Marsha's Musings: Sleep, Party/Satan vs. God

Last night the kids had a party here until midnight.

I was extremely exhausted because I have not been sleeping well at all at night as a general rule.  So last night I went to bed early and had the light off by 9:30pm.  I expected that I would not be able to sleep because of the noise in the rest of the house.  I must have really been tired because I fell asleep and woke up at midnight to go to the bathroom and all the kids were gone and Sarah and Nathaniel were just cleaning up.  I never heard a thing.

I'm so glad I was able to sleep well.  I felt much more rested today and no headache so far today.  Thank you. Lord!

Today we all went to church.  Our pastor is in Romans 3.  It's very good.

My Quiet Time:

But since we were torn away from you, brothers, for a short time, in person not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face, because we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again—but Satan hindered us. For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? For you are our glory and joy. (1 Thessalonians 2:17-20 ESV)

When I first read this I was surprised that Paul said Satan hindered them.  My first thought was, "What? I thought God was more powerful than Satan!"

When we come to passages that seem contradictory to what we know about God, it is important that we compare these passages with the whole of Scripture.

We read in Job following:

Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. The Lord said to Satan, "From where have you come?" Satan answered the Lord and said, "From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it." And the Lord said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?" Then Satan answered the Lord and said, "Does Job fear God for no reason? Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face." And the Lord said to Satan, "Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand." So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord. (Job 1:6-12 ESV)

What does this tell us about Satan?  It tells us that Satan can not touch God's people unless God gives Satan permission to.  So we must conclude in the passage in 1 Thessalonians that God gave the permission to Satan to hinder them from coming to them.  Why? We are not told the reason why, but we know that God has His good purposes for allowing Satan to place a road block in the road.  

So we must conclude that while Satan got credit for being the immediate cause of the delay, God is the first cause.

When I have trials and troubles that come my way, I need to learn to look past the immediate cause and see the first cause behind it.