Can you solve the mysteries of God? Can you discover everything about the Almighty? Such knowledge is higher than the heavens—and who are you? It is deeper than the underworld—what do you know? It is broader than the earth and wider than the sea. [Job 11:7-9 (NLT)]
The closest thing we have to a pet is one of those robot vacuums. Nearly as entertaining as a puppy, it needs far less care. As I watch it zip around the house, its movements appear to be entirely random. Sometimes, it starts by spiraling outward in a circle and, other times, it heads directly for the perimeter of the room. When it hits an obstacle, it seems to bounce off in another direction. Nevertheless, my robotic janitor usually knows enough to stop and beep for rescue when it gets into a jam. Unlike it, when I get into predicaments, I usually try to get out of them on my own. Life would be easier if I called on the Lord as readily as that gizmo beeps for me.
The robot vac also stops running (and beeps) when it is filled with dirt. When I get bogged down with the grime of life, I try to keep going rather than confess my sins and give up my burdens to God. When its battery runs low, this little vac knows enough to find its way back to its charging station, connect, and recharge. With a tendency to forget the importance of resting in God and having Him power me up, I often run myself ragged until I melt down or stop dead in my tracks.
Because the vacuum’s technology is old (another similarity), it has some issues. It has plenty of space to get under the guest room dresser but, once under, the vac can’t find its way out. Rather than stopping or changing direction, the thing repeatedly bangs into same corner as if an opening will suddenly appear! Of course, I’m not much different. Neither of us seem to learn from our mistakes and, like it, my stubbornness frequently blinds me to changing strategy. I’ve done the same ineffectual thing over and over again while foolishly expecting a different result (which is what 12-step groups refer to as “insanity”).
Apparently, the robotic vacuum has multiple sensors that help it calculate room size, detect obstacles, adjust for variations in surface, and keep from falling down stairs. In spite of reading explanations of its programming, I have yet to understand whatever logic is built into it. I can’t help but think of the inexplicable way God runs the universe. Like the robot’s movements, the events of life often seem random, disconnected, and perplexing. Yet, while I’m willing to accept not understanding how our mindless vacuum works, I seem to expect God to provide me with a clear explanation of life’s events. He doesn’t need me to understand how He operates to run the universe any more than my vacuum needs me to understand its workings to clean the floor.
St. Augustine said, “Si comprehendis, non est Deus,” which, roughly translated, means, “If you have understood God, what you have understood is not God.” He’s right! If we could comprehend how God works, He’d be less than a robotic vacuum. If He were small enough to be understood, God wouldn’t be large enough to be worshipped! We don’t have to understand how God works when we remember that He loves us and is good—all of the time.
Yosemite Sam, the cartoon arch enemy of Bugs Bunny, used to exclaim “Jumpin’ Jehosophat!” I was an adult before learning that Jehosophat was the fourth king of the southern kingdom of Judah. It’s ironic that the king said to be jumping in Sam’s pseudo-swear is best known for standing still in 2 Chronicles!
When writing about Nehemiah recently, I thought about waiting. From the time he learned of Jerusalem’s broken-down walls until he spoke to the king, three months passed. Day in and day out, Nehemiah was at the king’s side but remained silent about his concern. Trusting that God would provide the opportune time, Nehemiah patiently waited at the king’s side until God provided the perfect moment when the king inquired about his cupbearer’s sadness. Had I been Nehemiah, would I have trusted God’s timing and kept silent for ninety days? What about you?
When Nehemiah arrived in Jerusalem, over ninety years had passed since the first of the exiled Jews had returned to Judah. Although the temple had been rebuilt for seventy years, Jerusalem’s city walls and gates were still in ruins. Nevertheless, within fifty-two days of his arrival, the walls were reconstructed and new gates installed. That Nehemiah managed to accomplish in less than two months what hadn’t been done in ninety years is a case study in Management 101.
While editing photos, I came to one of a pipevine swallowtail. Seeing it on my computer rather than the camera’s viewfinder, I realized it had seen far better days. Its once beautiful wings were tattered and torn, only one “tail” remained, an antenna was missing, and, with many of its scales gone, its wings were more translucent than iridescent blue. Perhaps it had a close call with a predator, the wind had tossed it around, or it simply was old. In any case, it was damaged goods and no longer beautiful.
Devotions of the Heart 