Insightful Musings on the Scriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Morning greetings, dear ones.

We’ve already done a walk/jog. Now we’re preparing for church with Andy and family in Dallas.

I hope your day flows like it should…since this is still another “day that the Lord hath made” (Psalm 118:24).

Love, Dad/Ray.

My hunch is that both God and angels have a measure of delight when they have occasion to interrupt normal human affairs with the supernatural and scare the starch out of our natural wits. Just like little kids who love to hide in some unsuspecting place and take you by surprise when they jump out in front of you and say, “Boo!” Even if the kid has a mask on to give the illusion of being a gorilla, or has a sheet over him in an attempt at appearing to be a ghost, our surprise will not normally last very long. Your heart may skip a few beats in the initial shock, but then quiets down quickly in view of the obvious. But when a truly supernatural being presents himself in a supernatural way, that’s another cup of tea. Very likely the universal effect on human senses will be something like “trembling and bewildered.” To carry my hunch a little further, I kind of think that the angel was kind of biting his lip. The first thing he said was, “Do not be alarmed,” even though he knew full well that it was virtually impossible for them to not be alarmed. I think he really wanted to say, “Boo!” I think it would have had about the same effect.

With or without the supernatural, I believe that occasions of trembling that leaves one feeling bewildered are unavoidable in the course of living. And with or without our meeting the supernatural, I believe that God, at least indirectly, ordains those emotional crises. Why? Because such experiences actually test the quality of our belief system and stimulate the exercise of trust. Those circumstances that create “trembling and bewildered” are essential to the growth of a strong and mature faith. So, “do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering (…that leaves you ‘trembling and bewildered’), as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice…” (1 Peter 4:12-13). “What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31). I’m convinced that real belief in simple and profound concepts like this will go a long way in helping us apply a vital antidote to the natural condition of “trembling and bewildered.”