Out of the Pit
“The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and rescues them.”
Psalm 34:7 (NASB)
My parents did not build their house on a wooded lot. They built it in the woods. There were so many trees felled to prepare the area that in order to save on cost, the builder buried the trees in various areas around the yard, rather than haul them away. As the years went by, the trees rotted and the ground above them sank. In time, there were several deep sink holes, primarily in the back of the yard, which ended up being a blessing in disguise.
During the rainy season, which seems to be every season here, the culverts prevent the accumulated torrent because of the rainfall from cascading down the hill and into the house. When dry, the ditches serve as a refuge for large and small animals including snakes (https://robert-a-l-blake.com/if-the-hose-moves/). I even spied a coyote hiding out among the bushes along the bank one day.
On a summer evening while cutting the lawn, I circled a tree near the culvert and lost control of the riding lawn mower, perhaps because of the speed I was going, as it was late in the evening, or because of a minor lapse of foresight. I miscalculated my correction and found myself and the machine careening headlong into the pit! I only had enough presence of mind to shut off the whirring mower blades as we descended.
Now near the bottom, only prevented by brush, I tried to reverse without success. I tried to rock the mower to no avail. It was then that I noticed the front wheels turned at a peculiar angle and would not straighten. Without thinking, I got off the mower and tried to move it, which at this point felt like a mass of lead, which was also stuck in mud. I then recognized where I was standing and figured it would be a matter of time before something realized my fate and would come to take advantage of me.
Finally, I could straighten the wheels and then pushed again only with minimal results. I exclaimed, “Jesus, help me!” and gave a final push. All four wheels turned as I pushed the tractor uphill and out of the pit! In my “moving company” days, I have used brute force to move sofas, appliances, and so forth, but this instance was beyond my brute strength as it had not worked.
I believe in angels and the power of prayer.
The prophet Daniel found himself in a pit overnight. We don’t know if they escorted, rappelled, or flung him headlong into the lions’ den (Daniel 6:16). We also don’t know if he prayed in desperation as he noticed his surrounding roommates, or did he simply continue his usual regimen of praying three times each day? What we know is that God answered his prayer and sent an angel to shut the lions’ mouths (Daniel 6:22).
What a privilege it is to know that God sees our plights, hears our prayers, and answers with our good in mind. What a wonderful God we serve!
Lasting Beauty
“The grass withers and the flowers fade,
Isaiah 40:8 (NLT)
but the word of our God stands forever.”
If the Hose Moves
“And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.”
Revelation 12:17, KJV
One warm summer day, I went to water the garden and plant sweet potato slips. I turned on the spigot and walked toward the garden. Something in my head said “look down, to the left”, and there I spied it, just a step or two away from the hose. It resembled the hose and looked like a long black branch, common in the yard, but mind you, branches don’t have curves—at least not in this area. Is that a snake?!
Yes, it was black, around four feet, and definitely not my cup of tea. Obviously, neither of us expected the other, so we both paused, and made the best of the encounter. As I was in an otherwise peaceful frame of mind, I didn’t feel the need to induce harm on one of God’s creatures. If it had been my father writing this story, it would have ended rather abruptly as a Haiku:
Look, a snake below
I took it out with one blow
It is cursed you know
Or,
Isn’t that a snake?
Yes, but not any longer
Snakes are not my friends
I proceeded to the garden alone, or so I thought. As I picked up the spray nozzle, I again looked down, to the left, and there was my newfound friend, who had also made the 75-foot trek to the garden. This was curious but definitely not a welcomed situation. Again, not expecting each other, or as least I was not, we both paused, and realizing a situation was not about to develop, it turned and slithered off into a dense portion of the garden. I turned and watered the garden.
Seconds later, the snake reemerged and headed straight towards me! “Friend”, I exclaimed, “you really need a hobby!” The garden hoe was there and I could have done what I knew to do. However, again we both paused, and then it meandered off to another portion of the yard to live another day.
Believe it or not, you and I face this scenario almost every day as we are pawns in an unseen spiritual battle as good and evil rage about us. Many attuned to this cosmic warfare recite 1 Peter 5:8 “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” Thus, this is how they often depict him in movies, TV, books, and other forms of media, as overt and scary.
How many of realize that this is not his only form of approach? Our introduction to the concept of evil came in Genesis 3, where the devil approached Eve not as a brash dragon, but as a smooth, seductive, and sinister serpent. He presented himself as a friend who just wanted companionship, someone to talk over a few ideas. As perfect beings, literally made from the hand of God, dwelling in a most pristine and pure venue, she and her husband fell from grace and generations continue to suffer the consequences.
In retrospect, a divine hoe would have taken care of necessary business. It is not too late, as he presents us with temptations every day. We could pause and consider the ideas presented and therefore fall in the battle or we could swing the mighty sword of God’s Word, as our Example and Savior, Jesus Christ did when He proclaimed the first line of the divine Haiku, “For it is written!”
So as in “Bees in the Cookie Jar” (August 19, 2022), be careful where you place your hands and if the hose moves, don’t pick it up!
Everything is New Again
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”
II Corinthians 5:17 NKJV
A Trip to the Moon
“And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also. And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth, and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good. And the evening and the morning were the fourth day.”
Genesis 1:16-19 KJV
Cloudscape
“Whatever the LORD pleases He does, In heaven and in earth, In the seas and in all deep places. He causes the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth; He makes lightning for the rain; He brings the wind out of His treasuries.”
Psalms 135:6-7 NKJV