The Sound of Silence

Dear Faith Family,

Now these are the nations that the Lord left, to test Israel by them…, (Judges 3:1). 

It’s a distinct sound.  An unwelcome sound when uninvited.  It can go unnoticed (maybe because we don’t want to hear it?) until it isn’t.  And when that sound bubbles up to the level of consciousness, it demands a response. 

I’ll just ignore it – that’s a response.  Or I’ll check that out later - that’s also a response.  I’ll get my wife to check it out – a response with possible accompanying consequences.  I’ll rationalize it right out of my mind – a pipe dream response also with possible consequences. I’ll just get mad – a dangerous response.  Let me investigate – a time-consuming response. 

Oh yeh, the sound.  What was the sound?  Well, you see, there’s this upstairs toilet with a mind of its own.  The sound?  Running water.  It was just a little running water.  It only lasted for a short time.  And I only heard it when in that restroom.  Probably needed a new flapper, right?! 

For some reason, at the break of day this morning, I decided to exercise a response.  I’ll just reach under the tank and see if it’s wet.  Well, the moisture on my hand demanded a whole other response!  It’s not really wet, right?!  And just that quickly the wrestling match began.  Is this a problem or an opportunity?  Is this a problem to be eradicated?  Or is this an opportunity? 

Here’s the point: God is presently involved in all that we, His children, encounter.  (You might want to read that last line again!)  Ours is the privilege to turn to the living God who knows all, can do all, and cares for us.  Consider His people, Israel, in Judges 3.  God left the water (the antagonistic nations) running in Canaan.  Why?  He was testing His children, providing for them an opportunity to turn to Him day by day and moment by moment. 

Would that all our “running water” came with a warning label: “This is a test.”  Unfortunately, some of the labels are hard to read.  Which leads to a question: how is God testing you today?  Got any running water?  When we attempt to handle things on our own, things become a problem.  When we run to our God with our things, things become an opportunity for us to experience our God. 

I’m still not quite sure why God left the water running this morning.  I am sure that I need constant “testing” to keep my eyes on Him.  The sound of silence (that desirable, quiet, trouble-free existence) doesn’t always provide the opportunity for an intimate relationship with our loving Father.  

Learning to be thankful for running water,

Pastor Karl