Ecclesiastes 10:8

⁸Whoever digs a pit may fall into it; whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.   

An Asian TV Drama series featured an emperor who obviously favored his grandson to be the next emperor. In one episode of the TV show, the Emperor held an annual hunting competition among the royal family and his officials. All participants did their best to win the hunting competition. But, the second prince took advantage of the hunting competition as opportunity to eliminate the grandson. So, he ordered his men to dig a deep pit on the hunting ground; they put venomous snakes in the pit and lured the grandson to hunt next to the pit. Subsequently, the grandson fall into the pit and bitten by snake. After a twist of events, the emperor found out the scheme of the second prince to eliminate his favorite grandson; and he had decreed as punishment: “The second prince was driven out from the royal palace and relegated to ordinary citizen.”

The craving for glory and power is also very sad reality in biblical times. Schemers would use all possible resources in their hope to get what they desired. The sons of Jacob had schemed to eliminate their brother Joseph, and they sold him as slave to Egypt eventually. Nevertheless, Joseph strongly believed that the Lord allowed his suffering to accomplish his purposes. He told his brothers in Genesis 50:20, ²⁰You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.

In this generation, schemers among religious communities can also be audacious and daring. Why would God allow them to thrive at one point? The grace of God would be more obvious to believers who trust in him; and, his purposes will be accomplished as he had planned. He has designed series of seemingly unpleasant events to test our faith in him but sustains us with sufficient grace.

Have you been wronged for no valid reason? If you expect that God has designed something for your betterment, there could be twist of events. Trust him!

Lord Jesus, increase my faith to trust your best plan for me.

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