One of the most famous quotes from the Kevin Smith classic movie, Clerks, is Dante’s oft-cited refrain of “I’m not even supposed to be here today.” After being forced into work on what he thought was his day off, it’s the go-to mantra that’s quick to mind and just as quick from his mouth for each thing that goes awry during the course of his convenience store clerk role on that day. To make matters worse, people repeatedly remind say to him, “hey, I thought you weren’t supposed to be here today” or “I thought this was your day off.”
I bet we have all felt like Dante at times in our lives. Maybe when we’ve been called in to work on our days off. Maybe it’s the times we’ve had to wait on a train because we stopped at a yellow light instead of charging through the intersection before the crossing. There are many other examples for circumstances where it seems like the world is against us even if we think we are doing the right thing. But the truth is, God uses every moment for his greater glory, and we are refined in the process.
Yes, God has plans for every one of us. He puts us where he wants us and when he wants us there. And that sometimes means going to work on our day off. And sometimes, our wrong turns, adherence to yellow lights, or even car trouble leads us to growth opportunities or an ability to glorify him in our service to others.
Joseph’s Attitude for Not Supposed to Be Here
Perhaps the most well-known “Dante” of the Bible is Joseph. If anyone ever had an “I’m not even supposed to be here” claim, it’s him. The book of Genesis explains how Joseph’s jealous brothers sold Joseph to some men who were on their way to Egypt and then told their father he’d been eaten by wild animals.
When they travel to Egypt many years later because there/s no food in their homeland of Canaan, they bow to the man in charge of the food, not know it was Joseph. Joseph later reveals himself to his brothers, causing them to be fearful of his retribution for their terrible act. Joseph instead responds by saying, “Come here. I am your brother, the one you sold! Do not worry, and do not be angry at yourselves for selling me, because God has put me here to save people from starving.”
Trading a “Not Supposed to Be Here” Attitude for “Appointed by God”
Joseph could have really stuck it to his brothers. And we can’t help but wonder if the thought even crossed his mind. I know my broken human nature would have had me at least considering it. I mean, I wasn’t even supposed to be in Egypt! It’s all their fault, right?
No. Joseph saw his being in Egypt as something God did. More importantly, he told them he was supposed to be there. To put this into a fuller understanding, consider Genesis 24:12. In that passage, Eleazar of Damascus, who was Abraham’s servant, goes out to seek a wife for Abraham’s son Isaac. He prays:
And he said, O Jehovah, the God of my master Abraham, send me, I pray thee, good speed this day, and show kindness unto my master Abraham. — Genesis 24:12 (ASV)
Most translations read as “Lord, grant me success” rather than “good speed” as it appears above. The Hebrew word is in this instance is “qarah,” (kaw-raw’), so he is basically saying “Lord, grant me qarah.” That word indicates that – more than mere success or “good speed” – he is asking God to make something for him that is beyond the scope of what Eleazar knows he can do on his own. He’s essentially asking for a divine appointment with God.
In the book of Ruth (among other places), we find qarah used again. In chapter two, Ruth tells her mother-in-law (Naomi) that she’ll go to a nearby field for grain. She says, “I shall find favor” where favor in the Hebrew translation is qarah. As it turns out, Ruth just happens to find her way into in Boaz’s field. Boaz not only allows her to take grain, he later marries Ruth, who is one of four women specifically named in Matthew’s genealogy of Jesus (Matthew 1:5–6).
When our gut reaction is “I’m not even supposed to be here” instead of “here I am God,” we’re our hearts are corrupt of our own worldly longings. Photo Credit: Wonderlane via Compfight cc
You ARE Supposed to be Here Attitude
Surely, these instances show God’s all mighty power and that he is in control of all things. Even the littlest of things. Even if we don’t understand them. Even when we’re not even supposed to be there.
I find that one of the hardest things to do is accept what your heart really doesn’t desire. When I don’t want to be in a certain place or I find myself waiting on trains (AGAIN), I have a hard time accepting that God put me there. I don’t’ give thought to the fact that it could be for God’s purposes.
Similarly, we’re sometimes hesitant to ask for things of God in prayer because we’re afraid he will respond or we’re fearful that we’re not ready for how he’ll respond.
However, God’s responses are our blessings.
Our heart should be set on maturing into solid stewards of God’s message and kingdom. Our attitude should reflect that frame of heart. When our gut reaction is “I’m not even supposed to be here” instead of “here I am God,” we’re our hearts are corrupt of our own worldly longings.
Though they are not as common today as they once were, bracelets with the letters WWJD were on the wrists of many people, serving as a reminder to consider What Would Jesus Do? in the many life situations we find ourselves. Another way of looking at it is to always consider “what’s the right Christian response to my situation?”
God blesses us with qarah moments every day. These are not random chances, nor are they to hurt or punish us. They are about being in the right place at the right time to serve god for his purposes and for His glory.
Ask for God to grant qarah moments, to make you mindful of them. Then, depend on His favor to recognize you are at the right place and at precisely the right time – fully prepared by his wonderful craftsmanship.
Some resources I used in this blog post you might want to review: