(Friday)
When our son was three-years-old, he approached his father with an unusual request. We had made him an earlier promise that we intended to keep at a later date. At age three, though, he decided he was ready for a bold move; he felt he was too old to wait any longer. He wanted the training wheels removed from his bike. This was a bicycle that had been handed down through his older siblings, and we had watched his sisters struggle while learning to ride it. Even as five- and six-year-olds, the girls had endured many a spill on that bike. As parents, we were well aware that a child of three would be unlikely to master the art of balance well enough to ride without the leveling presence of those extra wheels.
In his persistence, however, Luke convinced his dad this was the right decision. His patience had grown thin as those two little wheels were slowing him down and getting in his way. He could no longer wait for us to act, and he felt he needed to be his own catalyst for change. Luke needed an adjustment he hadn’t considered until this time. It was a bold move, but he believed the time was ripe for the modification to our plan. As Bill removed the trainers and handed the bike over to our small child, I held my breath ready to run to the inevitable crash that was about to happen before my eyes. I wasn’t worried for skinned knees and elbows, but God please deliver that beautiful little face.
Luke smiled at his dad, climbed onto the seat, placed one foot on a pedal and pushed off with the other foot. As his second shoe hit the opposite pedal, he began to press down. His knees began to pump taking turns making the circle of boy power. In disbelief, I watched as my confident three-year-old son headed down the driveway and out across the yard without missing a beat. He had masterful control of his balance and was thrilled with his newfound freedom.
Sarai, Abram’s wife, had not been able to have children even though the Lord God had promised Abram many, many descendants. She had waited, but her patience had long grown thin. How could she, in her old age, bear Abram a child from whom all nations would come? Perhaps she needed to make a change herself and take an action she hadn’t considered until this time. So, in her ninetieth year, Sarai made a bold move. She believed she was too old to wait any longer so she stopped waiting and made a change. She gave her handmaid to Abram asking that he create his heir through this woman.
Was Sarai unfaithful? I’ve often considered that she was. She did not trust God to keep the covenant and provide offspring for her and her husband. Now, at ages 90 and 100, she didn’t want to wait for God any longer. She believed the fate of God’s people was her responsibility. A faithful woman would have continued to wait for God’s timing, I have reasoned. A woman whose husband was made a promise by the Almighty Creator should have realized that even on her death bed she could have given birth if that would be God’s will. Of course, Sarai reacted in an unfaithful way. How could I receive this story in any other way? She took matters into her own hands in an effort to do an end run around God.
However, as I read this story again today, my mind wanders to another option. What if Sarai had come to believe that the fulfilment of God’s covenant could only come if she were to make a personal sacrifice. What if Sarai gave up the idea that Abram would father many nations through her own womb? What if, in a selfless gift, she provided an alternative? What if she had convinced herself that this was the path God expected of her?
At once, I am able to receive Sarai’s role in a new and unanticipated way. Sarai is no longer the unfaithful but the one trying to be obedient – removing the training wheels of her situation and striking out in a new way. She is the one who is doing whatever she can to allow God to be at work by removing herself as the potential barrier to God’s plan.
We know from reading the rest of the story that, in the end, this was not a good move for her. Unlike Luke’s successful attempt to ride his bike, Sarai’s attempt did not result in a masterful command of her path. But, like Luke’s ride, Sarai was willing to try something new while searching for the best outcome.
I may not always take the appropriate path or completely understand how God is directing me, but my prayer is that I’m always ready and willing to try. Just as Sarai and Abram were blessed through the birth of their son Isaac even after their mistakes, may our lives be blessed as God provides for us and protects us even after ours.
Still training,
Pastor Beth
PRAYER FROM PSALM 22
I offer praise in the great congregation because of you, Lord; I will fulfill my promises in the presence of those who honor you. Let all those who are suffering eat and be full! Let all who seek you, Lord, praise you! Every part of the earth will remember and come back to you, Lord; every family among all the nations will worship you. Because the right to rule belongs to you, you rule all nations. Indeed, all the earth’s powerful will worship you; all who are descending to the dust will kneel before you; my being also lives for you. Amen.
KEY VERSES FROM TODAY’S SCRIPTURE READINGS
Psalm 22 – Let all who seek the Lord praise him! I pray your hearts live forever! Every part of the earth will remember and come back to the Lord; every family among all the nations will worship you.
Genesis 16 – Let the Lord decide who is right, you or me.
Romans 4 – But faith is credited as righteousness to those who don’t work, because they have faith in God who makes the ungodly righteous.
For today’s full scripture readings, click here… https://www.divinestreet.org/lent-scripture.html
When our son was three-years-old, he approached his father with an unusual request. We had made him an earlier promise that we intended to keep at a later date. At age three, though, he decided he was ready for a bold move; he felt he was too old to wait any longer. He wanted the training wheels removed from his bike. This was a bicycle that had been handed down through his older siblings, and we had watched his sisters struggle while learning to ride it. Even as five- and six-year-olds, the girls had endured many a spill on that bike. As parents, we were well aware that a child of three would be unlikely to master the art of balance well enough to ride without the leveling presence of those extra wheels.
In his persistence, however, Luke convinced his dad this was the right decision. His patience had grown thin as those two little wheels were slowing him down and getting in his way. He could no longer wait for us to act, and he felt he needed to be his own catalyst for change. Luke needed an adjustment he hadn’t considered until this time. It was a bold move, but he believed the time was ripe for the modification to our plan. As Bill removed the trainers and handed the bike over to our small child, I held my breath ready to run to the inevitable crash that was about to happen before my eyes. I wasn’t worried for skinned knees and elbows, but God please deliver that beautiful little face.
Luke smiled at his dad, climbed onto the seat, placed one foot on a pedal and pushed off with the other foot. As his second shoe hit the opposite pedal, he began to press down. His knees began to pump taking turns making the circle of boy power. In disbelief, I watched as my confident three-year-old son headed down the driveway and out across the yard without missing a beat. He had masterful control of his balance and was thrilled with his newfound freedom.
Sarai, Abram’s wife, had not been able to have children even though the Lord God had promised Abram many, many descendants. She had waited, but her patience had long grown thin. How could she, in her old age, bear Abram a child from whom all nations would come? Perhaps she needed to make a change herself and take an action she hadn’t considered until this time. So, in her ninetieth year, Sarai made a bold move. She believed she was too old to wait any longer so she stopped waiting and made a change. She gave her handmaid to Abram asking that he create his heir through this woman.
Was Sarai unfaithful? I’ve often considered that she was. She did not trust God to keep the covenant and provide offspring for her and her husband. Now, at ages 90 and 100, she didn’t want to wait for God any longer. She believed the fate of God’s people was her responsibility. A faithful woman would have continued to wait for God’s timing, I have reasoned. A woman whose husband was made a promise by the Almighty Creator should have realized that even on her death bed she could have given birth if that would be God’s will. Of course, Sarai reacted in an unfaithful way. How could I receive this story in any other way? She took matters into her own hands in an effort to do an end run around God.
However, as I read this story again today, my mind wanders to another option. What if Sarai had come to believe that the fulfilment of God’s covenant could only come if she were to make a personal sacrifice. What if Sarai gave up the idea that Abram would father many nations through her own womb? What if, in a selfless gift, she provided an alternative? What if she had convinced herself that this was the path God expected of her?
At once, I am able to receive Sarai’s role in a new and unanticipated way. Sarai is no longer the unfaithful but the one trying to be obedient – removing the training wheels of her situation and striking out in a new way. She is the one who is doing whatever she can to allow God to be at work by removing herself as the potential barrier to God’s plan.
We know from reading the rest of the story that, in the end, this was not a good move for her. Unlike Luke’s successful attempt to ride his bike, Sarai’s attempt did not result in a masterful command of her path. But, like Luke’s ride, Sarai was willing to try something new while searching for the best outcome.
I may not always take the appropriate path or completely understand how God is directing me, but my prayer is that I’m always ready and willing to try. Just as Sarai and Abram were blessed through the birth of their son Isaac even after their mistakes, may our lives be blessed as God provides for us and protects us even after ours.
Still training,
Pastor Beth
PRAYER FROM PSALM 22
I offer praise in the great congregation because of you, Lord; I will fulfill my promises in the presence of those who honor you. Let all those who are suffering eat and be full! Let all who seek you, Lord, praise you! Every part of the earth will remember and come back to you, Lord; every family among all the nations will worship you. Because the right to rule belongs to you, you rule all nations. Indeed, all the earth’s powerful will worship you; all who are descending to the dust will kneel before you; my being also lives for you. Amen.
KEY VERSES FROM TODAY’S SCRIPTURE READINGS
Psalm 22 – Let all who seek the Lord praise him! I pray your hearts live forever! Every part of the earth will remember and come back to the Lord; every family among all the nations will worship you.
Genesis 16 – Let the Lord decide who is right, you or me.
Romans 4 – But faith is credited as righteousness to those who don’t work, because they have faith in God who makes the ungodly righteous.
For today’s full scripture readings, click here… https://www.divinestreet.org/lent-scripture.html