Reflecting on the past year and anticipating the New Year I was reminded of a story I read about a king who did not believe in God. However the king owned a slave who did believe in God. In every unpleasant situation that the king experienced his slave would say, “My king, do not be discouraged, because everything God does is perfect, He makes no mistakes!”
One day the king took his slave with him on a hunting trip. Along the way a wild animal attacked the king. The king’s slave managed to save the king’s life and kill the wild animal, but he was unable to prevent the king from losing a finger in the attack.
Furious and without showing any form of gratitude for being saved, the king said, “Is God good? If He was good, I would not have been attacked and lost a finger!” The king’s slave replied, “My king, despite all these things, I can only tell you that God is good and He knows “Why” of all these things. What God does is perfect. He is never wrong!”
Outraged by his slave’s response, the king ordered the arrest of his slave.
Later, the king left for another hunting trip, but on this trip the king was captured by savages who practiced the sacrificing humans for sacrifices.
The savages took the king to the altar ready to sacrifice him when all of a sudden it was discovered by the savages that their victim was missing a finger, making the king according to them unfit to be offered to their gods.
The king was released and upon his return to the palace he authorized the release of his slave, received him with gratitude and said, “God was really good to me! I was almost killed by wild men, but for the lack of a single finger, I was let go! But I have one question, if God is so good, why did He allow me to put you in jail?”
His slave replied, “My king, if I had gone with you in this hunt I would have been sacrificed for you because I have no missing finger. Therefore, remember everything God does is perfect. He is never wrong!”
Things and situations may have occurred in 2011 which we don’t understand why or how it could be a part of God’s plan or will for our lives, but as we enter into 2012 think on scriptures such as Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end”, and Roman 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
Always remember God is good, God is perfect and He never, never makes mistakes!
-Mother Freda Benjamim