Adam and Eve were given just a few instructions: Take care of the garden, name the animals, and don’t eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. They fell for a lie – a clever twist of the meaning of God’s instructions (something to the effect “Did He really say that?”) – and ended up restricted from the paradise they had enjoyed.

When the Israelites were rescued from slavery in Egypt, they – well, I don’t know if all of them did, but many of them anyway – followed Moses out of Egypt until they found themselves at the shores of the Red Sea. I imagine them running around, craning their necks, yelling, crying, shrieking – well, you get the picture. They were not happy. Perhaps they thought the great escape would be lined with flowers. But they walked through the sea on dry land and God used the sea to battle the Egyptian army for them. Did you note that? They had to walk. And later on they had to battle for the Promised Land. They didn’t expect that, either. In fact, a whole generation (whose faith was sadly lacking despite the Red Sea experience and was unwilling to fight heart and soul) died in order for the youngsters who had been toughened by desert living to do the work. The land wasn’t wrapped in a bow. They had to go after it.

When the Hebrews were ruled over in Babylon, they were facing genocide at the behest of Haman, the Amalekite. Esther – and might I say she was courageous in more than one instance and deserves to have an entire book named after her – made known to the king that she was one of the hated Jews Haman wanted to destroy. Upon learning this, the king set forth an edict allowing the Jews to fight for themselves, resulting in life for them and death for Haman. They were given a chance, and they took it. They fought back.

We’re not that different, you know. Many folks expect God to do all the work. We might think to ourselves, “I can’t do anything to change this mess.” “Wait a minute. You mean I’m supposed to do something about this?!” “What do you mean I’m supposed to do this? I don’t even know how!” “Just leave me alone and let me escape with Netflix.” Maybe we’re figuratively running around, craning our necks, yelling, crying, shrieking – you get the picture. I hate to break it to you, but that wasn’t the way God set things up.

Do you notice the common thread? People are expected to take care of the garden. They’re expected to nourish and prune. They’re expected to defend. Action is not only expected, but required. God meant what He said. He always does. Any questions?

Image: marek-studzinski-3D6yReT06p0-unsplash-1.jpg; parting_red_sea-apha-141121.jpg; lion-pexels-alexas-fotos-2220336.jpg; Scripture: Genesis 2-3; Exodus 12-14; Esther; Ecclesiastes 9:10