God's Providence

Napoleon was a little short guy but he had an ego so big he would not fit into the Dallas Cowboy stadium.  He strutted across Europe with his army and he conquered and conquered.  It was his desire to conquer the whole known world.    Without question he was set to do so.

One day he told a lady he was getting to march on Russia and march right into Moscow and he was going to conquer the Russian Empire.  He was so cocky and confident his pride was blocking him from hearing any wisdom.  She told this over confident leader, “You had better be reverent, and don’t you understand that man poses, but God disposes?”  

In his great lack of humility he said to her, "I propose and I dispose."     And so he marched on Russia.  When he had won all of these battles and then marched on Moscow he was feeling pretty good about himself, his army and his conquest. 

Upon his return home he was confronted with a stark reminder.  He had failed to think about the Russian winter.  He and his troops fought that bitter winter all the way back to France and it totally decimated the army, and it destroyed his forces, and it completely destroyed his reputation and prestige when he returned home he was dethroned    and exiled where he would die on a little island.   I wonder if he ever thought about that conversation he had with that lady who said,  “Man proposes, but God always disposes”?

I am sure people were scratching their heads, wondering how on earth could God allow this to happen?   While we are not machines or robots, we must remember God is in control and he is in charge of this universe.  He gives us the freedom to make choices.  BUT, Those choices that we make have eternal consequences.

It is Christmas time once again, As I read the Biblical account of the Birth of the Saviour, I have been looking and thinking about Matthews words in Chapter 1 and 2.   One thing is very clear to me God is in Control.   Yes today you may be worried over your job, Health care, or your car.  Your kids, or college, or your spouse may give you concern, but one thing we cannot deny:  God is still on his throne!  God is not ever caught off guard, and he knows what we need and when we need it.   God is a God of providence.