Choices

Judges 14:1-4 (NLT), "One day when Samson was in Timnah, one of the Philistine women caught his eye.  When he returned home, he told his father and mother, "A young Philistine woman in Timnah caught my eye.  I want to marry her.  Get her for me."  His father and mother objected.  "Isn't there even one woman in our tribe or among all the Israelites you could marry?"  They asked.  "Why must you go to the pagan Philistines to find a wife?"  But Samson told his father, "Get her for me!  She looks good to me."  His father and mother didn't realize the Lord was at work in this, creating an opportunity to work against the Philistines, who ruled over Israel at that time.

This isn't going to end well.  Have you ever said that about a situation you've been in?  Or have you watched someone you care about struggle and you cringe at what lies ahead for them? My youngest learns the hard way.  He doesn't see why his actions are unsafe or lacking wisdom until he's reaping the consequences of what happened.  Sticking chocolate chips up my nose is bad and requires a doctor's visit?  Who knew?!  

In our passage today, Samson was setting himself up for issues.  He was going against his parents wishes in choosing a wife.  His choice was from a group despised by his people (Israel) and, more importantly, he was defying God who had specifically said marrying pagans was wrong.  Recipe for disaster?  It looks like it! Yet, at the end of the passage we see God is working in this seemingly poor preference.  It is a great reminder to me there are times I make decisions which are less than amazing or counter to what is required of me, but God is still there and He can work in and through these selections to bring about what He wants.  This understanding doesn't give us permission to do whatever we please.  It does allow us the peace of knowing that when we screw up, because it happens,  we have a God who will continue to work and use the broken, misjudged, and painful parts of our life for His glory.

Challenge:  Take a moment to write/type a mistake you have made.  Take a few moments to journal about this moment and how it has changed the trajectory of your life.  Then pray, ask God to show you how He has begun or will be using this moment on your timeline in His plans.