I have been having trouble writing this next blog. I
have many things to write about but just cannot seem to find the energy to sit
and write it down. Lack of material? Not a chance. Lack of inspiration?
Possibility. I have experienced a period of down time, low energy and
the blahs. I feel like my ship has sailed into the Sargasso Sea and the winds
have died.
I have spoken with a lot of people recently. Friends,
family, nurses and doctors all tell me how good I look, how well I am doing and
that they are glad to see me. My response to their comments is always, “It’s
good to be seen!” Last night I realized what needs to be blogged. I became inspired, to share exactly why acquaintances
see what they see.
When Moses was called to lead the Israelites out of
captivity from Egypt what did he do? He took them and headed to the Promised
Land. Ah, but there is this thing called the Red Sea standing in their way.
Unlike Noah, Moses was not given directions to build a boat. When he lifted his
rod the Sea parted and Moses and his band of brick makers crossed on dry land.
Upon reaching the other side the Israelites were scared when they saw the Egyptian
army in hot pursuit and wanted to go back to Egypt. What did Moses have them
do? He had them stand still and watch as God saved them. So did the Israelites
escape or were they delivered? When you escape it is due to your actions. When
you are delivered it is because of the actions of someone else, in this case
God’s mighty act delivered Moses and his band of rock stackers.
Awhile later the wandering Israelites were forced to
fight the Amalekites who were big, strong, fierce fighters and gunning for
Moses and his followers. Moses won but was not part of the battle. What? Well,
when the battle started Moses took his friends Aaron and Hur to the top of a
hill. Where? How could they fight a battle from such a distant position? They
did not fight with swords and shields but rather with prayer. Moses lifted his
arms in prayer, sans rod, and the Israelites started to win the battle. When he
lowered his arms the advantage on the battlefield returned to the Amalekites.
In order to maintain the advantage and eventual victory on the battlefield
Moses had Aaron and Hur hold his arms up. The Israelites beat the Amalekites
not because of the battle in the valley but because of the battle on the hill.
As children growing up I always knew that if I were
in trouble, if the bully in the neighborhood was beating the snot out of me, I
could call for my father to come rescue me. This is exactly what Moses had
done. The battle with the Amalekites was too big so Moses called upon his
Heavenly Father to save him. If you doubt this, just how many Jews are building
pyramids today?
Now let me introduce you to King Jehoshaphat. Jehoshaphat
defeated the Moabites, Ammonites and Meunites. These people were also large,
strong, fierce fighters, mean as snakes. King Jehoshaphat had no battle plan,
no strategy, and no way to defeat his enemies. He was scared knowing that they
were coming to get him and his people. What did he do? The king asked God what
to do. He gathered his people and they
went on a national fast. They told God that He was the king and whatever He
wanted was OK with them. They really needed God’s help. They waited. The enemy
was coming closer; Jehoshaphat stood and waited.
One of the king’s people, a guy named Jahaziel, told
the king God said not to be afraid, worry or be discouraged that the battle was
His not ours. Obviously these were men of prayer because when they heard God’s
voice they recognized it. So just how did
the battle play out? How did King Jehoshaphat become victorious? They sang!
They sang? Yes, they had the Levites lead them into battle singing. That's correct, the singing
Levites led the warriors into battle singing. They sang and they sang. God set
ambushes and when the king got to the battle the enemy was dead. Bizarre! Who believes this stuff? Those with
man-sized problems will laugh. Those with God size problems will pray.
What people see in me is that I have a God-sized problem. My story is a lot like
these stories. When I was given a God-sized problem I prayed. I called out to
my Father for help. I lifted my rod and God parted the waters of my mind so
that I could find my footing on dry land. Then God closed those waters drowning
any thoughts that I would have of defeat. Ann and my family held my arms up as
the battle raged within me. Their support goes a long way in God’s plan to
defeat the cancer within me. While I wait the army of prayer warriors in my
life goes before me with their prayers, lifting their voices in praise, trust
and great expectations of being answered, giving the battle to the Lord to
defeat my enemy. What people see in me is what happens when I wait and God fights!
What does God do for me when I am in a bind? He fights! He fights for me each and
every day. He takes on my battle. My job in all this is to trust. My job is to
wait.
Remain
calm; the Lord will fight for you. (Exodus 14:14)
He
is my defender; I will not be defeated. (Psalm 62:6)
