Perrydox.com is devoted to the pursuit of truth, whether plain or paradoxical, whether simple or sublime, or simply absurd yet absolute.
Genesis 21:6-7 – The God of Surprises
Do you love surprises? For some of us, discovering before we are surprised that someone is trying to surprise us is more fun than being surprised itself. We get to surprise the givers of the surprise.
When it comes to God, do we ever think of “surprises?” Undeniably, we worship “The God of Surprises.” The Bible is filled with God’s little and big unpredictable acts. In fact, that is one of the driving forces that keep me studying. I loved being surprised by the Bible. When I read a text, and see the unexpected, it awakens me intellectually and spiritually. It makes we want to read more and understand more.
More importantly and essentially, it also challenges me in ways that are not always easy or comfortable. I sometimes have to change my mind because a new piece of the puzzle shows the picture is different than I previously thought.
But even more challenging is when I am surprised by grace. It shifts my natural paradigm away from easy condemnation to uneasy grace. Yes there is a place for condemnation. And there is a place for grace. And sometimes the grace replaces the condemnation when there is repentance and forgiveness (Rom.8:1). And amazingly, sometimes God’s grace paradoxically stands side by side with the condemning judgment. The voice of God says, “I do not approve of what you are doing; but I love you no matter what.”
The Bible is filled with many surprises from God. Sometimes the surprise is not pleasant because we let arrogance and pride replace God in our hearts.
Let death take them by surprise; let them go down to Sheol alive, because evil is in their homes and within them (Psalms 55:15 HCSB).
Some will even be surprised on the day of Judgment:
Matthew 7:21-23 HCSB “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord!’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of My Father in heaven. (22) On that day many will say to Me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in Your name, drive out demons in Your name, and do many miracles in Your name?’ (23) Then I will announce to them, ‘I never knew you! Depart from Me, you lawbreakers!’
But there is a reason why people think of God as “The God of Surprises.” Our God is defined by love and if there is one characteristic that is undeniable, it is that God is a giver (John 3:16).
John 3:16 HCSB “For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.
Is there any denying that a Divine Being willingly to be born in a manger, hunger and thirst, be betrayed and finally dying for sinners is surprising to man’s way of thinking? Did man’s created gods ever care that much for man? The Bible is filled with surprises from God.
For example, can you imagine the reaction that people had when a man of 100 years old and a woman aged 90 had a baby? Surprise!
Genesis 21:6-7 HCSB Sarah said, “God has made me laugh, and everyone who hears will laugh with me.” (7) She also said, “Who would have told Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.”
And then when the two unnamed men who were on the road to Emmaus, talked to this “stranger” not recognizing Jesus because their “their eyes were prevented from recognizing” Jesus (Luke 24:16); and suddenly “then their eyes were opened and the recognized Him; and He vanished from their sight” (Luke 24:31)…Surprise!
This study is about finding grace in the most unexpected places. This lesson is about being surprised by grace. And maybe the biggest surprise of all, is that we can still be surprised. Our God is a God of grace and that means He is a God of surprises. The biggest surprise of all came one Sunday morning. And the devil has never recovered from that eternal surprise.
Comments