When is the most surprised you've ever been in your life? How has someone
recently surprised you with what he or she did or said? With God, what
surprises can we expect along the way?
Exodus 3:2, "And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of
fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush
burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed."
Just as He did with Moses, and countless others all throughout scripture,
God may choose to make Himself known to us in unexpected ways. Here the
Lord spoke to Moses from an unexpected source: a burning bush. What is
natural behavior with God is often times very surprising to us, amen?
When Moses saw it, he naturally went to investigate.... Ladies, so too,
the Lord may use unexpected sources when communicating to us, whether
people, thoughts, or experiences. Personal contact with God is always
awe inspiring. Be willing to investigate, and be open to His surprises!
Jonah 3:10-4:2, "And God saw their works, that they turned from their
evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would
do unto them; and he did it not. But it displeased Jonah exceedingly,
and he was very angry. And he prayed unto the Lord, and said, I pray thee,
O Lord, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore
I fled before unto Tarshish: for I knew that thou art a gracious God,
and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee
of the evil."
As we all know, Jonah was quite reluctant to go to Ninevah with God's
message. He didn't want the Ninevites forgiven; he wanted them destroyed.
Therefore, Jonah was shocked and angry when they repented and God forgave
them. Are you equally shocked when some unlikely person turns to God?
Ladies, we ought to be delighted when others surprise us with their response
to the Lord! Jonah did not understand that the God of Israel was also
the God of the whole world... If nothing is impossible with God, then
nothing should surprise us, amen? Is it possible that your view of the
unexpected is as narrow as Jonah's was??
Luke 19:1-8, "And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. And, behold,
there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans,
and he was rich. And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not
for the press, because he was little of stature. And he ran before, and
climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way.
And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said
unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide
at thy house. And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully.
And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be
guest with a man that is a sinner. And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto
the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if
I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him
fourfold."
Certainly all throughout the story of Zacchaeus there is the element of
surprise! Here was an unpopular tax collector sought out and visited by
Christ - right to the very foot of the tree he was perched in! Not only
that, Jesus openly announced that He would be going home with Zacchaeus
that day... Now it was the crowd's turn to be surprised as the Savior
took personal interest in this sinner. In the end, this little tax collector
purposed to restore fourfold that which he had taken falsely from every
person he ever dealt with. Another surprise - both to Zacchaeus himself
as well as to those he stole from! Do you think he ever expected to make
such a decision?? I doubt it... With God, we must always expect the unexpected!
1 Cor. 2:9-10, "But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard,
neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath
prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by
his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things
of God."
In closing, we cannot imagine all that God has in store for us, both in
this life or for eternity. The Bible says He will create a new heaven
and a new earth (Isaiah 65:17; Revelation 21:1), and we will live with
the Lord forever! Until then, His Holy Spirit comforts and guides us into
the land of understanding - and the unexpected! Yes, special surprises
lift our spirits, amen? God is very good to those who trust in Him, and
often surprises them with unlooked for blessings. When is the last time
you were exceptionally thrilled about your relationship with Christ??
Knowing the wonderful and eternal future that awaits us gives us hope
and courage to press on in this life, to endure hardship, and to avoid
giving in to temptation. While waiting for Christ's return, there is plenty
of excitement for those who walk closely with the Lord. You just can't
imagine what fresh surprises might soon be yours... Live with the wonder
of heaven in mind!
Psalm 84:11, ".....no good thing will he withhold from them that walk
uprightly."
God Bless,
Pam
Isaiah 60:1&2
Copyright 2001 Pamela A. Iannello
