The French styled bistro was tucked away in a small town on the island of Oahu. With only ten tables, my wife and I were seated inches away from another young couple. It was difficult to eat our meal and not overhear their conversation or see what they were eating. As we both began ordering, the couple next to us ordered an enormous cheese fondue as well as a cheese platter. When it arrived, the familiar pungent aromas filled our space. I nodded at my wife as we were treated to this epicurean extravaganza. Finally, I gave in to my inner urgings and interrupted their dinner.
“You must really enjoy cheese!”
Turning to both of us, the woman giggled and exclaimed, “I LOVE cheese!”
“We can see that! Sorry, our tables are so close together, we couldn’t help but notice.”
“Not to worry! I’m a fromagerie!” Now that is interesting!
“Really? My wife and I love cheese!” I gushed. “Where do you work?”
“Actually, I’m from Southern California and I work at a restaurant in Los Angeles.” Now it was really getting interesting!
“WE are from Southern California!” Within a few seconds, we recognized the restaurant at which she worked, in fact, we had dined there a year earlier. I began to share some of my memories of that dinner when I realized that we had previously met. “You had a special cheese from Belgium that evening, the rind was washed in a Trappist Belgian ale. You were very excited to share it with us since your restaurant rarely carried that cheese.”
She looked at my face, studying it, and then declared, “Oh my goodness! I remember you and your wife! Yes! We had a long discussion about that particular cheese! How amazing is this? We both live in Southern California and we meet again in a small restaurant in Hawaii! Cheese brought us together! We are here planning our wedding for next year. This is my fiancee.” We shook hands and congratulated the young couple.
Seemingly random encounters may sometimes be anything but random. Our example reminded me how God brings together people who are searching for His Truth.
As for Philip, an angel of the Lord said to him, “Go south down the desert road that runs from Jerusalem to Gaza.” So he started out, and he met the treasurer of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under the Kandake, the queen of Ethiopia. The eunuch had gone to Jerusalem to worship, and he was now returning. Seated in his carriage, he was reading aloud from the book of the prophet Isaiah.
Acts 8:26-28 (NLT)
The Bible records a seemingly random encounter between a disciple of Jesus Christ and a eunuch of the queen of Ethiopia. Hundreds of miles from his home, the eunuch just happened to be reading a passage from the prophet Isaiah. Even more interesting, when Philip meets him, he learns the passage he is reading is a prophecy about Jesus Christ and wants to know more about this Person. Philip explains who Jesus Christ is and the eunuch believes in Him and is baptized. Their search for God brought them together.
What is the likelihood that a complete stranger will be reading a passage in Scripture prophesying Jesus Christ and he encounters a disciple of Jesus Christ? Probably just as unlikely as two couples meeting in a small restaurant in Hawaii because of their mutual love of cheese.
Why does God do this?
But from there you will search again for the LORD your God. And if you search for him with all your heart and soul, you will find him.
Deuteronomy 4:29 (NLT)
God always answers the honest prayers of anyone who is searching for Him. Now that is always interesting!
Love and trust in the Lord; seek His will in your life.
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