God Is In The Details

There is an old phrase, “The devil is in the detail.” This proverb originated with, “God is in the detail,” and has changed with time. I can understand the perspective of both proverbs, depending on one’s understanding of who God is.

In a trying situation, circumstance, or spiritual attack, the details of the matter are so important. It is the same in life, in our jobs, planning a wedding or party, even a funeral. It all comes down to the details. I am a very detail-oriented person. I understand situations better when I know the details and feel that I need these details to be most efficient in helping. It is the details that make an entire situation go well or turn it into a complete disaster. Where is our mind set, is it the devil that is in the detail, or is it God? Why is it important for us to see these things accurately, according to Scripture?

I want to speak particularly to the details of a trial or spiritual attack in life, and how the attitude of joy can be maintained in the middle of them. The Biblical story that comes to my mind when speaking of something like this, is the story of David running from Saul in 1 Samuel. Saul was overrun with an evil spirit (sent from the Lord) and sought David's life. In 1 Samuel 21 & 22, we read the story of David coming to Nob to seek refuge with Ahimelech the priest. There happened to be a man detained there named Doeg the Edomite, who was the chief of Saul's shepherds. At this point in his journey, David was hungry, weary, no doubt heartbroken, and without food, water, and weapons. After he was given some bread to eat, David asked the priest if there were any weapons he could have. “Then the priest said, “The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you killed in the valley of Elah, behold; if you would take it for yourself, take it. For there is no other (weapon) except it here.” (21:8,9) You cannot look at this story and fail to see our Father in the details. THE sword that took the head of the giant and made David's name known among the Israelites, just happened to be at the place he went to seek refuge from his enemy. I see God in these details. To look at the story from another perspective, however, is to see Doeg the Edomite's place in the story. After David had fled with Goliath's sword, Saul came to Nob looking for David. Doeg the Edomite was released from captivity and was the only servant of Saul's willing to fulfill his command to slaughter the men, women, and children of the priestly city. Is it the devil that is in these details? I think it is things like this that we don't understand, these twists and turns, that strike fear in our heart when it comes to trials! A little backstory on Ahimelech, he was the great grandson of Eli. Eli was the priest who served Israel in 1 Samuel chapters 1-4. In 2:29-36, God told Eli He was displeased with him for Eli's honoring his sons above the Lord. “Why do you kick at My sacrifice and at My offering which I have commanded in My dwelling, and honor your sons above Me, by making yourselves fat with the choicest of every offering of My people Israel?” The Lord said He would make it to where there will not be an old man in Eli's house, his descendants would die at a young age. “Yet, I will not cut off every man of yours from My altar so that your eyes will fail from weeping and your soul grieve, and all the increase of your house will die in the prime of life..” God promised Eli that because of his sins while in the priestly office, he would never have a descendant that grows old as a priest, they would all die in the prime of life. This promise was true all the way through to Eli’s great grandson Ahimelech, and our sovereign Father was completely just in keeping it. This is proof to me, even when the circumstances of a situation or trial seem they are at their worst, our Father is still in control. “Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows.” Matthew 10:28-31. Our Father is in the details of everything that happens in our life. If it is a detail that makes the situation turn against us, He allowed it. If it is a detail that turns the situation in our favor, He allowed that as well. “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28. Our Father will not allow anything that doesn’t bring glory to His name, to happen in the life of His chosen ones. His glory, and our good, are synonymous in the details He allows for His name’s sake. When His name is blasphemed by our foolish actions during a trial, this is our doing, but that's another devotional.
 
“Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” James 1:2-4. What can be considered a trial? Anything that disrupts the pattern of life and stretches us. How can we be joyful during these things? By knowing that our Daddy allowed this trial, it is for His glory and our good, and it will produce endurance or steadfastness. What is the perfect result of steadfastness? Sanctification, maturity, and lacking in nothing. “For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.” Romans 8:29,30. What an encouragement it is to me, to know through His word that God is who He says He is! He didn't give me this new life and left me to myself! He is a good Father, and He is walking with me through the details of it all. He is directing my steps, even as I plan my way (Proverbs 16:9 & 20:24), and He is a Father who can be trusted. I've never been so thankful that I have His sovereign arms to run to.