“Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd.” Mark 6:45
Sleeping well, FINALLY after a night of restlessness, I was awakened by a boom! Drifting off again, the boom came just a little louder! Then again, only longer. Initially thinking it was a dump-truck, my brain started paying attention to determine just what that sound was. Once concentration entered the game, sleep was no longer possible. So looking outside at the sunlight, I lay thinking.
It was only 6:45am and it’s summer. Katie doesn’t need to be up for school, so neither do it. But I was! The thought shot across my clouded mind, “Why not spend some time with me?” Recognizing the nudge as coming from the Master of the Universe, I really couldn’t come up with a reason to turn Him down. Besides, I was awake anyway. Walking to get coffee, I heard BOOOM!
My bedroom window faces east. It was sunny that direction. As I looked to the west, it was dark and cloudy. A much needed rain storm was brewing out there, so I smiled at the thought of a quiet rainy morning with Jesus. Opening my Bible to where I had left off, it fell on the same time I was awakened… Mark that 6:45! I had some questions last time I read, so I looked up the Greek words.
After feeding the 5000, Jesus IMMEDIATELY COMPELLED (made, forced, constrained) His disciples to get into a boat and head across the lake. I had questions, so I asked Him… ‘Why did you have to FORCE them to get into the boat?” When I heard another ‘boom,’ an answer hit me. Some of His disciples were fishermen. Maybe they SAW a storm brewing and didn’t want to go! ‘MINDBOMB!
That same Scripture states that Jesus remained behind and DISMISSED (sent away, released, set free) the crowd. When another boom struck, it was slightly quieter. I could tell the storm was NOT coming my direction, but I had been left with a great question and lesson. Would I prefer to be His disciple sent into a storm, or to be a part of the crowd released from under His guiding hand?
The foolish statement that ‘God is in control’ isn’t even backed up by Scripture! The disciples had already voluntarily placed their lives into the guiding hands of Jesus, giving Him the right to point to difficult times ,trials and troubles… even if only to teach them His Faithfulness. Those who came to get free food and miracles were sent away to become empty again. The lesson was clear.
The Allen’s, like the Watson’s, have faced a tremendously difficult storm, seeming only to lose… at least according to the world’s standards. Jesus didn’t cause Keri or Larry’s death, but He sure is using it to teach them, and all of us, a lesson of His Faithfulness in life’s most difficult of storms! And though often not fun, for ME, choosing to go where HE points is better than being dismissed by ‘The Master!’
What do YOU think?
