November 20, 2007
Growing up, I used
to joke about going off to college and taking easy courses like Basket
Weaving 101. I talked about taking
courses that would be good for easy credit.
In truth, the weaver’s art is
anything but simple. Virtually anyone can learn to make some kind of a basket,
but a true weaver is an artist.
I can remember as a child going to
I remember watching the woman make
the basket as the reeds were meticulously woven in and out around the
center. At times the weaver’s hand moved so quickly, it was almost impossible
to follow.
Soon, in front of my eyes, a basket
began to take shape, out of what had been a pile of reeds only a few moments
ago. Each weave of the basket contributed to its shape and strength.
Each basket was uniquely woven by
hand. Some were small and utilitarian. Others were large and ornate, made more
for their beauty than for practical use. Some were woven of fine grasses and
others of coarse green branches.
Long before the shape became
apparent to me, the weaver had a design in his mind’s eye. She knew the
placement and shaping of each reed even before she began to weave.
I wonder how often we’re guilty of
thinking the same way about God as I used to with basket weaving courses.
We know what the best thing to do is and how things should be run. At least we
seem to think we do.
We tell God that we want His will to
be done, and then dictate our own will in our prayer life. I wonder sometimes,
why we don’t hear God speaking to us the words He spoke to Job
Then the LORD answered Job out of
the storm. He said:
"Who is this
that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge? Brace yourself like a man;
I will question you, and you shall answer me.
"Where were you
when I laid the earth's foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off
its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it? On
what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone--while the morning stars
sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?
"Who shut up the
sea behind doors when it burst forth from the womb, when made the clouds its
garment and wrapped it in thick darkness, when I fixed limits for it and set its
doors and bars in place, when I said, `This far you may come and no farther;
here is where your proud waves halt'?
"Have you ever
given orders to the morning, or shown the dawn its place, that it might take the
earth by the edges and shake the wicked out of it? The earth takes shape like
clay under a seal; its features stand out like those of a garment the wicked are
denied their light, and their upraised arm is broken.
"Have you
journeyed to the springs of the sea or walked in the recesses of the deep?
Have the gates of death been shown to you? Have you seen the gates of the shadow
of death? Have you comprehended the vast expanses of the earth? Tell me, if you
know all this. "What is the way to the abode of light? And where does
darkness reside? Can you take them to their places? Do you know the paths to
their dwellings? Surely you know, for you were already born! You have lived so
many years!
Job 38:1-21NIV
We’re called to take all of our
concerns to Him. We also need to learn to trust Him for the best answer to our
situation.
Until next time, when you presume to
take the place of the weaver and dictate your terms, remember His art is not as
easy as it seems.
God bless.
Darrel Mason