Not the Point

[The Midweek Encounter is a ministry of Encounter Church in Kentwood, MI. These posts are reflections on Sunday's message, which can be heard here each week: http://myencounterchurch.org/#/messages-media]

I find interruptions frustrating – from my son Hugo interrupting whatever I’m doing while he’s supposed to be napping, to life-scale interruptions like multistate moves and family members' deaths. I grow frustrated that things aren’t following my neat plan, whether it’s just a plan for the day, or for years or a lifetime.  

The Bible is full of interrupted stories. Though they were promised a large family, Isaac and Rebekah were barren for twenty years. After wandering the desert, the Israelites are finally ready to head into the Promised Land, when they run into a river. Naomi tries to preserve her family during a famine by moving, but they all die, leaving her only two daughters-in-law. Elijah is called to prophesy God’s word to turn the hearts of Israel back to Him, but is met continually by interruptions – drought, famine, oppression. From a human perspective, the cross sure looks like a setback for the long promised King who would save God’s people.  

Interruptions set the stage for God’s glory. Setbacks remind me that I’m not God.

Jacob knew God’s promise that his family would become a great nation, and he found a beautiful wife. But - they couldn’t have kids. How would God’s plan be fulfilled? By God alone.

“Isaac prayed to the LORD on behalf of his wife, because she was barren. The LORD answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant.” (Genesis 25:21)

After forty years of wandering, the Israelites were finally ready to head to the Promised Land. But - the Jordan River blocked their path. God was the only way they could get to the other side:

“This is how you will know that the living God is among you… And as soon as the priests who carry the ark of the LORD – the Lord of all the earth – set foot in the Jordan, its waters flowing downstream will be cut off and stand up in a heap.” (Joshua 3:10, 13)

Naomi lost everything, so she set off for home, for Bethlehem. But – even if she returned home, there was no husband or son to own land or make money. How would they survive? How could an interruption like that be part of God’s plan at all? By God’s providence, Ruth (her daughter-in-law) married Boaz, their redeemer.

“The women said to Naomi, ‘Praise be to the LORD, who this day has not left you without a kinsman-redeemer. May he become famous throughout Israel!” (Ruth 4:14)

Elijah delivered the tough prophecy to Israel’s king that a drought was coming, discipline from the LORD for their wandering beliefs. Then he rode a roller coaster of setbacks and God’s glory. Elijah had gone into hiding, but – he had no food. God provided a river and food (1 Kings 17:4) But - the river dried up. God miraculously provided food through a family (1 Kings 17:14). But - all the other prophets were killed, and Elijah was all alone! God alone silenced the prophets of the false gods:

“Then the fire of the LORD fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench. When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, ‘The LORD – he is God! The LORD – he is God!’” (1 Kings 18:38-39)

Throughout the Bible, interruptions are the avenue where human incompetence, ineptitude and failure turns our eyes from fallible people to our perfect God. The tension in these stories doesn’t break when Isaac, Rebekah, Joshua, Naomi or Elijah dig deep inside of themselves and muster their last bit of strength, ingenuity, wisdom or power. It breaks when God story supersedes their own. They depend not on their own strengths, but believe in the unfailing strength of a God who saves, who is faithful, whose story is being written with their lives. The interruptions are a reminder that we aren’t the point of the story (I know, that might be hard to hear, especially in our everyone-is-a-unique-unicorn culture).

We exist to bring glory to God. He is the point.

I get frustrated by interruptions and setbacks because I’ve taken my eyes off God, and I think I’m the most important person in the story. I think that my individual path – and let’s be real, the ease of that path – should be of upmost importance to everyone, and especially to God. How would I ever know that I needed a Savior if my path were straight, smooth and interruption free?! How cruel would God be if He allowed me smooth sailing, yet I missed His glory?

Interruptions point me to a God who is greater than I could imagine. He interrupts to remind me that I am not the point; I was created for His glory (Isaiah 43:7). And the interruptions remind me that I need a Savior – one who would not find the cross He faced a setback, but

“He humbled himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:8-11)

The setbacks we face are not tests of our strength, skill or wisdom; they are not for our defeat. When we are weak, then He is strong; and He receives the glory. When my eyes rise from my own obstacles to the One who created everything, frustration melts in the face of His Sovereign plan.

“For God, who said, ‘Let light shine in darkness,’ made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.” (2 Corinthians 4:6-7)

[Robin Bupp is married to Caleb, and they are from many places east of the Mississippi (but are calling Michigan home for the foreseeable future). A former high school science teacher, Robin is slowly turning the two Bupp kiddos into tiny nerds while they teach her lots of things, especially humility and patience.]