Bumping into a Sign - UBM [David Eells]

On October 31, 2007, I witnessed The Lord's sovereignty in all things. Throughout the second half of September, I prayed to The Lord for direction with employment. In the beginning of October, I had received a vision as I was getting up. It immediately popped into my mind and I had no control over it. I saw two of my supervisors who I used to work with when I was at Costco Wholesale, seven years ago. It wasn't a very long vision but it was enough to recognize the people I saw. I immediately received an interpretation. The Lord was directing me to work at Costco Wholesale, the one place I didn't want to go back to. It totally went against my flesh.

During that day, I was contemplating if this interpretation and the vision came from my own mind or from The Lord. Maybe, I was just being too analytical. Little did I know, but this was my flesh reasoning against The Lord. (2 Cor.10:4) (for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the casting down of strongholds), (5) casting down imaginations (Greek: "reasonings"), and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. Two days or so later, as I was reading, my mother came into my room and had suggested a few places to work. It was the strangest thing because she was very calm and has never suggested a list of places. The last place on her list was Costco. Coincidence? I thought so. She has never suggested this to me. Maybe I was being too analytical again. The next day I decided to ask The Lord for a confirmation with a coin toss. I asked for three heads and I received them. Coincidence? Maybe that was chance. As I have said, this job went against my flesh. I didn't want to go back to Costco. My flesh was giving me all sorts of reasons to believe that the vision was not from The Lord and the confirmations were all by chance. Little did I know. Through the entire month, I saw a few Costco logos at certain places. Coincidence?

The month of October was a burdensome month for me since The Lord burdened me in my conscience and in my spirit to go to Costco. Once again, I just wasn't sure if this burden was in my conscience, coming form The Lord, or if it was just me being anxious and analytical. Near the end of the month, I fell to my knees and opened my heart to The Lord, confessing my ignorance and fear. The thought came to me to ask The Lord for a sign, other than a coin toss. I was familiar with the different accounts that the book Sovereign God makes reference to regarding different biblical characters asking God for signs for direction and instruction. I asked The Lord that if He wanted me to go to Costco, then I would bump into someone who I used to work with at Costco. I wavered in my faith as the week passed by. I had confined The Lord to show me this sign within a week and nothing happened. The burden just didn't leave and was still settled deep within me. I prayed again with a brother that The Lord would show me a sign since I was still burdened. I wavered again within that week, believing, then doubting, then repenting and believing.

On October 31, I had plans to visit a couple of friends for lunch. As I was walking to the bus stop, I told myself in my mind that when I got home after lunch I would settle on the sign that I had asked previously. This time I would not waiver, but stand by this sign (bumping into a previous co-worker) by faith. I settled what I would do and thanked The Lord. After lunch, my friends and I walked over to the subway station. As we were on the escalators descending unto the bottom platform of the underground station, I had recognized an individual who looked very familiar. I acknowledged that I used to work with him at Costco; however, I had forgotten about the sign I asked from The Lord. We met right behind him (or "bumped" into him) going down the escalator to the lower platform where the trains pickup passengers. As we were going down I was heavily observing him. As we got to the bottom, it pierced me like a sharp fine needle; time had frozen: this was my sign. I could not believe it. I was exuberant. The Lord gave me a sign and this was no coincidence. It was a big slap in the face. Though I was joyous with amazement, my flesh and the enemy began to put doubt in my mind: "Maybe it only looks like him". The enemy is very subtle. I got on the same train as him and confronted him to confirm it was him. Of course, it was him. It was perfect timing on The Lord because I used this to witness to my friends. I was speechless for the entire day. However, the next morning my flesh began doubting again, after friends and family suggested that it may have been chance. Incredibly I thought, "It could have been by chance". The enemy wants us to doubt The Lord's sovereignty. But The Lord is greater. As I opened my Bible to continue reading where I had left off, The Lord amazed me once more. I began reading at Genesis 24. It's the time when Abraham sends his servant to find a wife for Isaac. The servant asks The Lord for sign to direct his choice for a wife.

(Gen.24:14) And let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink. And she shall say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also. Let the same be she that thou hast appointed for thy servant Isaac. And thereby shall I know that thou hast showed kindness unto my master. (15) And it came to pass, before he had done speaking, that, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel the son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, with her pitcher upon her shoulder. (Before I went home to officially make my request for a sign from The Lord, He gave me it.)

(Gen.24:42) And I came this day unto the fountain, and said, O Jehovah, the God of my master Abraham, if now thou do prosper my way which I go. (43) Behold, I am standing by the fountain of water. And let it come to pass, that the maiden that cometh forth to draw, to whom I shall say, Give me, I pray thee, a little water from thy pitcher to drink. (44) And she shall say to me, Both drink thou, and I will also draw for thy camels. Let the same be the woman whom Jehovah hath appointed for my master's son. (45) And before I had done speaking in my heart, behold, Rebekah came forth with her pitcher on her shoulder. And she went down unto the fountain, and drew. And I said unto her, Let me drink, I pray thee.

(I had told myself within my heart.) The servant asked The Lord for a sign and before he had finished praying in his heart to The Lord the sign had happened. Similarly, before I received the sign, I had spoke to myself about it and before I can really finalize it with The Lord, the sign was given. The Lord had given me another confirmation that overwhelmed the doubt in my mind. But it was only after a week until I went to apply. But during that week, doubt was slowly creeping in again. The light was fading out, just as Jesus had taught. (Jn.12:35) Jesus therefore said unto them, Yet a little while is the light among you. Walk while ye have the light, that darkness overtake you not: and he that walketh in the darkness knoweth not whither he goeth. (36) While ye have the light, believe on the light, that ye may become sons of light. These things spake Jesus, and he departed and hid himself from them. Thanks for The Lord's patience and grace; He gave me strength to go. Thank you, Father.

The Lord is sovereign and we should always keep this thought deep in our heart. He is the only free will. He works all things after the counsel of His will. (Eph.1:11) in whom also we were made a heritage, having been foreordained according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his will. We can't confine The Lord with time, but we must wait upon him. He has perfect timing. When The Lord reveals something to us, we must always react upon it immediately before the enemy slips in with doubt and fear. (Eph.6:11) Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. (12) For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. He loves us and wants to teach us to hear His voice. That day I learned to hear His voice and today I'm still learning. It's unfortunate that many today don't know or don't believe we can ask God for signs when there are so many accounts of people asking for signs throughout the Bible. God is still sovereign and He stills gives signs and confirmations. Praise The Lord!

May God bless you all.

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