God, the waters saw You. They saw You and became afraid. The deep waters shook with fear. The clouds poured down their rain. The sky thundered. Your lightning flashed back and forth like arrows. Your thunder sounded in the whirlwind. Lightning lit up the world. The earth trembled and shook. You made a way through the sea and paths through the deep waters, but Your footprints were not seen. (Verses 16-19)
...and they saw Jesus walking on the water, coming toward the boat. John 6
Ever wonder why God doesn't always leave footprints where He's been? There's certainly the hint of Who did the undoable. Like creation. It smacks of design. It is well ordered and complex, defying those who say it's random. But God leaves the possibility of something else for those who won't believe.
Today there was a basket of Valentine goodies for me when I came down to the kitchen. In it were cards, perfume, wine, oranges and limes and an electric juicer. I think it was from Bill. I don't know that for sure. Even if he told me it came from him, I could conjure another story. After all, I didn't see my husband leave the gift. Although the person leaving it for me would have to know some things about me, I don't have to assume that person was Bill. But he is the obvious choice.
I live by the ocean (every day I thank God for this privilege). I watch the tides ebb and rise. I have seen the water sparkle at dusk and dawn as dolphins roll and play in the waves. Whales breach and gulls soar as nature does what nature does. But God doesn't shout over it for all to hear: "I did this." Because...it should be obvious. Really.
Nature knows what we don't. It is God Who tells it what to do. The boat didn't leave the dock until late in the evening. Jesus and the disciples had a busy day with the hungry crowd on the banks of Lake Galilee. Five thousand men and their families showed up to hear Jesus speak and they got hungry. "Where can we buy food for these people?" Jesus asked Phillip, to test him. Jesus already knew what He was going to do.
"We'd have to work for a month to buy enough bread to give every person only a little piece." Phillip just telling it like it was.
"Tell the people to sit down." Prepare to be amazed. Five loaves and two fish fed everyone. With leftovers. How did that even look?
Yet only a few hours later, Phillip and the others are getting seasick from the scary waves that are knocking their boat about. They left without Jesus. It was dark and He was nowhere. They were three or four miles out when they saw Jesus coming toward them. Walking on the waters He'd made. Leaving no footprints for them to show all the Galileans later. Look! We'll prove to you He strolled out toward us! See those sandal prints! And they were afraid. Then Jesus got into the boat and...suddenly...they were at the other side. No trail left behind. Just there. Obedient and reverent. Just like the waters are when He says "Stop!" Just like fig trees are when He commands them to dry up. Just like demons are when He says "Leave!" Just like sickness is when He says "Be well." Jesus came to His creation knowing what He was going to do. Show us to Whom it belongs.
So should He ask us the rhetorical question "What are you going to do?" our response should be "You already know. Show me." Prepare to be amazed. All of creation does just what He says. He doesn't have to leave a mark bigger than that. His footprints are so enormous we couldn't see them if we tried. The whole earth is His footstool. He's too big to walk around leaving a print. The seas, the stars, the mountains and streams, birds, elephants, babies and beauty, flowers and trees, pandas and peacocks are stamped with the wonders of our God's great mind. He is Spirit -- everywhere, all powerful, all smart. And we are little. And shamelessly arrogant. We look for His foot when He gave us His heart.
...and they saw Jesus walking on the water, coming toward the boat. John 6
Ever wonder why God doesn't always leave footprints where He's been? There's certainly the hint of Who did the undoable. Like creation. It smacks of design. It is well ordered and complex, defying those who say it's random. But God leaves the possibility of something else for those who won't believe.
Today there was a basket of Valentine goodies for me when I came down to the kitchen. In it were cards, perfume, wine, oranges and limes and an electric juicer. I think it was from Bill. I don't know that for sure. Even if he told me it came from him, I could conjure another story. After all, I didn't see my husband leave the gift. Although the person leaving it for me would have to know some things about me, I don't have to assume that person was Bill. But he is the obvious choice.
I live by the ocean (every day I thank God for this privilege). I watch the tides ebb and rise. I have seen the water sparkle at dusk and dawn as dolphins roll and play in the waves. Whales breach and gulls soar as nature does what nature does. But God doesn't shout over it for all to hear: "I did this." Because...it should be obvious. Really.
Nature knows what we don't. It is God Who tells it what to do. The boat didn't leave the dock until late in the evening. Jesus and the disciples had a busy day with the hungry crowd on the banks of Lake Galilee. Five thousand men and their families showed up to hear Jesus speak and they got hungry. "Where can we buy food for these people?" Jesus asked Phillip, to test him. Jesus already knew what He was going to do.
"We'd have to work for a month to buy enough bread to give every person only a little piece." Phillip just telling it like it was.
"Tell the people to sit down." Prepare to be amazed. Five loaves and two fish fed everyone. With leftovers. How did that even look?
Yet only a few hours later, Phillip and the others are getting seasick from the scary waves that are knocking their boat about. They left without Jesus. It was dark and He was nowhere. They were three or four miles out when they saw Jesus coming toward them. Walking on the waters He'd made. Leaving no footprints for them to show all the Galileans later. Look! We'll prove to you He strolled out toward us! See those sandal prints! And they were afraid. Then Jesus got into the boat and...suddenly...they were at the other side. No trail left behind. Just there. Obedient and reverent. Just like the waters are when He says "Stop!" Just like fig trees are when He commands them to dry up. Just like demons are when He says "Leave!" Just like sickness is when He says "Be well." Jesus came to His creation knowing what He was going to do. Show us to Whom it belongs.
So should He ask us the rhetorical question "What are you going to do?" our response should be "You already know. Show me." Prepare to be amazed. All of creation does just what He says. He doesn't have to leave a mark bigger than that. His footprints are so enormous we couldn't see them if we tried. The whole earth is His footstool. He's too big to walk around leaving a print. The seas, the stars, the mountains and streams, birds, elephants, babies and beauty, flowers and trees, pandas and peacocks are stamped with the wonders of our God's great mind. He is Spirit -- everywhere, all powerful, all smart. And we are little. And shamelessly arrogant. We look for His foot when He gave us His heart.
No comments:
Post a Comment