Five Minute Friday - Turn

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One word. Five minutes to write about it. This is the idea behind Five Minute Friday and this is today's free-writing post.

turn over a new leaf

turn it around

an unexpected turn of events

turn the tables

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"Oh how the turntables have turned!" I hear my son quip this variation on an old saying from time to time on his radio show, usually during a segment that invites listeners to vote on their favorite between two brand new songs. One song jumps out to a lead, but then the votes start trending the other way. This quote was the first thing that came to mind when I saw the prompt for this week, and it reminded me that circumstances can often change in unexpected ways, and that God often surprises us in how he can work things out in ways we couldn't have expected.

During this week our Jewish brothers and sisters are celebrating Hanukkah, commemorating an unlikely victory of the Maccebees, and the miracle of a one-day supply of oil lasting for eight days in the temple. An unexpected turn of events! And Biblical history is full of God stepping into the story and turning it in a new and unexpected direction, even turning the tables on the forces of evil. 

The Bible (at least one translation) even uses that expression in the story of Esther, a turning of the tables that is celebrated every year during Purim:

On the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar, the edict commanded by the king was to be carried out. On this day the enemies of the Jews had hoped to overpower them, but now the tables were turned and the Jews got the upper hand over those who hated them.

~Esther 9:1~

Who would have guessed that a very elderly couple could have a baby, and be the founders of an entire nation? Who would have guessed that Jacob the deceiver would be the patriarch and father of the twelve tribes of Israel? Who would have guessed that Joseph being sold into slavery would result in his rise to power in Egypt and saving his brothers (who sold him in the first place!) from starvation? Joseph recognized how God had turned the tables when he told his brothers:

"You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives." ~Genesis 50:20

God kept turning the tables - and even the tides! - on those who intended harm to his people when he led them out of slavery and through the sea, and then provided for them in the wilderness and led them to victory in the Promised Land. And God kept surprising us all by how he worked in unexpected ways. Perhaps most surprising was how he fulfilled his promise to send a Messiah by coming into our world as a baby born to a humble young girl. God himself had come to be with us! And even more unexpected, instead of being the warrior king, the Messiah defeated sin and death by allowing himself to be crucified. And just when evil thought it had won, Jesus turned the tables and rose from the dead!

God continues to work in unexpected ways in our lives, to orchestrate miraculous turns of events, to turn the tables on evil forces, and to turn our lives around when we turn to him.

You turned my wailing into dancing; 

you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,

that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent.

LORD my God, I will praise you forever.

~Psalm 30:11-12~

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

~Romans 8:28~

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This post is linked at Five Minute Friday for the word prompt "Turn".

This post will also be linked at the Sweet Tea & Friends Monthly Link-up Party hosted by Grace-Filled Moments.

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