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Psalm 84:12 Contemporary English
Version
12 Lord God All-Powerful, you bless
everyone, who trusts you.
Two Canadian students, Sarah and Nolan, told me they wanted
to write a historical novel about my mother. Intrigued, I consulted with them
over a period of three months or so last year. This summer when Sylvia and I
drove east on vacation, I decided I’d like to meet them while we were out
there. They both seemed excited by the prospect. While back in Michigan, I
tried to set up a time to see them. Over a period of a week or more, I got more
and more frustrated because I couldn’t work something out for the convenience
of the three of us. I found it impossible to get hold of Nolan by phone. I was discouraged
beyond measure.
On Saturday evening, June 22, we were at Sylvia’s cousin’s
home in Oswego, Illinois. After walking their dog Munchkin around the block, we
retired to our room. We chatted about what we should do next, wondering
seriously if the Lord didn’t want us to see them and decided to lay out a
fleece. At 8:12 p.m. CDT, I sent Nolan a text: “Nolan, as you know we are
planning to be in Canada soon, and we would love to see you. Please call me on WhatsApp
or regular cell phone or text me so we can finish laying our plans.”
We decided that if he didn’t call or text, we would know the
Lord didn’t want us to stop and see them. We went to bed and to sleep. At 12:45
a.m. CDT, my phone jarred me awake. It was Nolan. We chatted for 18 minutes.
During the conversation I asked him to arrange for a meeting with him and
Sarah, together or separately. I would arrange my trip to be there at the time
or times he arranged.
Relief and peace flooded me. I lay back on the bed and
laughed for the next 20 minutes while Sylvia slept the sleep of the just. My
mind went through the experience of Abraham and Sarah, when they laughed at the
news that they were going to have a baby boy—Abraham 100 years old and Sarah
90! I laughed because of God, who doesn’t sleep, arranged the call so quickly
and in the middle of the night.
Remember the events? In Genesis 17 God tells Abram he is
going to have a son through Sarai and changes both of their names. “Abraham
bowed with his face to the ground and thought, ‘I am almost 100 years old. How
can I become a father? And Sarah is 90. How can she have a child?’ So he
started laughing” (Genesis 17:17 GNT).
Then in Genesis 18, God visits Abraham’s camp on His way to
Sodom, and again He announces that the couple will have a son. Sarah is inside
the tent listening to the conversation. “So, Sarah laughed to herself and said,
‘Now that I am old and worn out, can I still enjoy sex? And besides, my husband
is old too.’
“Then the Lord asked Abraham, ‘Why did Sarah laugh and say, “Can
I really have a child when I am so old?”’…
“Because Sarah was afraid, she denied it. ‘I didn't laugh,’ she
said.
“‘Yes, you did,’ He replied. ‘You laughed.’” (Genesis 18: 12-15 GNT)
The encounter impressed them so much they named their son
Isaac, which is Hebrew for “He will laugh!”
We all agreed to meet at the St. Thomas SDA Church On June
29, 2024. This was also the church’s 125th anniversary celebration,
so it was crowded. We not only had the privilege of meeting Nolan, a third-year
student at university, and his family—parents, and sister—but also Sarah and
family—parents, two sisters and four brothers. Sarah narrated a video history
of the St. Thomas Church. We gained a rich blessing from the faith of both
families. Now we look forward to reading their book.
Dear Lord, thank You for Your personal intervention in
our affairs when we need Your wisdom!
