Followers of Christ know that while we use our free will in decision making, we also have a loving Heavenly Father working behind the scenes enabling us to reach our destiny. We see this at work among the ancient people of Israel. In this snippet from Joshua Ch. 24, God speaks to say: “To Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau. To Esau I gave the mountains of Seir, while Jacob and his children went down into Egypt. Then I sent Moses and Aaron, and I brought terrible plagues on Egypt; and afterward I brought you out as a free people… When your ancestors cried out to the LORD, I put darkness between you and the Egyptians. I brought the sea crashing down on the Egyptians, drowning them. With your very own eyes you saw what I did… Finally, I brought you into the land of the Amorites on the east side of the Jordan. They fought against you, but I destroyed them before you. I gave you victory over them.” It’s clear that for ancient Israel, God was at work to give them success. Today God is also at work behind the scenes for us, even as He empowers us to achieve his purpose for us. At the same time, we humbly seek His will and live in submission to Him.
Dr. Melvin E. Banks, Sr.
Dr. Melvin E. Banks, Sr. is the founder and chairman of UMI (Urban Ministries, Inc.). Under his direction, UMI has grown to be a leading publisher of Christian education resources for churches in the African American community. Read More
