The Sheer Sweetness of Stolen Wives: Why I Marvel at God's Chosen Provision
Okay, so, maybe “stolen” isn't the *nicest* word, right? But honestly, when I really think about it, and when I read the stories in the Bible, I see so much sweetness in these situations where, let's say, a woman ends up with a new husband who maybe wasn't her first pick. It's like…God works in mysterious ways, you know? He uses what looks like chaos and upheaval, and He turns it into something beautiful. It's totally blowing my mind right now.
I was just reading in Judges, chapter 21, about how the Benjamites were almost wiped out, and then, like, they needed wives. And instead of just letting them die off, the elders were like, "Hey, there’s this festival happening, and you can go grab the women." Now, reading it straight up, it’s a little…unconventional. But when I really consider it, it's all about God providing. He made a way for families to continue, for life to go on, even after some pretty serious tragedy. It's like He's saying, "I've got this, even when things look completely hopeless." The verse I keep coming back to is Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." It’s like, even in the weird, messed-up parts, there’s a plan unfolding. It might look weird, but it’s part of the bigger story.
I’m not gonna lie, life hasn't always felt “provided” for. I remember when I was laid off from my job a couple years ago. I panicked! I mean, my whole world felt like it was collapsing. I was calling everyone I knew, sending out resumes, basically just scrambling. But you know what? About two months into my misery, a completely different opportunity came along. It was a job in an industry I never even considered before. It was a bigger position, it paid more, and it was honestly a better fit for my gifts. It just totally came out of left field. It was like, out of all the rubble from my old life, God had something so much sweeter planned all along. And yeah, I kinda had to scramble and "find" it, but that makes it even more meaningful, right?
This concept keeps showing up in the Bible, like with Jacob and Leah and Rachel. It’s all messy and complicated. But God used even that situation to build a whole nation, a family that carries on to this day. It shows me that the things that feel totally chaotic and like they’re not what I would have chosen can ultimately lead to some of the best things. It really makes me rethink how I view hardship. Instead of seeing them as disasters, what if I saw them as these bizarre opportunities for God to showcase His provision? I think a lot of times, I’m so focused on what I think is supposed to happen that I miss all of the unexpected ways God is working.
It’s totally shifting how I’m approaching daily stuff. Like, if I'm facing a tough decision or a difficult relationship, instead of just feeling stressed out, I'm trying to look for that “sweetness” - that opportunity for God to reveal His plan. It's not always comfortable, and it certainly isn't always what I would have picked, but it makes life feel like a real adventure. Like, He's always leading me somewhere awesome, even if the path takes some crazy detours.
It's so encouraging to know that even when it feels like life is "taking" things away, God has a way of "giving" it back, often in the most surprising and amazing ways. So yeah, maybe the term "stolen wives" feels jarring. But at its heart, it's a reminder that God’s provision is always there, even in the messiest of circumstances. It’s not always what I expect, but it’s always, always good.
So, think about it – where have you seen God’s hand at work in unexpected places? Where have the “stolen” pieces of your life become part of something really beautiful and new?