I Can’t See How.

If you read the excerpt from my devotional, you probably could identify with Noah’s wife given our current circumstances. I believe if she could speak to us today, she could both relate and perhaps assure us in our overwhelmed state. The Scriptures tell us in Proverbs 19 that, “many are the plans in a man’s heart.” In this case…a woman. 

Do we not think she had plans for her life, her marriage, her 3 sons, etc…? I think we have to be careful not to paint people in the Bible as super heroes, naturally born with some supreme skill to obey God, and to trust and follow His will. God accomplishes His purpose through ordinary people in extraordinary ways. Our problem is we just can’t see how He does this, but Oh does He!

Here is the preceding portion of “Room Without A View.”

She slid slowly to the ground, her long skirt stirring up the dust as she leaned back against the stone well. Disbelievingly, she reviewed the events of the day in her mind.  Noah had come in from the field to share with her that Jehovah had told him to build an ark. Noah was an honorable man, moral and just worshiping the only one true God, but God told him? She believed in the one true God, but speaking to people, she just couldn’t see how that was possible. 

She thought at first that Noah had spent too much time in the sun, or hadn’t slept well.  He had  been extremely tired as of late. But, Noah assured her that God had spoken.  She had stood with her mouth open while he relayed the news about the project of the ark. He even had dimensions and said it must be completed to prepare for the flooding rains. She had never seen rain, let alone a flood. She just couldn’t see how that could possibly happen.

Leaning back against the well, she stretched her legs out and looked down at her dusty sandals, trying to envision rising water swirling around her weathered feet and shuddered. What would become of the flocks, of her home? What of her sisters and their families? Where would the supplies come from for such a project in their current meager existence? She just couldn’t see where the goods would come from. Noah’s wife cringed when she thought of what others would say.  Wait until the people in the village heard the part about the animals. Two of everything! How would they be gathered? She had trouble herding the goats at feeding time.

She loved Noah and had always trusted him. She revered Jehovah and He had always provided for them. She also knew Noah would proceed in obeying Him. As she gazed up at the blue sky and squinted at the sun, there wasn’t a cloud in sight. The woman sensed deep in her heart everything Noah had shared would come to pass, but she just couldn’t see how.

Anything about this sound familiar? As we experience the daily chaos brought on by Covid 19, we struggle to stay afloat in the flood of devastating news. Fear of illness, even death for ourselves, our families and friends prompts us to wash our hands one more time to be sure. We stay on the alert for updates regarding treatments and vaccines. We fill out endless forms, wait in lines with masked faces and gloved hands grasping for financial survival.  As Gods children, we pray, read scripture, wanting to believe there is a solution, a way out or a way through but we just can’t see how.   
Isaiah 55:8 relays this truth…”For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.  As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.” Grappling with Gods processes can be a deep seed bed of doubt if we are not careful. The need of our understanding of how God delivers us can discourage us and cause us to become fainthearted. 

Remember, faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen- and also not understood. I really don’t know all of the processes of creation of the planets and stars, but I believe God did this. I don’t understand exactly all the microscopic details of how babies develop, grow into annoying adolescents and emerge as productive adults, but it happens daily all around me. And I believe God is the author of this because the Bible says so. Aren’t we thankful that God’s power is not limited by our vision or our understanding? Just because I can’t reason it out doesn’t mean that it is impossible for God to rescue me or restore my life. We are promised the peace of God which passes all understanding. One version says, “the peace that defies logic” (Phillipians 4:7). 
 
Just because I can’t see how life can ever resume, doesn’t mean it won’t. Will it be different? Probably. Just because I can’t see how the economy can survive or recover doesn’t mean God will not provide for me. His resources are unlimited. I remind myself, money is paper to God. He is above this. It doesn’t mean it isn’t important, but we must not think God sees provision the way we do. If God used our belief and understanding as the ultimate measure to act on our behalf, we are sunk! God is good, He is powerful, He is merciful  and loving, whether we believe Him all the time or understand how He works. Even the faith to believe comes from Him. He is the initiator, the author Of Good, and loves us and hears our prayers of both praise and doubt. 

My prayers and hopes for today is that we will ponder on the plight of Noahs wife and remember how she came through to dry land, even if she couldn’t see how. God promised safety through the storm and delivered.  God has an excellent history with people down through time and He hasn’t changed.  He promised deliverance from sin and death went to such length as to send His beloved son to seal the promise. I see ads all the time saying “we will get through this together.” If this includes God, they are right. Even if we just cant’ see how today.