God is the Cause

In City Bible Forum today, Peter K was interviewing Ian P, the Rector of St. Barnabas Broadway, which was burnt down last week.

Peter K: So, how is the investigation on the cause of the fire?
Ian P: God?!
Everyone <laughs>

Ian then talked about the sermons he worked on, which is on Genesis 50 when Joseph responded to his brothers’ apologies.

Genesis 50:19-20
¹⁹But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? ²⁰As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.

Then Ian gave thanks to God that they have had temporary arrangement with Sydney University and Moore College so the church, i.e the people not the building, can continue to meet.

God is sovereign, and sometimes he might let loose the evil of this world to achieve his ultimate purpose. But do we have the faith to trust the will of him, that all things work together for good?

Category: Christianity | Wed, 17 May 2006 5:51 pm

Comments

Posted by amanda on Wed, 17 May 2006 9:36 pm

well, things like this will cause some pain & distress…but does it mean that one doesn’t have faith to trust the will of God and therefore feels pain & distress??

Posted by scotty on Wed, 17 May 2006 10:09 pm

I am pretty sure that when Joseph was sold to Egypt by his brothers, he was feeling pain and distress. However at the end he can see it is God that is in control.

And in Romans 8 — ain’t the Christians, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies?! The chapter is not about “if you are faithful you shouldn’t complain”. It is emphasising the assurance that Christians can have, regardless what circumstances we are in.