“And all the people shall know, [even] Ephraim and the inhabitant of Samaria, that say in the pride and stoutness of heart, The bricks are fallen down, but we will build with hewn stones: the sycomores are cut down, but we will change [them into] cedars.” (Isa 9:9-10 AV)
Reading the passage this morning struck me as pretty audacious. The ten northern tribes are playing chicken with God. They dare Him to destroy their buildings made with the stones He provided, and they will go out and cut stones of their own, making better homes than God provided. They dare the LORD to destroy the lowly sycamore trees He had provided, for they will plant a much larger and stronger tree in the cedar. They are daring God to judge them, thinking they could do better for themselves than God ever did. The nation that dares God by threatening to improve on His plan is a nation whose days are numbered. Of course, we cannot help but think this of our own nation. When we kill babies in the womb thinking our plan is better than the Creator’s, watch out! When we mutilate those who are born, convincing them God didn’t know what He was doing, watch out. When technology is created to supplant what God has created, watch out. When a nation not only forgets God, but goes the ultimate step by challenging Him, the end is near. One need not look further than the tower of Babel.
The lost are not the only ones who do this, though. God’s people can be guilty of this as well. One of the most interesting passages in the word of God is the story of Moses’ call into the ministry. Here was a man who had far more leadership skills than he realized. When the LORD called him, Moses gave one objective after another. He requested the ability to perform miracles as verification of his calling. He stated he lacked the gift of oration and if he was going up against the mightiest of all royals at the time, he would be laughed out of the court. But the objection that strikes one as bold is that Moses asks the LORD if he could pick the deliverer. Moses thought he could do a better job than God did. Listen to his words. “And he said, O my Lord, send, I pray thee, by the hand [of him whom] thou wilt send.” (Ex 4:13 AV) “Of whom thou wilt send” is Moses. Moses is asking the LORD to accept his nomination rather than go himself. Moses was humble to a fault. He was so humble he didn’t think God could use him even though God chose him.
We are prone to think of how our lives could be different. If we were God, then one possibility or another would be better than the reality in which we live. The difference here is Moses, or we, do not dare God to tear it all down and we will do a better job of building it back up. We don’t limit God’s ability. We merely question God’s wisdom. This may not be rebellion, but it definitely is not faith. When we think someone else could do a better job than we could, we are doing the same. God placed us in the time and place for a reason. He has given us the circumstances of our lives for a purpose. He is all wise. He has a plan. We are part of that plan no matter how much we feel inadequacy. If we think for a moment, we can build a better house or grow a better world, then we are no different from the rebellious saints above. True, they are daring God’s hand of chastisement, thinking they could overcome it in spades. How foolish. When the hand of the LORD came, they never recovered. However, the spirit of discontentment can lead us to think our lives could be much better if we were in charge. Faith and prayer are the key. God knows what He is doing. He always has our best at heart. The life we have, if we are in the center of God’s will, no matter how difficult it might be, is the perfect place to be.
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