Insightful Musings on theScriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Good good morning, dear people.

I picked up Nicholas this morning about 6:15am…and told the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego on the way home. I know some thoughts go over his head, but I think he gets the main idea…just like he gets the main idea of Disney’s version of SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS.

It’s sure a pretty day out there. From this window, there’s not a cloud visible. I’ll take off on a jog, put the garbage out, breakfast, clean up, then maybe run to Woodburn DMV to get another trip permit for the boom truck. I’m slated to do a little tree work with it this afternoon.

I was successful at installing that sign in the doctor’s office yesterday. I guess I could send a photo to help your visualizing if you wanted. I accept Visa and Mastercard. Just kidding.

As you take on your day, please choose the TRUST option over TREMBLING AND BEWILDERED. This is another 2010 rerun.

Love, Dad/Ray.

My hunch is that both God and angels have a measure of delight when they have reason to interrupt normal human affairs with the supernatural and scare the starch out of their 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 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!” 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 those experiences actually test the quality of belief 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 Pet. 4:12-13). “What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Rom. 8:31). I’m convinced that genuine belief in simple and profound concepts like this will go a long way toward helping us apply a Biblical antidote to the natural condition of “trembling and bewildered.”