“What shortcuts are we taking in life? God has promised to give us all we need. . . . All we need to do is wait on God. But he is so slow! His timing is out of sync with ours. So we cut corners. . . . We deceive . . . with lies, exaggerations, and misstatements. We polish apples, inflate facts, drop names, and work the system.”- Max Lucado
Max Lucado concludes Chapter 1 of God Never Gives Up on You as he notes that Isaac’s blessing of Jacob contained a binding element. Irreversible and irrevocable. Therefore, Esau could receive a secondary inheritance from Isaac. Because, Max quips, Jacob already cashed in the check.
However, Pastor Lucado points out, grace steps on the stage. The family’s a tinderbox – just a spark away from eruption. In addition, the brothers bicker, and the parents play favorites. Yet, God tethers Himself to them. Grace, the “yet-Godness” of God. Hence, we:
- break promises, but God forgives.
- forget commitments, yet God appears.
- turn away from Him, yet God turns toward us.
Certainly, Jacob achieved his goal. But, Max notes, at what a cost! Because Jacob forfeited all the prosperity he would have received from the birthright. And, Pastor Lucado adds, the next time we see Jacob he’s using a stone for a pillow. Above all, Jacob’s shortcut splintered the family. Since Esau wanted to kill him, Jacob ran for his life. Furthermore, Jacob betrayed his father’s trust.
Consequently, Pastor Lucado counsels:
“How many shortcuts have been justified with the best of intentions? . . . A wrong shortcut, even one taken for the right reasons, always causes someone pain. It is a labyrinth honeycombed with trip wires.
There are no shortcuts with God. . . . He doesn’t need your feet on his accelerator. He doesn’t need any help with his plans. . . . If God wanted Jacob to carry the mantle, it was as good as done. All Rebekah and Jacob needed to do was the one thing they found hard to do: wait on God.”
Finally, Max muses, little did he (Max) know he stood only a few short semesters from meeting the love of his life. As it turned out, Max found his true love only a local call away.
Today’s question: When do you attempt to cut corners rather than wait on God? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “Barren stretches – begrudge?”