The Storyline Nobody Expected

            We want the storyline of our lives to go from strength to strength, from success to success and to end happily ever after.  Throughout the Bible, however, we see something completely different.  We constantly see a pattern of life through death and triumph through weakness.  This is how God works in history and in our lives.  Ponder with me some examples from Scripture.

            Consider the story of Naaman, the Syrian General with leprosy (2 Kings 5).  The Kings of Syria and Israel were clueless about how God’s blessings and salvation come.  It was the servants and slaves who understood and showed wisdom in these matters.  In the story of Jonah, we see this prophet of the Lord running from God.  Jonah’s disobedience created a crisis for the sailors who tended the boat in which Jonah was traveling.  Yet, these pagan men showed more wisdom, compassion and moral fiber than Jonah (Jonah 1).  Jonah had his eyes opened only after he encountered a near death experience.  Joseph saved Egypt and his family, but only after going through trials, despair and imprisonment (Genesis 39-41).  Ruth had little social power, like nearly all women in ancient times.  She was a despised Moabitess, yet she loved and followed her mother-in-law, Naomi, when she went back to Israel after her husband died.  Ruth did this to help and support Naomi, even though she knew she would be vulnerable to abuse and ridicule.  Yet, through her weakness, Ruth was chosen by God to be a mother in the family tree of King David and Jesus.

            God is a God of the unexpected.  He is the master of reversals.  As the world expects things to work one way, God steps in and turns that belief on its head.  The account of David and Goliath may be the most well-known story from the Old Testament that shows how this narrative of reversals plays out.  The Philistine army had a champion, Goliath, who challenged the Israelites to one-on-one combat.  The rule of this skirmish was simple.  The nation of the man who lost the battle would serve the nation of the man who won.  Goliath was legendary.  David was an unknown.  While David was a young man, he had no official training as a soldier.  As he stood up to Goliath, he looked inexperienced.  He looked to be ill prepared.  He had no armor.  Goliath saw this contest as a mismatch.  Because of this, Goliath the giant, scoffed at the competition and unconsciously lowered his defenses.  This made him vulnerable to a small but lethal stone from David’s sling.  God caused strength and victory to arise from David’s youthful weakness, and a strong giant was conquered.

            As we enter the Easter season, we are reminded of God accomplishing His greatest reversal, His greatest victory.  Mankind could not and would not have ever dreamed up the Christmas and Easter narratives.  Who would ever have dared dream that the God of the universe would come to this earth and clothe himself with human limitations and weaknesses?  Very few will deny that mankind has made a mess of things.  The human race is lost in sin.  People have no hope of making things right with the holy, perfect God of Creation.  But it was God who did the reaching out.  God said, I can and will fix things.  His plan of action was seen in doing the opposite of what the wise of this world would have done.  Jesus came not as the conquering king, but as the sacrificial servant, a helpless lamb.  Jesus allowed Himself to be unjustly convicted.  He voluntarily died, suffering the horrific execution of crucifixion.  Just when the forces of evil thought they had scored a final victory, God reversed things.  To everyone’s amazement, Jesus was raised from the dead.  The victim was actually the victor!  The defenseless lamb of God transformed into the Lion of Heaven.

            I share this not only to lift your spirits, but to offer insight and warning.  Yes, we are blessed because of the redeeming work of our savior Jesus.  But be careful as this world whispers its lies and deceptions.  Remember, the ways of this world are at odds with God’s ways.  There is a sinister reversal that is operating all around us.  Satan works tirelessly to reverse the wisdom and truth of God.  Sadly, many will unwittingly embrace the deadly ways of this evil world.  As naïve people in this world gladly gulp down what appears to be morsels of delight, they are ingesting poison and death.  There is a way that truly is right and life-giving.  It is God’s way.  Read God’s word, seek His way, and find refuge in Jesus.  Keep looking up!