(continued from previous post)
(written by Max Lucado – UpWords Ministry from MaxLucado.com)
The God Who Fights for You
Here is a big question. What is God doing when you are in a bind? When the lifeboat springs a leak? When the ripcord snaps? When the last penny is gone before the last bill is paid? When the last hope left on the last train? What is God doing?
I know what we are doing. Nibbling on nails like corn on the cob. Pacing floors. Taking pills. I know what we do.
But what does God do? Big question. Real big. If God is sleeping, I’m duck soup. If he is laughing, I’m lost. If he is crossing his arms and shaking his head, then saw off the limb, Honey, it’s time to crash.
What is God doing?
Well, I decided to research that question. Being the astute researcher that I am, I discovered some ancient writings that may answer this question. Few people are aware—in fact, no one is aware—that newspaper journalists roamed the lands of the Old Testament era.
Yes, it is true that in the days of Noah, Abraham, and Moses, reporters were fast on the scene recording the drama of their days. And now, for the first time, one of their articles is to be shared.
How did I come upon this article?
Well, I discovered it pressed between the pages of an in-flight magazine on a red-eye flight out of Sheboygan, Wisconsin. I can only surmise that a courageous archaeologist had hidden it to protect himself form imminent danger of evil spies. We’ll never know if he survived. But we do know what he discovered—an ancient newspaper interview with Moses.
So with a salute to his courage and a hunger for the truth, I proudly share with you a heretofore undiscovered conversation with a man who will answer the question: What does God do when we are in a bind?
This interview is between the Holy Land Press (HLP) and Moses.
HLP: Tell us about your conflict with the Egyptians.
MOSES: Oh, the Egyptians—big people. Strong fighters. Mean as snakes.
HLP: But you got away.
MOSES: Not before they got washed away.
HLP: You’re talking about the Red Sea conflict.
MOSES: You’re right, that was scary.
HLP: Tell us what happened.
MOSES: Well, the Red Sea was on one side and the Egyptians were on the other.
HLP: So you attacked?
MOSES: Are you kidding? With a half-a-million rock stackers? No, my people were too afraid. They wanted to go back to Egypt.
HLP: So you told everyone to retreat?
MOSES: Where? Into the water? We didn’t have a boat. We didn’t have anywhere to go.
HLP: What did your leaders recommend?
MOSES: I didn’t ask them. There wasn’t time.
HLP: Then what did you do?
MOSES: I told the people to stand still.
HLP: You mean, with the enemy coming, you told them not to move?
MOSES: Yep, I told the people, “Stand still and you will see the Lord save you.”
HLP: Why would you want the people to stand still?
MOSES: To get out of God’s way. If you don’t know what to do, it’s best just to sit tight till he does his thing.
HLP: That’s an odd strategy, don’t you think?
MOSES: It is if you are big enough for the battle. But when the battle is bigger than you are and you want God to take over, it’s all you can do.
HLP: Can we talk about something else?
MOSES: Sure, it’s your paper.
HLP: Soon after your escape…
MOSES: Our deliverance.
HLP: What’s the difference?
MOSES: There is a big difference. When you escape, you do it. When you are delivered, someone else does it and you just follow.
HLP: Okay, soon after your deliverance, you battled with the Ammo…Amala…let’s see, I have it here…
MOSES: The Amalekites.
HLP: Yeah, the Amalekites.
MOSES: Big people. Strong fighters. Mean as snakes.
HLP: But you won.
MOSES: God won.
HLP: Okay—God won—but did the work. You fought the battle. You were on the field.
MOSES: Wrong.
HLP: What? You weren’t in the battle?
MOSES: Not that one. While the army was fighting, I took my friends Aaron and Hur to the top of a hill and we did our fighting up there.
HLP: With each other?
MOSES: With the darkness?
HLP: With swords?
MOSES: No, in prayer. I just lifted my hands to God, like I did at the Red Sea, only this time I forgot my rod. When I lifted my hands, we would win, but when I would lower my arms we would lose. So I got my friends to hold my arms until the Amalekites were history and we won.
HLP: Hold on a second. You think that standing on a hill with your hands in the air made a difference?
MOSES: You don’t see any Amalekites around, do you?
HLP: Don’t you think it strange that the General of the Army stays on the mountain while the soldiers fight in the valley?
MOSES: If the battle had been in the valley I would have gone, but that’s not where the battle was being fought.
HLP: Odd, this strategy of yours.
MOSES: You mean if your father was bigger than the fellow beating you up, you wouldn’t call his name?
HLP: What?
MOSES: If some guy has you on the ground pounding on you and your father is within earshot and tells you to call him anytime you need help, what would you do?
HLP: I’d call my father.
MOSES: That’s all I do. When the battle is too great, I ask God to take over. I get the Father to fight for me.
HLP: And he comes?
MOSES: Seen any Jews building pyramids lately?
HLP: Let me see if I’ve got this straight. Once you defeat the enemy by standing still and another time you win the battle by holding up your hands. Where did you pick all this up?
MOSES: Well, if I told you, you wouldn’t believe me.
HLP: Try me.
MOSES: Well, you see, there was this bush on fire.
HLP: Maybe you’re right. We’ll save that one for another day.
So, what do you think? What does God do when we are in a bind? If Moses is any indication, that question can be answered with one word: fights. He fights for us. He steps into the ring and points us to our corner and takes over. “Remain calm; the Lord will fight for you” (Exodus 14:14).
His job is to fight. Our job is to trust.
Just trust. Not direct. Or question. Or yank the steering wheel out of his hands. Our job is to pray and wait. Nothing more is necessary. Nothing more is needed.
“He is my defender; I will not be defeated” (Psalm 62:6).
By the way, was it just me, or did I detect a few giggles when I announced my archaeological discovery?
Some of you didn’t believe me, did you? Tsk, tsk, tsk…Just for that you’re going to have to wait until the next booklet before I tell you about the diary of Jonah I found in a used book store in Wink, Texas. Still has some whale guts in it.
And you thought I was kidding!
(continued in the next post!)
This copy of Prayer: A Heavenly Invitation is brought to you by UpWords, the ministry of Max Lucado. UpWords is a non-profit ministry that exists because of the generosity of people like you. It is our prayer that this ministry will continue to encourage the lives of those who seek a deeper relationship with the Lord. If this material has been beneficial to your spiritual life, please prayerfully consider contributing to our ministry with prayer and financial support.
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