Man is quick to identify with his limitations. Quite understandable and virtuous! But he needs to see beyond self and the limits presented by the flesh.
Man has also found it necessary to ask the logical questions: how and by extension, when…
These questions would be relevant, though remaining clouded when addressed by the finiteness found in humanity/ our nature. Cloth in frailty and sharing mortal glory, which only compares with that of flowers: appealing to our senses today but failing in the morrow… there is no obligation nor assurance of having a resolution within a lifetime or so it appears as such inquisitions may not be resolved
It is interesting to see quite a number of these similarities expressed by various characters through the scriptures. From the Israelite questioning Moses when God sent him to deliver them. Interestingly, even the Pharaoh did just same…actually he challenged the logic behind the request. I am sure you remember how that ended. In the wilderness, further questions arise. Have you brought us here to die? To mention a few others as follows;
1. The prophet’s encounter with the widow and her last flour. When asked to serve the prophet. She declared her limitation… I don’t have from the logical plan with an unwanted end in mind… eat the last portion and wait for death.
The prophet’s widow owing stated she didn’t have but a small portion of oil. This couldn’t be of much worth in her predicament.
How can it be even if the windows of heaven were opened…this was the response of the palace ministers. Statusquo and logic failed the senior prophet, clouding his judgement to forget he had just questioned the sufficiency of God.
We will see if your God would deliver you…this was the declaration to Daniel. Even the king could not help but put to test the capacity of Daniel’s God. This is quite similar to the primary motive of Joseph’s siblings when selling him. They couldn’t see how his dreams would be fulfilled away from their homeland. Elisha and the prophet’s assistant when they were rounded. The servant couldn’t see a way of escape from an imminent and fatal obscurity judging by the size of the army that laid siege. Even Mary asked “how shall these things be” in responding to the heralding angel.
The disciples severally reflected on the limits of logic in relating and answering the Lord while he lived with them. The miracles of feeding the thousands, their response at the miracle of the issue of blood, and on many other occasions, they couldn’t see beyond the physical.
However, perspective changed for the same disciples after they had received “The Promise.” Indeed the recognized help from the “Helper”. We now celebrate their response and would almost deitify the happening at the beautiful gate (like the people of the ancient towns that witnessed several illogical events through their hands). It was too great for comprehension that it generated diverse reactions in time…I dare say it still does today. It steered the consciousness of the sinfulness in some who begged that they “depart from me” while others in defiance asked them to leave as the actions could not be added up within reasoning.
With the change of nature, the apostles recognized they are never helpless nor empty. This informed the declaration, “silver and gold we have not”. This would have been their resolve and only submission a moment ago. But they recon with the sufficiency in the “Helper”. They identified with what they have as being able to make a solution beyond logic and mere wish. They recognized the believer is never empty since the word of God is in our mouth and the Holy spirit is within us…
Interestingly, it appears God’s response hasn’t varied through all of time. This is seen in all the examples highlighted above and the outcomes in each of those scenarios. He never makes sense… He is not obligated to. He made sense… He created all essence and orchestrated, by divine design, all values. He made the laws but He is not bound by law. A matter of fact, the laws were made for man, not for God.
I humbly submit that the believer is limited in his experience on earth when he is ruled by logic. I dare the believer to step out of this finite realm and tap into the endless resources and tremendous ability available in God through Christ. He would then be making great impact in worshipping the father as He desires…in spirit! Remember “you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you”, “with God nothing shall be impossible”, “He is able to do exceedingly and abundantly above all we could ever ask of imagine according to His power at work within us”, “not that we are sufficient by our strength, rather our sufficiency is of God who has made us able ministers of the gospel”…