From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him… For in him we live and move and have our being.
—Acts 17:26–28

Now the donkeys belonging to Saul’s father Kish were lost, and Kish said to his son Saul, “Take one of the servants with you and go and look for the donkeys.” So he passed through the hill country of Ephraim and through the area around Shalisha, but they did not find them. They went on into the district of Shaalim, but the donkeys were not there. Then he passed through the territory of Benjamin, but they did not find them. When they reached the district of Zuph, Saul said to the servant who was with him, “Come, let’s go back, or my father will stop thinking about the donkeys and start worrying about us.” But the servant replied, “Look, in this town there is a man of God; he is highly respected, and everything he says comes true. Let’s go there now. Perhaps he will tell us what way to take.” Saul said to his servant, “If we go, what can we give the man? The food in our sacks is gone. We have no gift to take to the man of God. What do we have?” The servant answered him again. “Look,” he said, “I have a quarter of a shekel of silver. I will give it to the man of God so that he will tell us what way to take.” (Formerly in Israel, if someone went to inquire of God, they would say, “Come, let us go to the seer,” because the prophet of today used to be called a seer.) “Good,” Saul said to his servant. “Come, let’s go.” So they set out for the town where the man of God was. As they were going up the hill to the town, they met some young women coming out to draw water, and they asked them, “Is the seer here?” “He is,” they answered. “He’s ahead of you. Hurry now; he has just come to our town today, for the people have a sacrifice at the high place. As soon as you enter the town, you will find him before he goes up to the high place to eat. The people will not begin eating until he comes, because he must bless the sacrifice; afterward, those who are invited will eat. Go up now; you should find him about this time.” They went up to the town, and as they were entering it, there was Samuel, coming toward them on his way up to the high place. Now the day before Saul came, the Lord had revealed this to Samuel: “About this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin. Anoint him ruler over my people Israel; he will deliver them from the hand of the Philistines. I have looked on my people, for their cry has reached me.” When Samuel caught sight of Saul, the Lord said to him, “This is the man I spoke to you about; he will govern my people.” Saul approached Samuel in the gateway and asked, “Would you please tell me where the seer’s house is?” “I am the seer,” Samuel replied. “Go up ahead of me to the high place, for today you are to eat with me, and in the morning I will send you on your way and will tell you all that is in your heart. As for the donkeys you lost three days ago, do not worry about them; they have been found. And to whom is all the desire of Israel turned, if not to you and your whole family line?” Saul answered, “But am I not a Benjamite, from the smallest tribe of Israel, and is not my clan the least of all the clans of the tribe of Benjamin? Why do you say such a thing to me?” Then Samuel brought Saul and his servant into the hall and seated them at the head of those who were invited—about thirty in number. Samuel said to the cook, “Bring the piece of meat I gave you, the one I told you to lay aside.” So the cook took up the thigh with what was on it and set it in front of Saul. Samuel said, “Here is what has been kept for you. Eat, because it was set aside for you for this occasion from the time I said, ‘I have invited guests.’ ” And Saul dined with Samuel that day.
—1 Samuel 9:3-24

~~~~~

God Is (Still) In Control
By Jennifer Kane

From one breath,
He shaped every nation—
set their seasons,
drew their borders,
traced their steps before they knew to walk.
Not to trap us—
but to beckon,
that we might search for Him,
reach out,
and find He was always near.

He is not far from any of us.
In Him we live.
In Him we move.
In Him we become.

This is not the time to tremble.
It is the time to trust—
to let faith rise
above the blur of changing winds.
History keeps marching,
but there is a line,
a holy thread running through every age—
unchanged,
unmoved.

A donkey strays in Ephraim,
but God is leading a prince to a prophet.
A traveler opens a scroll in the wilderness,
but Heaven has already sent a voice
to meet him on the road.
These were not accidents.
These were divine appointments
wrapped in the ordinary.

We still walk dusty roads,
still wonder why doors open,
or close,
or delay.
But He is still the Author—
and His hand is steady.

There is no power
strong enough to undo His love,
no shadow
deep enough to hide from His gaze.
Yet—
He does not force the heart.

He gives the road,
but not the step.
He gives the water,
but not the thirst.
He gives the call,
but waits for the answer.

Even now,
He watches.
Not as a distant ruler,
but as a Father—
tender-eyed,
ever near.

He holds all things—
the rising and the falling,
the quiet and the storm—
and still,
He invites.

So let the world turn,
let kingdoms clash,
let the noise rise and fall.
We will remember
the line has not moved.

He is in control.
And still—
He lets us choose.

~~~~~

Scriptures: Acts 17:26–28; Acts 8:26–39; 1 Samuel 9:3–24

We often wonder: if God is truly sovereign, how does our free will fit into the picture? The Bible gives us a beautiful harmony—God’s control doesn’t override our choices; instead, He lovingly weaves them into His divine plan.

In Acts 17, Paul speaks to the Athenians and declares that God set the times and places of our lives so that we might seek Him. This speaks to divine purpose in every circumstance. Where we live, when we were born, and the people we encounter—all are not random but part of a grand design meant to draw us toward Him.

We see this truth illustrated powerfully in Acts 8:26–39. Philip was simply told by an angel to go down a desert road. He obeyed—and that obedience intersected with the journey of an Ethiopian official who was already reading Isaiah but didn’t understand it. Through Philip’s choice to follow, the Ethiopian came to understand Jesus and was baptized on the spot. Both men made personal choices—Philip to go, the Ethiopian to seek—but God orchestrated their meeting for salvation.

This mirrors what happened in 1 Samuel 9, when Saul’s father’s donkeys wandered off. A simple search for livestock led Saul directly into Samuel’s presence—where he would learn that God had chosen him to be king. Saul wasn’t seeking kingship; he was simply following a practical need. Yet God used those circumstances to bring about His purpose.

God doesn’t force us like puppets. He works through our choices, desires, delays, and detours. Even seemingly mundane tasks or frustrating setbacks can lead to divine appointments. Our free will operates within the framework of a sovereign God who knows the end from the beginning—and gently guides us toward His will.

Like Philip, are you willing to follow even when the instructions seem vague or inconvenient? Like Saul, can you trust that even your donkey-chasing days have divine significance?

Look at your current situation. Are there details that feel random or frustrating? Invite God into them. Ask Him to help you see how He might be working behind the scenes. Make a decision today to be open to divine interruptions, trusting that your free will and God’s will are not in conflict—but in cooperation.

~~~~~

Father God, thank You that You are sovereign over all things, yet You grant me the gift of choice. Help me to seek You in every step I take. Open my eyes to the divine appointments in my everyday life. May I walk freely, yet faithfully, knowing You are working all things together for Your purpose. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

May 18 2025