Being Fed in Unlikely Ways
SCRIPTURE READING — 1 KINGS 17:1-6
“You will drink from the brook, and I have directed the ravens to supply you with food there.”
— 1 Kings 17:4
There are so many radio stations where I live that the possibilities for listening to all kinds of songs can seem endless. For a time, though, one song seemed to be aired far more often than others—or at least I paid more attention to it than to others. It was meant to be a love song, not necessarily a worship song, but whenever I heard it, it felt like God’s Spirit was whispering: “Come and spend time with me. Let me shower you with love for a while.” This happened during a time when I was busy and tired, and the Spirit’s nudging in my heart to linger in his presence was a tender reminder that he wouldn’t leave me to flounder.
Sometimes God meets us in ways that are unexpected—and maybe even unconventional. When Elijah was alone in the wilderness, God cared for him in a way that was considered taboo or impossible at that time. Ravens were unclean birds, so receiving food directly from their mouths would have seemed strange for Elijah. He might have wondered if it was even okay to receive help from something that was considered off limits. But God can potentially use anything to bring restoration, whether it’s ravens or songs on a radio.
Lord, we are amazed that nothing is too hard for you and that you will come to reach us wherever we are. Thank you for doing what it takes to restore us to you. We live by grace in the power of your name. Amen.
Coming to Take Refuge
SCRIPTURE READING — RUTH 2:1-13
“May you be richly rewarded by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.”
— Ruth 2:12
Sometimes God goes out of his way to care for us, and sometimes we need to go out of our way to be cared for. It’s not always easy to ask for what we need, especially when others might have reasons to be cautious about helping us.
But Ruth is a bold person. She knows what she and her mother-in-law need, and she asks for permission to glean barley in a field that belongs to Boaz, a landowner from Bethlehem.
Now, Boaz is a relative of Ruth’s mother-in-law Naomi, and he has heard about Ruth but hasn’t met her before. And rather than being dismissive or indifferent, Boaz welcomes Ruth and invites her to keep following along after the harvesters. What’s more, he blesses her for supporting her mother-in-law and indicates that Ruth is an honorable woman. “May you be richly rewarded by the Lord,” he says, “. . . under whose wings you have come to take refuge.” This statement reflects the caring, providing nature of God’s character, and it helps us to understand God’s love for us.
God faithfully cares for and provides for us, and often he does this through the kindness and generosity of others. And whether we need help or we are able to help someone else, we can be assured that God empowers and celebrates both the one who asks and the one who gives.
Lord God, help us to trust in you, knowing that we can seek refuge in your name and that you have blessed us to share with and help others. Amen.
Learning From Animals and Birds
SCRIPTURE READING — JOB 12:1-13
“Ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you. . . .”
— Job 12:7
Many children around the world have enjoyed learning from birds: Big Bird (from Sesame Street) and Mother Goose (with her nursery rhymes) are two of the most famous bird-teachers to have flapped or waddled on the face of the earth!
One of my elderly professors often referred to birds as his teachers. When he started bird-watching, he said, he referred to small birds as “LBJs” (short for “Little-Brown-Jobs”) because he couldn’t tell all the sparrows and swallows apart. But the more he paid attention, the more he began to appreciate their differences. Eventually, he said, his learning to pay attention to small birds led him also to appreciate the people around him and the unique ways God was at work in their lives.
Job was discouraged that his friends were making generalizations about how God works in the world—treating everything like an “LBJ.” They were spouting off ideas that had the appearance of wisdom but had no deep insight into how God could be present in times of deep suffering. Job explained that wisdom isn’t about having the right answers; it’s about being able to notice what God is doing in every circumstance, and seeing how God ultimately controls the outcome of our lives. Even the animals and birds know that much, he said!
Lord Jesus, give us humility and help us to pay close attention to the people in our lives so that we can recognize your merciful presence and amazing work in and among us all. Amen.
Marveling at God’s Design
SCRIPTURE READING — JOB 39:13-18, 26-27
“The wings of the ostrich flap joyfully, though they cannot compare with the wings and feathers of the stork.”
— Job 39:13
Some years ago, I took a bus to a small village a few hours outside of Nairobi, Kenya. Partway through the trip, as I was looking out the window, I saw an ostrich running wildly alongside the bus. Its long neck and bulging eyes stuck out in front of its oddly large body, and it flapped its enormous, fluffy wings while its skinny legs pumped furiously, kicking up clouds of dust as it scurried across the savanna. I couldn’t keep from laughing! What a strange and hilarious creature!
But as outlandish as ostriches are, they still have their place in creation. Although God didn’t endow them with wisdom or good sense, he did see fit to make it possible for them to outpace horses and riders—and even transit buses on African highways! Perhaps God created such a funny creature for times when things that happen in life are just so strange that we have to shake our heads and say, “You can’t make this stuff up!” Our lives are often so complex in ways that we can’t explain, and sometimes we are left speechless.
Still, even strange and inexplicable things have their place in life. And like the wildly joyful ostrich, somehow everything fits together, in God’s wisdom.
Lord, thank you for your wonderfully diverse creation. We praise you that there’s a place for everyone in this good creation and that all things hold together in Jesus Christ. In your name we pray. Amen.
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