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.
When the woman joined our group at the table in the school gym, she said, “I got a late start so I was speeding to get here. If a cop stopped me, I was going to tell him I was doing the Lord’s work and, since God will forgive me, he should too.” She insisted that speeding for a godly purpose was a justifiable offense and, since God offers forgiveness, so should the police. Granted, we were doing God’s work by packing meals for the needy but, as the Blues brothers learned when they saved the orphanage, a mission from God is not a “Get Out of Jail Free” card.
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!
Saul, a man willing to kill his son rather than concede his error in making a foolish vow, wasn’t quite as eager to fulfill other vows he made. Later, he promised his daughter (along with exemption from taxes and military service) to the man who killed Goliath. While the vow prohibiting his men from eating came from his desire for revenge, this one may have come from fear. It was the king’s job to lead his men into battle and Saul, as the tallest man and the only one with bronze armor like Goliath’s, was the obvious choice to take on the Philistine. Perhaps Saul hoped the promise of wealth, honor, and a place at the king’s table would be incentive enough for someone else to volunteer to face the Philistine. For 40 days Goliath had taunted Israel but there were no takers until David.
Last week, when writing how Jephthah’s reckless vow caused his daughter’s death, I remembered how Saul’s equally foolish vow nearly cost his son’s life. While Israel was at war with the Philistines, Saul and his 600 men were camped near Gibeah. Israel was seriously out-numbered by the better-armed Philistines and, because their enemy controlled the pass at Micmash, Saul’s troops could proceed no further. Although the rest of Saul’s men were afraid, Jonathan and his armor bearer were confident that the Lord was with them. Tired of the hopeless standoff with their enemies, the two snuck out of camp and headed toward the Philistine garrison. After passing through two treacherous cliffs and scaling a steep slope, they entered the enemy outpost and, outnumbered ten to one, killed them all.
Skeptics love to ask how God could allow Jephthah to offer up his daughter as a burnt sacrifice. First, let’s note that it never says God approved of his sacrifice. In fact, Scripture makes it clear that such a sacrifice was abhorrent to the Lord. In His wisdom and mercy, God even provided a way out if someone made a rash or unrealistic vow. Leviticus 27 explains that such a vow could be purchased back with a 20% penalty and describes how valuations were to be determined. Although Jephthah displayed knowledge of Israel’s history when negotiating with the Ammonites, he showed his ignorance of God and God’s law with his rash vow. Moreover, there is no reason to think his daughter was sacrificed in the Tabernacle. It’s more likely that such a horrific event would have been part of a pagan ceremony.
Devotions of the Heart 