COULD YOU REPEAT THAT?

To the right, you'll notice Roy and Mesu Andrews saying, "Huh?" after just having learned they would be parents. That's me with a parenting book in hand. Why is it that we can’t just accept good news the first time we hear it? With shocked awe, we say, “You’re kidding me!” or “Nuh-uh!” A woman who thinks she might be pregnant buys three pregnancy tests at the drugstore – must see three pink plus signs – before she calls the doctor to make the appointment to be told for the fourth time that, “Yes, indeed, Fertile Myrtle, you are pregnant.” In such cases, repeating oneself is generally thought to be a joyous occasion; however, there are other circumstances in which repetition is tiresome. My husband happens to be one of the most patient people on earth. I’m not kidding, not exaggerating, not poking fun. I’ve watched him take a deep breath and deal with a kind, calm tone in situations that would have sent me wildly into a crowd and landed my picture on the post office wall. But his patience dries up when you ask him to repeat himself. It’s the cardinal sin. One “huh?” and you’re dead meat. A single, “What did you say, honey?” and you’re headed for the obit’s. I’m better off to sit in complete silence than ask for a repeat. After a few moments of awkward non-rebuttal, he figures out that I haven’t heard him and usually repeats the statement a little louder and clearer. It’s a flawed system, but it works. I’m just thankful he didn’t adopt the “I love you once policy” that some men hold dear. You know, the “I told you ‘I love you’ on our wedding day, and you should consider that status unchanged until further notice” approach. A one-time notification is seldom enough to convince a human being of any truth. God knew that, and He spoke to Abram repeatedly, reinforcing his promise several times in several ways…

Gen. 12:1-3 – “The LORD had said to Abram, ‘Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.’” (emphasis added)

• If God appeared to you and said, “I have something great to give you, some great ministry to do through you, some great blessing to bestow on you,” would you believe Him? Has it ever occurred to you that by the simple fact that God fashioned you uniquely in your mother’s womb, gave you distinctive personality traits and exclusive life experiences, you have become a one-of-a-kind treasure to Him? He does have a plan and purpose and blessing crafted specifically for YOU. Now, what are you willing to sacrifice to receive it?

Gen. 12:4-7 – “So Abram left, as the LORD had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Haran. He took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated and the people they had acquired in Haran, and they set out for the land of Canaan, and they arrived there. Abram traveled through the land as far as the site of the great tree of Moreh at Shechem. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. The LORD appeared to Abram and said, ‘To your offspring I will give this land.’ So he built an altar there to the LORD, who had appeared to him.” (emphasis added)

• The Lord appeared again to Abram. Notice, He didn’t appear immediately, when Abram arrived in Canaan. Abram toured the countryside and found that his Promised Land was already inhabited. Did he perhaps doubt God at that point? Maybe he thought he’d heard the LORD wrong, read the pink plus sign on the little stick wrong…. So God appeared and clarified – gave a little more information. God seldom gives us the full picture, only bite-by-bite pieces that we can digest in the moment.

Gen. 12:8-9 – “From there he went on toward the hills east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to the LORD and called on the name of the LORD. Then Abram set out and continued toward the Negev.”

• After more wandering, Abram felt the need to worship the LORD again. He built an altar to Him…but God was silent. No reassuring answer this time, no clarification, no repetition. Why? The fact is, God repeats Himself, but doesn’t always do it when we think He should. God is God, and we must acknowledge that we cannot force His hand…or His mouth to speak.

Lord, Your gracious communication with me is exactly that – gracious – given to me because You desire a relationship with an undeserving, yet forgiven creature of Your design. Thank You for Your voice. I cherish the still, small whispers when they come. When they don’t come, give me the grace and courage to believe You will speak at some point in a way I can hear You.