It’s uncanny how when you’re in a hurry everything around you seems to be moving slowly.
The other morning I had just enough time to squeeze in a trip to the local box store before going to a doctor’s appointment. So off I go.
So all of a sudden it seems as if everyone on the island going both directions is on the main drag I am turning onto from a side street. But never mind, I’ll be patient.
So I get my chance and turn. Haven’t gone a block and just ahead I see, at the entrance to a residential area, the main flow of traffic is backing up in both directions, and there on the corner of that side street is a little…old…man. He is wanting to cross that side street. A car in the southbound of the main street is wanting to turn into that side street but stops apparently to let the old-timer cross but the old guy is slow. Then for some reason, someone in the northbound stops as well and all of a sudden traffic is backed up in both directions. It’s the busy time of morning, I’m in a hurry and we find ourselves all at a standstill focused on the little and old, bent over, slow-moving gentleman who is standing there making a decision about what to do next.
So…he steps out and begins his cross over of the side street, gets to the other side, and lo and behold turns to cross again, the main drag everyone in both directions is backed up on. Both directions hold their line, the gentleman steps out and slowly…makes….his way…across the street.
At this point I have two choices. I can allow that surge of impatience to overflow inside me and have a bad spirit or I can accept what is going on and just be patient and calm. When I get to the store I can always run around like a crazy man or something to make up for the lost time.
Something in me helps me to release the impatience and bad spirit and I sit back and wait.
You see…and it really doesn’t matter, there was something in his demeanor, the slow old guy’s. He was doing the best he could and getting it done. It just took a little more time.
And the two lead cars that stopped and behind which the entire population in both directions was at a standstill…well sometimes we do things that in the scheme of things aren’t what we would normally do.
So it was. The old man got safely across the street, traffic began to move, and by the way… I was back home in more than enough time to get to my appointment on time, even early.
I’ve been in this position before and behaved poorly, behaved badly actually, then, in the aftermath, realizing that that hadn’t been necessary, was ashamed of myself. I’m sure everyone has.
Anyway, I’ve been dwelling on Passover this past week and last night I was listening to a teaching on some of the things that could come up and be talked about during the Passover meal.
What this particular person was saying about Passover is that God was multitasking. He had made a promise and was in the process of keeping it. In the process, He was demonstrating that He and He alone was God, not just to Pharaoh but to the Children ( His First Born) of Israel. They were going to be “reborn” from the womb of Egypt to begin being that chosen nation and their purpose was to be a light for Him to shine and draw all men to Him.
That light would be kindled and continue to burn from then on and be demonstrated by this people living and passing on His Ways. Traditionally, this was an area of responsibility the “firstborn” had. Kind of fits, doesn’t it.
“…ADONAI says, Israel is MY firstborn son. I have told you to let my son go in order to worship Me…” Exodus 4:23 CJB.
Well… one of the rules given, to exemplify and teach… in a spirit of honor to Him and love for Him and our fellow man, was and is still:
“If a foreigner stays with you in your land do not do him wrong. Rather, treat the foreigner staying with you like the native-born among you-you are to love him as yourself, for you were foreigners in the land of Egypt; I am ADONAI your God.” Leviticus 19:34 CJB.
So how does this tie in with my experience with my elder one?... and this is kind of turned around?
Suppose, I say to myself, I was that old man (some might say I am) and I suffered impatience and disregard for myself by others. Then… one day I was born with renewed youth and there in front of me was some old someone in less…..favorable?..... circumstances or position. According to my Father, the One from Who I am offspring, I am to be patient, kind, show deference of respect because I remember how it was for me when I was old and someone in less…favorable?... circumstances and how I had been treated. And I should do so because, or in the character, of the gracious, generous caring God, who only is God, hopefully that those who look on might be drawn to Him.
Kind of turned around I’ll admit. But with God all things are possible. After all, He is outside of time. And who knows, when we are too, maybe we will be a part of that cloud of witnesses to the Israelites at a time when we hadn’t even been born yet. ??? Not my thought but maybe something to think about.
Father…for You so loved…and for You that is something to be lived out.
Thank You for the Passover and Your willingness to and that You did, provide the sacrifice we were/are incapable of making.
May we not diminish in our minds the value we…or others… have…by Your determination.
Redeemed by Your will and power, born of You, yoked with You… guide, instruct, enable us to be
“…a chosen people, the King’s cohanim, a holy nation, a people for God to possess!”
How fortunate we are that You are God, Yahweh, Abba Dear Father.
We love You so.
In Yeshua’s name, we pray.
Amen.
May God’s love be in us all.
Elder.
1 Peter 2:9 CJB.