Answered Prayer - or Coincidence?
by Margaret Silvester
An un-named trusted servant was sent on a mission, a mission that would affect history. He had to go on a long trek of a few hundred miles, on camel, to find a wife for Isaac, Abraham’s only son. What a responsibility! The servant had his orders – not a Canaanite woman who worshipped foreign gods, but a woman from Abraham’s country and from among his relatives.
The servant had his doubts. ‘What if?’ was in his thoughts. So when he arrived at the place where he had been instructed to go, he prayed. He asked God to give him a sign so he would know which young woman God had chosen to become Isaac’s wife. The sign he was looking for to indicate the right wife for Isaac wasn’t about outward beauty alone, but inner beauty. He didn’t have to wait long for his prayer to be answered. Before he had finished praying, Rebekah arrived at the well and he knew without doubt that this was the woman he would take back with him to be Isaac’s wife.
God acted in response to prayer. The servant knew this was no coincidence. God was guiding him in a very ordinary way. God guided because he prayed. His response to God’s answer to his prayer was to bow his head and worship.
Sometimes what seems like a coincidence is a God appointment. Knowing God’s way ahead for our lives often takes time to discern. Nevertheless, God does guide. His ways are clear when our hearts are set upon Him and we lay our lives before Him. The question is how open are we to being led by God? Do we constantly seek the affirmation of other people, or do we put our trust in God believing that He will act in response to our prayers?
Sometimes we have to wait for God to answer prayer, and He doesn’t always answer in the way we think He should. However, He does act on the behalf of those who wait for Him and His ways are always best.
Prayer: Thank You, Father, that You are the same as of old. You never change. Thank You that You have purposes for my life that will be fulfilled for Your glory. Please teach me how to pray and wait for You to act. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Margaret Silvester had a career as a teacher prior to being called into full time Christian Ministry with her husband, David, in 1986. They were involved in establishing a Healing Ministry in the local church and Margaret has a passion to see lost and wounded people found and restored. She and her husband joined the Ellel Ministries teaching and ministry team in 2000 after a clear call from God. Margaret`s book "Stepping Stones to the Father Heart of God" has recently been published.
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