When God is Powerless

15/7/2013

The tension was palpable as Laura stepped up to the wheel. Three others stood behind clinging to their already earned prizes of $30,000. Yet here was Laura risking it all for the almost impossible prize of $10 million. No one ever won this and she would lose everything.

"Inconceivable," I thought to myself, "it's an inconceivable amount of money. Imagine what I could do with that. My financial issues solved for ever and my dream of doing outreach work in Africa a reality. But it's not me. I just can't do it."

"So you know how it works Laura," the game show host says in his lilting TV voice. "You have one chance to hit the gold spot with the dart." Laura looks down nervously at the small dart she is holding. The other three contestants stand looking on thinking about what they have decided - "Keep the certain cash and don't go for the impossible."

The giant wheel begins to spin as the music starts. Faster and faster it spins as the tempo of the music rises too.
"Are you ready Laura?" The game show host shouts beaming his whitened-teeth smile at her. "Are you ready to receive the impossible. Are you ready to get your dream?"

Laura smiles nervously and says, "Yes, I think so."
"On my count," the game show host continues, "throw the dream dart and claim your dream....three, two..." the music has reached it's crescendo and the wheel is a blur of lights as it spins..."one, THROW!"

Laura seems to close her eyes as she throws. It's almost as if time slows down as the studio audience holds its collective breath. The small dart flies towards the impossible target and all of a sudden a dazzle of sparks and lights erupt from all around the wheel. The impossible has happened. Laura has won!

I look on stunned from where I stand with the other two contestants. I can almost touch the wheel - that fortune - it was so close yet so impossibly far. That's my life. Seeing the impossible but never experiencing it. Seeing the dream but never reaching it. I suppose that's the way it's meant to be. I must accept what I have and not reach for the impossible. At least I have my $30,000.

Iron chariots

I am sure we can all relate to this story in some way. We see others getting things that we don't have. Or we see a life that we would love, but it's just out of reach or just to scary to go for. And so we accept our lot and make the best of what we have been given.

In Bible times, when the people were dependent on farming for their survival, where you lived was important. So for example while the views might be nice on a mountain, living there was not always a good idea. Mountains are stony and nearly impossible to farm. However valleys are flat and fertile and often have rivers or other water available. So the dream place to live was a wonderful fertile valley. Crops would be fruitful, farming would be easy and life would be great.

"And they of Bethshemesh were reaping their wheat harvest in the valley."(1 Samuel 6:13)

However it so happened that in the days of the Judges that these awesome fertile valleys had a problem...an iron problem.

"The Lord was with the men of Judah. They took possession of the hill country, but they were unable to drive the people from the plains, because they had chariots fitted with iron." (Judges 1:19)

So there the people sat, living in God's strength up in the hills, looking longingly down at the valley - but unable to go there because of thee impossible to beat iron chariots.

HOLD ON! This does not make sense. It says "The Lord was with the men of Judah" and then it says they are unable to drive out the people "because they had chariots fitted with iron." Iron chariots are stronger than God Almighty! What?

How can this be? How can it be that God is with these people but He can't drive out a few iron chariots?

BUT read carefully. Yes "the Lord was with the men" but "THEY were unable" to drive out the people. It was not God whose power was insufficient.

"Was my arm too short to deliver you?
Do I lack the strength to rescue you?
By a mere rebuke I dry up the sea..." (Isaiah 50:2)

God, who at a word parts seas has no issue with iron chariots. However the people did.

"And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith." (Matthew 13:58)

The problem was not with God, as it was not with Jesus when he sought to show God's power - it was with the people and their lack of faith!

Looking at me

So we sit here reading this, marveling at how a people who have God with them, who have experienced his power don't believe He can do more. We are astounded by their unbelief, their limiting of God. Yet this story is not about them - its about you and I.

"For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us." (Romans 15:4)

Forget the Israelites - this is us. This is our shocking story!
From the beautiful fertile valley of life Jesus says to us living on the harsh mountainside conditions.

"I have come that you may have life and have it abundantly." (John 10:10)

He is saying - "Come down and live in the fertile valley of life."
And what is our response?
"It's not possible Lord. I know you are with me. I know you have worked amazing miracles in my life on this harsh mountain side, but Lord, the valley...the abundant life...the fertile life, that's not possible."

And so Jesus stands in the beautiful valley calling...

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you." (John 14:2) and "my yoke is easy and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:30)

Yet we cannot enter the valley because (we believe) God is unable to give this life to us. And so we are left looking down into the valley of promise with some questions to answer.

Do I still live in the difficult, trying conditions of a life of sin, temptation, and struggle?
Do I still look at the fertile valley of life and Jesus' offer and believe that is not for now, not possible?
Is it iron chariots that stop us from experiencing the abundant life? Too many trails, too many stresses, too many sins.
If so am I limiting the power of God?

Stop standing there looking on as others claim the impossible prize. Jesus offers us the life of promise. A life worth more than $10 million. Step forward and claim it. Unlike the Laura story, there is no risk here, there is nothing to lose, and everything to gain. All we need is to believe.

God is able. God is willing. There is nothing besides faith that stands between us and experiencing his life of abundance. There is nothing besides faith that stands between us and the valley of life. Let us not limit God.

"The pastures are clothed with flocks;
the valleys also are covered over with corn; they shout for joy, they also sing." (Psalms 65:13)

“Go! Let it be done just as you believe.” (Matthew 8:13)

9 Comments

Lorilyn Roberts link

15/7/2013 05:56:27 pm

Great insights. While I would love to be able to make a living from my writing, I also wonder if I was fabulously successful if I could handle it. Could I be a George Muller? The equivalent of $90 million dollars passed through his hands as he housed and schooled thousands of orphans. He accounted for every cent of it through accurate bookkeeping and died penniless -- but owed nothing to anyone -- except his debt of love. Could I be that? The thought I might be tested scares me, and yet God in His infinite wisdom will prepare me and not test me more than I can bear. Maybe I am better having just enough to live on and not be rich. Look at the fools in Hollywood. I am just speaking for myself and no one else here, but be careful what you wish for--God gives extravagantly more than we ever ask, and with His talents to us, we need to be sure we use them wisely, lest we won't hear the words for which we long, "Well done, my good and faithful servant." I also think we must be faithful in the little things before we can be faithful in the big things. Times of testing prove what's in our hearts. It's a fearsome thing to stand before and awesome God who knows us better than we know yourself. Still, I hope and pray that I would be everything He expects of me. We need more Christians to be successful as writers to impact the world with our words and deeds. God's return is short and the world grows more evil each day. Let's not grow wary or impatient. Again, thanks for the post which sparked a lot of thoughts.

Malo Bel link

15/7/2013 06:06:08 pm

Hi Lorilyn - I agree 100% with you. There is a real risk in "fame" and fortune. I was intrigued to see the recent news about JK Rowling. She decided to write another book under a pseudonym. My thinking is that she did this to see if she could "make it" again without the use of her name. She needs no more money, she needs no more fame. What is left is self affirmation. Yet it seems it did not work as once it was known who SHE was the sales soared as this extract from a news article says....

"Rowling probably could have profited more without the pseudonym; since the reveal, sales of The Cuckoo's Calling exploded 507,000% at Amazon, reports CNN, and it's now out of stock online at both Amazon and Barnes and Noble. (A rep for the latter told the Wall Street Journal it wasn't a big seller pre-reveal.) A new edition is coming that will acknowledge Galbraith as a pseudonym for Rowling."

For me the verse that means the most to me in my writing, and possibly in my professional life is - "He must become greater and I must become less" (John 3:30). This is hard to do when it is OUR fame, OUR success, OUR glory...we must constantly realise the victory is HIS, the glory is HIS and we are nothing without HIM!

Jim Edwards

15/7/2013 09:57:59 pm

Some good thoughts here Malo! Nice work.
Let's remind ourselves of the Gideons who have made an impact through their writing - who have faced those iron chariots and WON! And Won Gloriously! And made a huge impact and changed many lives - been the vehicle for the Lord to bring healing to many a broken and hurting heart, for Him to bring fresh vision and insight into His Ways and His Nature, and winning people back to Himself.
In today's terms my obvious favourite has to be William Young - the writer of 'The Shack'. Check out this interview: http://www.ibethel.tv/watch/304/paul-young-interviewed-by-kris-vallotton/2009/06/04

The Lord has His own ways of getting your writing to where He can use it - ways you would never dream of in your wildest moments.
Don't be afraid of fame and fortune - He WILL exalt you in due time.

But I recently watched a fascinating documentary on William Tyndale - who was the first to translate the New Testament, the Psalms and some more of the Old Testament into English, and who thereby almost single-handedly fired off the spiritual revolution that has so changed the English speaking world. In fear of his life - for most of it, unable to return to England, his translation did, and became a huge best-seller. He specifically coined simple phrases, and used simple sentances to make the language and the meaning easy for everyone to understand. While the basis of what became the King James version was ascribed to Coverdale, it is estimated that 80% of that translation comes from Tyndale.
He was finally betrayed by someone who deliberately wove their way into his confidence, for that specific purpose - and he was then martyred.

Beware what you dream for - indeed!
But pour more oil on that flame in your spirit - and keep polishing that craft of wordsmithing.
And yes, we have to acknowledge that there is a price to be paid to see the kingdoms of this world become the Kingdoms of our God and of His Christ.

Thank you Tyndale - for changing our culture, our world for generations - even to our generation and giving us the word of life in a way we can understand. Thank you for carrying through on your dream.

Words can wound or heal with incredible power....
Remember, words are spiritual containers. Jesus said 'my words are spirit and they are life,' John 6;63. His Words will never die...
He IS the WORD made flesh.

Such is the importance of words....yes - your words and mine too. I've heard it said that the written word has three times the power of the spoken word.

So often they are the very catalyst that Holy Spirit can breathe on to bring His saving grace and power, into the hearts and lives of people we will never know, who will never thank us or recognize us. And while I would love the impact of my writing to change many, can I honestly say even one life makes it all worthwhile?

But how much have you and I been impacted and changed by our own writing! I think I would have to say it has to be worth it, just for the impact it has made on me! Lol!

Malo Bel link

16/7/2013 04:22:48 pm

Hi Jim

I agree wholeheartedly with you. There is no doubt that our words are a power to heal and save. I like your final point that for all of us the first impact is, and should be ourselves. We write because we have been moved and changed, and then we hope that others too may experience our journey in some small measure.

I also love what you say about William Tyndale using simple phrases. There is a lot to be said for writing powerfully yet simply at the same time. I am busy finishing my PhD and that writing is so convoluted, and I am so drawn to my Christian writing where I can share far more important and powerful thoughts with simplicity.

Loving the journey in Jesus!
...Malo

Carole Brown link

15/7/2013 10:34:30 pm

Loved this post and how poignant and real were the thoughts from all of you. How treacherous it is to tread the path of the rich and famous and yet so many--myself included--always sigh for more. Your post, Malo, really spoke to my heart. Love your blog!

Malo Bel link

16/7/2013 04:28:25 pm

Hi Carole, Thanks for the feedback. My morning prayer today was to always remember that first I seek God and everything else - the "more" is second to that. Seems like I need constant reminding ;-)

Jim Edwards

16/7/2013 12:08:36 am

You spark off thoughts that take me in a number of different directions:
It is very tempting to think all we need to do is to screw ourselves up for more faith and then tomorrow we will go down and conquer.
And of course that tomorrow never comes.

Like the parable of the talents - the Lord of the harvest expects us to use what he's given to us - and to everyone has been given a measure of faith.... But what's been given to you is almost certainly completely different from what's been given to me...

Jesus waited 30 years before stepping into His ministry.... Is this an excuse for waiting and never stepping out into ours - No Way! We have no record of His faithful preparation that He put in before his fateful visit to that crazy, camel-haired preacher at the Jordan.

But like Jesus, if our lives and our words are to carry Father's love and life they can only do so out of that relationship that we have with Him. If we cultivate that relationship, then it is inevitable that He will flow out of us. Out of the depths of our being will flow His Living Water - John 7;38. Our mouths will be filled with laughter and our tongues with singing - Psalm 126

I love Smith Wigglesworth's reaction to seeing Niagara Falls - "Lord - Like that out of me!" Oh Amen and Amen!

Malo Bel link

16/7/2013 04:34:14 pm

I love that passage in John and the similar one that "out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks." There is no doubt that when the things of our Lord fill us you feel like Jeremiah -

"But if I say, “I will not mention his word
or speak anymore in his name,”
his word is in my heart like a fire,
a fire shut up in my bones.
I am weary of holding it in;
indeed, I cannot." (Jer 20:9)

It's just so beautiful how the things of God, once we let them take over have no where to go but out...."Lord - Like that out of me!" Amen indeed!

Bobbi M link

12/12/2020 10:51:21 pm

Thank you for writing this post

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