A gunman – attacked and killed unarmed and unprotected men, women and children in a Sunday morning worship service.  Those people who were killed or hit by that man’s bullets, did not know what would happen when they left their homes that morning.

An unknown and horrific act of violent hatred would affect their lives – forever.

A door bursts open, a husband and father is arrested and taken away from his family.  Why?  Because he loved God, read God’s word and told others of the Savior, Jesus.

The unknown factors of life weigh heavily on us in our world today.  They cause untold sorrow and turmoil.  These unknown components expose faith in the living God in the lives of the followers of Christ.

The unknown’s of life are seen throughout Scripture.  One example is the story of Joseph’s eleven brothers on their way home from Egypt!  They had bought the grain their families needed in order to survive a severe famine.  The unknowns of life were going to catch them off-guard.  They had no clue their motives and actions would be tested within the hour.

Joseph told his servant to put his personal silver cup in Benjamin’s sack.

(NASB) Genesis 44:3-6 “As soon as it was light, the men were sent away, they with their donkeys.
4 They had just gone out of the city, and were not far off, when Joseph said to his house steward, ‘Up, follow the men; and when you overtake them, say to them, ‘Why have you repaid evil for good?
5 ‘Is not this the one from which my lord drinks and which he indeed uses for divination?  You have done wrong in doing this.’”

Why would the servant say this to the men?  Because the silver cup had been hidden in Benjamin’s, the youngest brother’s, sack.  The unknowns were seemingly against these brothers.  When the servant caught up with them, each sack was searched for the silver cup.  The servant searched diligently beginning with the oldest brother.  He ended with the youngest brother and there he found the silver cup.

The brothers were devastated!  They reacted, tearing their clothes in anguish.  They returned to the city with their loaded donkeys.
(Genesis 44:7-13)

When the unknowns of life catch us off guard – our faith is revealed.

When I hear of horrific crimes against fellow believers, do I pray for them – that moment?

When the unknowns of life hit me between the eyes and pierce my heart – do I cling to God my Savior?

God’s word is not a cliché!  God’s word is not just something to be read!  It is to be lived!

~ Take it to heart ~

When the unknowns of life come
– and they will –
REMEMBER to cling to God Himself!

(NASB) Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight.”