[Our untamable ditch following torrential rain on May 18, 2020.]
Romans 11:25-32 (<<click here to read the passage)
We have a major drainage ditch that bisects our lot from south to north, flowing from a ditch that runs parallel to the road with water collecting there from a large field to the south of it. The ditch requires quite a bit of upkeep because you can’t mow across it but only to the edge, and then you have to use a push mower or trimmer to keep it maintained.
I spoke to a friend of mine some time back who is very familiar with excavation. I was seeking to find out if there was any way to possibly bury a culvert in the middle portion of it, which is not nearly as deep as the area where it first comes onto our property. I was hoping for less upkeep and more green space.
He explained that water is unpredictable and untamable – basically, if it comes roaring through it’s going to go where it’s going to go. Yeah, we could invest in the culvert and getting it into place along with planting grass and the whole nine yards… Now it may last for a while, maybe even years…but at some point, torrential rain will come, and all of our investment would be gone in a relatively short period of time.
We in our humanity have this mindset that we can keep God in a box. We pray to Him to do our bidding. And unless we call on Him, He stays right where He is and we stay where we are, and He will not interfere with our hopes and dreams and all the things we have in store for ourselves. Even believers can live in this mindset. Of course, some put no stock in God whatsoever.
My Life Application Study Bible has some wonderful thoughts. It states,
In this passage Paul shows how the Jews and the Gentiles benefit each other. Whenever God shows mercy to one group, the other shares the blessing.
It goes on to state that from the very beginning, it was God’s plan that the Jews would be the source of God’s blessing to the Gentiles (see Genesis 12:3). When the Jews neglected this mission, God blessed the Gentiles anyway through the Jewish Messiah.
God is a mighty river, and His will will never be thwarted! Absolutely nothing can stop our Sovereign God. Yes, we have our free will, but that does not hinder God in the least. What He has planned will come to fruition.
We may think we can keep God in a box to do our bidding but know this, God is unpredictable. He is untamable. His is God Almighty! And when He chooses to come roaring through, He’s going to go where He wants to go! He will do what He deems best to do. We may have all kinds of plans, but His will will be done!
The privileges and invitation of God given to Israel will never be withdrawn. …someday all faithful Jews will share in God’s mercy. God’s plans will not be thwarted He will “have mercy on everyone.” v32b
Amen and amen!
July 26th, 2023, Wed, 8:01 pm
