What you know might not be so

Sometimes our experience, what we know, is hugely valuable. What we know can leverage a great job or a pay raise. It can get us out of difficult situations and give us confidence in areas we have seen before – we know what’s going on and can handle it. On the other hand, sometimes when we need to trust somebody else and their experience, what we know can get in the way. When it comes to faith, stepping out into something that we don't know and have to trust God to handle, things can get really interesting. Now all of a sudden, our being able to handle a situation, our assessment of things, our application of experience, might actually be detrimental to the outcome.

Reading Micah 6 there is something of this feel to things going on. I see it in verse 6&7 where the questions show an urge to handle the situation instead of trusting God… What can we bring to the Lord? Should we bring Him burnt offerings? Should we bow before God Most High with offerings of yearling calves? Should we offer Him thousands of rams and ten thousand rivers of olive oil? Should we sacrifice our firstborn children to pay for our sins? Verse 8 perhaps should start with a sigh and “of course not!” Instead the author simply says, “No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what He requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.”

Sometimes what we think is going on God needs to work on in His way not ours. The obvious solution isn’t the right answer. We have to wait and let God work while we just do what is right and not very much else.

So how did today's picture trigger this thought? Take a look. Make the noise you think I’m hearing as I take the picture. Did you roar…or yawn? Most of you will have made the assumption that the fierce wild animal was doing its thing and roaring. The truth is, it was just getting comfortable for a nap! What you saw wasn't what you knew was happening, was it?