In the story of Abraham,
we find God calling out Abraham from his father’s house with promises. He got
the calling, he followed but when the famine struck the land he had no means to
live. Perhaps he was not to go to Egypt but to look up to God for deliverance
because it is He who promised him. He was not supposed to tell lie for he had
said of his wife as his sister which is a half-truth. And we remember what
happened then.
Gen.15-16 recorded another incident where Abraham tried (over-smartly)
to help God fulfill His promise. Abraham had been living there for 10
years without any son or descendant. On the counsel of his wife Sarah,
Abraham went into Hagar. Perhaps Abraham should have waited more for
discernment, though 10 years had been really long time. He lost
hope though not in the LORD. He felt there was a better life than what he was
living. He waited and trusted God. His contentment, satisfaction is in the
Lord, but he also desperately wanted to have a son born of him. He felt God’s
gift to be irrelevant if he but have no son for his heir.
God called and promised Abraham
but let him wait and waited for years that made him felt of no much use. At the
call, he was filled with hope and expectation then, followed by troubles
(famine, Pharaoh, Lot’s captivity) then, probably a shattered dream because of
no son. What kind of promise is that? Is that good and interesting?
Jacob got the blessing but just after that, he found himself
fleeing from his home and serve Laban for over 20 years. Joseph
got a propitious dream than realizing himself sold as a slave by his own
brothers. He endured false accusation, prison terms and others for over 13 years.
Moses, a promising child from birth, raised up in the palace was
perhaps convinced that God will use him. He started to work out and found
himself rejected even by his own people and fled to Midian dwelling there for 40
years. A broken-man, hope was lost and no more plans. Out of utter
brokenness, he made excuses with God 6 times when God commissioned him. 40 years
in the palace, 40 years in Midian, now 80 years old aged man! How can 80
years old man be useful?
Paul, the almost perfect in human eyes of whom, Christ appeared and
commissioned in a dramatic way, had to stay in Jerusalem for 3 years and another 10 years before he took up the leadership. 13 years? Peter
and the Apostles accepted the calling of Jesus to be the
disciples of the Lord with the hope of the Messianic kingdom where they can be part
of the ruling government. They found their Hope being humiliated in the most severe
way they have ever known which even an inch or ounce He never deserves. Their
hope distinguished, they cannot understand, though they never condemn, even
Judas Iscariot made his final confession before his self-made gallows. The
disciples found themselves going back to their old profession, what best they
knew and can do for a living with lots of disappointment.
Even our Lord Himself,
the God in human flesh waited and lived a carpentry life for around 29
years before He started His ministry. What’re all these? God
calls out that they and we suffer? The Israelite questioned
and wrestled that at the expense of their souls many times (Exodus 14 onwards of the book). God
calls out to live a hope-loss life, to live a cheated, mistreated, slavery and
desperate life?
Elizah, the servant of God inspired, confident and tough confronted King
Ahab then found himself commanded to get away and hide by the Brook Cherith and
fed by ravens for his daily needs. Ravens? Are you kidding me, the unclean
birds, Ravens? Then went to Zarephath where the son of the woman died in
his stay with them. A presence of the servant of God made the
absence of the child’s soul? Not blessings, curses?
Daniel, a man of dreams and visions, had set his heart to understand,
and to humble himself before God (Dan.10:12) but he got no revelation
and had to wait for 21 days.
They said, “Walk to God, and He
will run to you.” What have we seen in all these? Is it consistent? These
people are the biblical heroes, each man the man of God. They had problems to
struggle throughout their life. They had to wait with adversities and almost no
hope in spite of promises for them. They faced difficulties, were humiliated
beyond our imagination and still, we believe they are our heroes and men of God. Can
we picture any enjoyment and happiness in their lives?
Now perhaps is the time to
thinking. Let’s Think!!!
21st September 2013 Saturday, 10:30 AM