by Macy Johnson
“Although Joseph recognized his
brothers,
they did not recognize him.”
(Genesis 42:8 NIV)
My
husband, Jeff, and I offered the use of our cabin to our church for visiting
missionaries. Our guests were scheduled to arrive one Saturday afternoon. Their
home church was in Georgia, and they served in Latvia.
Thirty
years ago, I visited their church in Carrollton, Georgia as the accompanist for
a youth choir trip from Birmingham. There, in the line to receive dinner before
the performance, I came face to face with a friend who performed with me in the
elite, 24-voice chorus of our high school. We enjoyed a brief reunion.
The
morning before the missionaries came, I felt my heavenly Father nudge me and
say, “Get ready!” I prepared the cabin and enjoyed a chat by the fire pit with
Jeff until our guests drove up.
We visited
with the missionaries a few minutes before I remarked, “I’m from Pensacola.”
The wife looked at me and said, “I am, too!” We suddenly recognized each other!
Jeanne stood before my eyes and I could hear God laugh. What an amazing gift!
I could
not have organized or planned that reunion. Only God can orchestrate perfect events.
He planned and executed our meeting years ago in Carrollton in preparation of the
reunion at our home in Greensboro.
What a shock
Joseph must have experienced when his brothers appeared before him in Egypt. A
famine in the land brought them to ask him for food after they had sold him
into slavery.
“God moves in a mysterious way His
wonders to perform!”
(William Cowper, 1773)
Every fortuitous
gathering is created by our loving heavenly Father to remind us His plans are
perfect, better than ours could ever be.
I will
look forward to all God-planned surprise visits ahead. I hope you will, too!
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