August 3

OT -- 2 Chronicles 33:14-34:33

Do you believe in Fate? Coincidences? Guardian Angels?

When we read the story of Josiah, you have to wonder about the causes for his religiosity. Look at verse 3, "In the eighth year of his reign (he would have been 16), while he was still young, he began to seek the God of his father David."
Okay, somebody or something prompted this. He either had an encounter with a priest of God or teacher of the Faith. 16 years olds (I can say this with absolute assurance having one myself, currently) are not driven to the Book. They are driven by other things and let's leave it at that.
And Josiah did it with fervor. Sustained fervor.
So, was this a guardian angel? Or chance encounter?
I have to think not.
This episode in Chronicles is much more fleshed out than the one in Kings. We have the whole episode with the female prophet and the whole doomsday prophesy. Remember, Chronicles was written AFTER the return of the exiles.
And then the whole thing about discovering the Book of the Law. At best, the most the Book of the Law was missing is 98 years. Hezekiah ruled for 25 years, Manassah for 55 and the whole Book revival happened in Josiah's 18th year. Hezekiah celebrated the uber Passover. I am assuming that he did repeat it and it probably didn't happen in Year One so the time is probably shorter.
Was this the wakeup call to spur Josiah into ever more reforms of the Faith? Another chance encounter or another guardian angel?

What about you? Do you have faith encounters that are just random or is it by Design?

Romans 16:8-27
I love that Paul has all these real people greeted in this letter. I am sure that he meant for this letter to be circulated around; it has such an air of sermonish about it. But the people and the REASONS that he greets them "Rufus and his mother, who has been a mother to me, too." (but he couldn't give her name!!!!) makes me really like him even though he has seriously gotten on my nerves.
Maybe I will like Corinthians better.