Adventures with God
We stood on the hill top and envisioned David’s brave confrontation with the giant in the valley below. When the dirt beneath your feet is the same dirt that powdered the combatant’s feet, the previously mythic becomes very material.
At our leader’s invitation, Randy and I spoke on the precipice of that hill to our Israel tour companions about our thoughts gleaned from 1Samuel 17. We shared how we can “bank” faith compounded on our previous adventures with God—That we should take risks to right wrongs that are offensive to Him—And we are free to be ourselves as we respond to God’s assignments with the unique set of strengths and limitations we own.
“We also stand off against an enemy who would have us believe we are merely skinny kids. The reality is that we, in our mortality and humanity are outmatched. But the realities that were true for David are true for us. This means we too are responsible to live with awareness of what is going on around us and taking responsibility for it.”
After our devotional, one of our team approached us weeping. She thanked us for speaking especially to her. She said, “I have allowed fear to control me my whole life! We prayed with her that God would use the picture of this valley and her internal vision of David’s dual to help her trust God with her fear and grow her faith. Then I picked up a small smooth stone and gave it to her. “Let this be your Ebenezer- your monument to help you remember this moment, this picture and this prayer.
“The Ebenezer stone represented a fresh beginning, a reversal of course for God’s people. It also said something important about God: his mercies are everlasting; his covenant is forever.”~ from the website Another Think-One Christian’s View of Postmodern Life
The trip to Israel was life-changing for every one of us. It will enrich our teaching and my writing in countless ways. For this woman, it meant beginning again with fresh faith and the awareness that she doesn’t have to be the hero of her own story. God already is.
