Acts 21:4
“And finding disciples, we tarried there seven days: who said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem.”
Coincidence, happenstance or chance are the words we often use when a concurrence of circumstances or events happen without any apparent connection. What one can overlook very easily is that maybe this is the providence of God in one’s life trying say something to them to either warn or guide them down a certain path. One must realize that there are no coincidences with God, and everything that happens in life happens for a reason.
Paul had one of these “coincidences” happen in his life. He was determined to go to Jerusalem to partake in the upcoming feast. He knew very well that he had no business as a Christian going to the feast. On his journey towards Jerusalem, the shipped docked in Tyre where he was met by some disciples who warned him not to go. It was just two days later in a completely different city when Agabus came and prophesied of Paul’s captivity if he went forward on this journey to Jerusalem. Did Paul listen to these circumstances? No! What God used to try to get his attention fell upon deaf ears.
I’m reminded of Samson who was running from God. Samson was set apart by God to deliver Israel from the Philistines; instead, he was running with the very crowd whom he was to destroy. God sent a lion his way to grab his attention, but he ignored the “coincidence.” God then gave him multiple warnings from Delilah’s destructive hand to which he gave no attention. He should have listened, but didn’t to his own detriment.
There is another story when God tried to get someone’s attention in the story of Balaam. God told Balaam not to go with Balak, but he insisted on going. During his journey to meet Balak, God used Balaam’s donkey to try and get his attention. It got to the point of ridiculous when God caused the donkey to speak in order to finally get Balaam to listen. What he thought were pure “coincidences” was the voice of God trying to warn him not to go.
Friend, do you listen to the “coincidences” that happen in your life? There are times when God is trying to say something to us, but we can get so wrapped up in what we are doing that we can’t even see that God is speaking. When circumstances happen that seem to be out of the normal, you need to stop and ask yourself if God is trying to speak to you.
Moreover, when people who have no connection say the exact thing to you, it would be wise to listen up and see if God is truly speaking. You can mark it down as chance, but people who have no connection with each other saying the same thing to you could be God trying to get your attention. You must not let your pride cause you not to hear the warnings or guiding of God in your life.
Let me ask you, are you listening? Is your first response when concurring circumstances happen, “God, are you trying to speak to me?” Your first action every time you have “coincidences” happen in your life should be to stop and ask God if He is trying to say something to you. Don’t take things for granted. God can providentially use circumstances in your life to speak to you. Have a listening ear to hear God and a willing and obedient spirit to follow what He is trying to tell you, and you will always find the will of God for your life.