1 Maccabees 15:15-21: a reflection

15Numenius and his company came from Rome, having letters to the kings and to the countries, in which were written these things: 16“Lucius, consul of the Romans, to King Ptolemy, greetings. 17The Jews’ ambassadors came to us as our friends and allies, to renew the old friendship and alliance, being sent from Simon the high priest, and from the people of the Jews. 18Moreover they brought a shield of gold weighing one thousand minas. 19It pleased us therefore to write to the kings and to the countries, that they should not seek their harm or fight against them, their cities, and their country, or be allies with those who fight against them. 20Moreover, it seemed good to us to receive the shield from them. 21If therefore any troublemakers have fled from their country to you, deliver them to Simon the high priest, that he may take vengeance on them according to their law.”

As the ambassadors return with letters from a foreign state affirming friendship and protection for God's people, we glimpse how God can provide favor and protection for his people even through the goodwill of outsiders and the affairs of nations. Letters came to the kings and the countries, affirming friendship and alliance with the Jews, and warning others not to seek their harm or make war against them, their cities, and their country. God's people, small and often threatened among the nations, found protection here not by their own strength alone, but through the favor and goodwill of an outside power, moved to affirm friendship and warn off their enemies. God's providence can work through the affairs of nations to protect his people. This shows how God can provide favor and protection for his people through the goodwill of outsiders. God can provide favor and protection through the goodwill of outsiders. God's providence works through the affairs of nations. God is not limited to obvious means in caring for his people. Favor can come from unexpected quarters by God's providence.

Notice how protection came to God's people here. They were a small people, often threatened and vulnerable among the great powers of the world. And protection came to them, not only through their own strength, but through the favor and goodwill of an outside power, moved to affirm friendship and alliance with them, and to warn other nations not to seek their harm. Favor and protection came from an unexpected quarter, through the affairs of nations and the goodwill of outsiders. This reflects something about God's providence. God cares for his people, and his care is not limited to obvious or direct means. He can provide favor and protection through unexpected quarters: through the goodwill of outsiders, through the affairs and decisions of nations, through people and powers we would not have looked to. God is not limited to the means we expect in caring for his people; his providence works through the whole world, moving even outsiders to show favor, even nations to afford protection. This encourages us to trust God's providence, which can provide for us and protect us through means we would not have foreseen, from quarters we would not have expected. We do well to trust God's providence, which can bring us favor and protection even through the goodwill of outsiders and the affairs of the world. Trust God's providence, which can provide favor and protection through unexpected quarters. God is not limited to obvious means in caring for his people. Favor can come from outsiders and the affairs of nations by God's hand. Look for God's care even where you would not have expected it.

That is worth taking to heart, for God can provide favor and protection for his people through the goodwill of outsiders and the affairs of nations, and we do well to trust his providence, as protection came to God's people through the favor of an outside power. We can think God's care is limited to obvious means; but protection came to his people through the goodwill of outsiders, moved to affirm friendship and warn off their enemies. God's providence is wide. Do not think God's care is limited to the means you expect; trust his providence, which can bring you favor and protection even through unexpected quarters. Trust God's providence, which can provide favor and protection for his people even through the goodwill of outsiders and the affairs of nations, as the ambassadors returned with letters from a foreign state affirming friendship and protection for God's people, warning others not to seek their harm or make war against them; for God's people, small and often threatened among the nations, found protection there not by their own strength alone but through the favor and goodwill of an outside power moved to affirm friendship and warn off their enemies, so that God's providence can work through the affairs of nations to protect his people, which reflects something about his providence, that his care is not limited to obvious or direct means but can provide favor and protection through unexpected quarters, through the goodwill of outsiders, the affairs and decisions of nations, and people and powers we would not have looked to, since God is not limited to the means we expect in caring for his people but his providence works through the whole world, moving even outsiders to show favor and even nations to afford protection, which encourages us to trust his providence that can provide for us and protect us through means we would not have foreseen, so that we do well to trust God's providence.

Lord, as the ambassadors return with letters from a foreign state affirming friendship and protection for your people, I glimpse how you can provide favor and protection for your people even through the goodwill of outsiders and the affairs of nations. Letters came to the kings and the countries, affirming friendship and alliance with the Jews, and warning others not to seek their harm or make war against them, their cities, and their country. Your people, small and often threatened among the nations, found protection here not by their own strength alone, but through the favor and goodwill of an outside power, moved to affirm friendship and warn off their enemies. Your providence can work through the affairs of nations to protect your people. Show me how protection came to your people here. They were a small people, often threatened and vulnerable among the great powers of the world. And protection came to them, not only through their own strength, but through the favor and goodwill of an outside power, moved to affirm friendship and to warn other nations not to seek their harm. Favor and protection came from an unexpected quarter. This reflects something about your providence. You care for your people, and your care is not limited to obvious or direct means. You can provide favor and protection through unexpected quarters: through the goodwill of outsiders, through the affairs and decisions of nations, through people and powers I would not have looked to. You are not limited to the means I expect in caring for your people; your providence works through the whole world. This encourages me to trust your providence, which can provide for me and protect me through means I would not have foreseen. Take that to my heart. Keep me from thinking your care is limited to the means I expect; help me trust your providence, Lord, which can bring favor and protection even through the goodwill of outsiders and the affairs of nations, looking for your care even where I would not have expected it.