No Accidents

2 Chronicles 3:1

Then Solomon began to build the temple of the LORD in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the LORD had appeared to his father David. It was on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite, the place provided by David.

Shifu:      The panda? Master, that panda is not the Dragon Warrior. He wasn't even meant to be here. It was an accident.

Oogway:     There are no accidents.

Shifu:          [Sighs] Yes, I know. You said that already... twice.

Oogway:     Well, that was no accident either.

Shifu:           ... Thrice.

That’s from our favorite, Kung Fu Panda movie. And when I say favorite, it means it’s been looped for the nth time and is included in the playlist of the kids daily marathon. Actually, we can already, alternately, take roles and do throw lines.  Credits to the writers for the funny, witty, quotable quotes. Just a phrase, like when I wrote down today’s title, and it readily signaled a recall. Well, I’m sure this was no accident either.

Just reading the opening verse and in a flash, my search engines brought me to the time of Abraham. Mount Moriah. The land the great patriarch journeyed to sacrifice his only son Isaac, in obedience to God’s instruction. The account where ‘Jehovah Jireh: the Lord will Provide’ was first mentioned. The verse also provided the clue for its second mention: the exact threshing floor David bought from Araunah to offer sacrifices. Also as commanded by God. Googling online to further my study, I found scholars connects this land to where Melchizedek came from. He was the king and priest with whom Abraham gave a tenth of his everything. Jacob’s dream was also believed to have happened here. What’s more, rabbinical sources marked it as the exact center of the world where the presence of God usually appeared.  Quite a lot of significant stories there for just one site.  Coincidence?  Think again. Chapter seven confirmed Him saying:  ‘I have chosen this place for Myself as a temple for sacrifice’.  It was perfectly-thought. Truly, there are no accidents.

So does this mean our eyes should be fixed on what’s happening now in the Muslim’s ‘Dome on the Rock’, where Solomon’s temple had its foundations?  Well, you could, and why not? The prophet Ezekiel mentioned a Third Temple and it’s sure worth looking forward to. But my personal take home here is to praise the One who designed, and assigned, events in history so that the fragments complement the beautiful, purposeful, and meaningful whole.  It’s me taking the discipline of watching Him move and be awesomized by His no-nonsense, no-accident orchestration. With the Architect of this World as Author of my life, and yours, isn’t it just so exciting to hear Him say: ‘For I know the plans I have for you’? Every stone, every turn, for a purpose. And always a perfect fit. Remarkable!