living in the center of the will of
God, and still he ran into situations that made little sense. Exodus 5 is
like tragic comedy! Moses and Aaron arrive in Egypt with great news for
the Hebrew slaves, "The LORD God has sent us to lead you out of slavery,
back to the Land of Promise." The people heard their message with great
joy and they worshipped the Lord. Then, these two men went to Pharaoh to appeal
for release of the Hebrews. He laughed at them and doubled the slaves'
workload, making life even more miserable! "Lazy, that’s what you are—lazy!
That is why you keep saying, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to the LORD.’" (Exodus 5:17, NIV) Moses and Aaron
were no longer popular. Their promise was rather hollow!, "The foremen said to them,
"May God see what you’ve done and judge you—you’ve made us stink before
Pharaoh and his servants! You’ve put a weapon in his hand that’s going to kill
us!"(Exodus 5:21, The Message)
Moses was as confused as anyone. He asked the Lord, "Why did you send me? Ever since I came to Pharaoh as your spokesman, he has been even more brutal to your people. And you have done nothing to rescue them!" (Exodus 5:22-23, NLT) Yet, God was working! From our seat in the grandstand of history we look over the story and realize that the Lord was setting the stage for a confrontation with the gods of Egypt, in which He would show His mighty hand and reveal that they were no gods at all. Egypt was a wonder of the ancient world. God would bring her to her knees before He was finished, but nobody knew that in the moment. They only saw a greater workload with less resources, a situation that appeared to grow worse by the day. But, God planned a day of deliverance when all Egypt would say, “He is the Lord!”
Moses was as confused as anyone. He asked the Lord, "Why did you send me? Ever since I came to Pharaoh as your spokesman, he has been even more brutal to your people. And you have done nothing to rescue them!" (Exodus 5:22-23, NLT) Yet, God was working! From our seat in the grandstand of history we look over the story and realize that the Lord was setting the stage for a confrontation with the gods of Egypt, in which He would show His mighty hand and reveal that they were no gods at all. Egypt was a wonder of the ancient world. God would bring her to her knees before He was finished, but nobody knew that in the moment. They only saw a greater workload with less resources, a situation that appeared to grow worse by the day. But, God planned a day of deliverance when all Egypt would say, “He is the Lord!”
Christian, "God works in mysterious ways!" Why? "His wonders to perform!" This does not minimize our pain nor does it condemn us in our struggle to understand. It is a lifeline of truth thrown to us to pull us out of the murky waves of despair. He is sovereign, meaning that ultimately He rules without hindrance, His purpose always stand. So, we can, we must, take great comfort in His mysterious ways, praying for faith to let the picture form, so that all we see it and say, “What a glorious God. I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! The Sovereign Lord is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights." (Habakkuk 3:18-19, NLT)
"God works in mysterious ways" is
part of a hymn written by William Cowper in the 18th century. He struggled with
depression for most of his life. In the depths of his pain, he wrote poems that
were set to music, many becoming loved songs of the Church. One of the best
known being There is A Fountain. The hymn from which this line is taken
was his last. The story of the hymn's origin is fascinating though we cannot
confirm it. "One night he decided to commit suicide by drowning himself.
He called a cab and told the driver to take him to the Thames River. However,
thick fog came down and prevented them from finding the river (another version
of the story has the driver getting lost deliberately). After driving
around lost for a while, the cabby finally stopped and let Cowper out. To
Cowper’s surprise, he found himself on his own doorstep: God had sent the
fog to keep him from killing himself. Even in our blackest moments, God
watches over us." – cyberhymnal.org
God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea
And rides upon the storm.
Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never failing skill
He treasures up His bright designs
And works His sovereign will.
Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take;
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy and shall break
In blessings on your head.
- Public Domain, William Cowper
God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea
And rides upon the storm.
Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never failing skill
He treasures up His bright designs
And works His sovereign will.
Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take;
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy and shall break
In blessings on your head.
- Public Domain, William Cowper
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