Continuing our focus on the theme of “Turning of the Tables”, we come to two more instances in the Scriptures, where we see distinctly how the good Lord “turned the tables” on seemingly adverse situations.
Tongue…
The farewell message of Moses: the children of Israel reaching the threshold of the Promised Land is what the Book of Deuteronomy is all about. The amazing aspect of Moses’s moving speech does not lie in his ability to take a lengthy inventory of his followers’ obedience graph in the last 40 years, nor does it lie in his frequent and fervent pleas to the people of Israel to walk in the “straight and narrow”. While they do punctuate the passionate content of Moses’s speech, the most amazing thing about that parting speech is who is actually telling the speech itself! Many years ago, Moses cited his “stammering” disability as a disqualification for taking up any leadership role (Exodus 4:10). But here we see the same Moses, “the stammerer”, giving the longest recorded speech in the Bible! We see Moses speaking through 33 of the 34 chapters in Deuteronomy with eloquence, which was at once unmistakable! Now if this does not leave one speechless, then what would?
The words of scripture tell us that God transforms the weakness of His faithful ones into their strength (Heb 11:34). This notion never rings more true than in the case of a man with a speech impairment giving the longest recorded speech in the Bible after being divinely strengthened! In God’s service, it is the availability, more than the ability, which counts. Once we give ourselves to Him, with all our innate frailties, His strength will flow through us in overflowing measure for the world to marvel at (2 Cor 12:8-10)!
Thorn…
Bearing the pain of a prickly thorn in the flesh constantly (akin to a “painful situation like being a victim of injustice” – 2 Cor 12:7-12) becomes possible only when one clasps the liberating truth (John 8:32) that these “thorns in my flesh” are actually helping me spiritually, rather than harming me.
Apostle Paul turned the tables on an adverse situation in his life by looking at it from the Lord’s wise perspective that the “thorn in his flesh” is actually keeping him humbly dependent on the Lord, instead of hindering him.
“Cross bears those who bear the Cross” observed the wise Sadhu Sundar Singh, and why not? For we cling to the indwelling, joyous Holy Spirit for sustenance in the wake of purifying painful experiences coming our way! (ah, the Holy Spirit comes into the picture now… He has to come into the picture at some stage or the other when we are speaking about the Christian life…without Him, there is no Christian life in the first place-Rom 8:9).
Where there is the presence of the Lord, there is an indescribable joy. Where that heavenly joy is, there is the strength of the Lord to reinforce our inner self to carry our own crosses to bear (Psalm 16:11,Nehemiah 8:10, I Peter 1:7-8, Romans 15:13, Eph 3:16, 2 Cor 12:7-12).
It would make sense only to the faithful Christians who have also faithfully carried the cross for many years, when I see that Christian character (Romans 5:3-4/2 Cor 3:18) getting built only in the rarefied atmosphere, as it were, of“pressure outside and pleasure inside”.
Sadly, some of us attribute power of God to merely just awe-inspiring miracles, like parting of the Red sea, or raising of the dead, without realizing that it is that same power which is equipping us to also bear the “thorn in our flesh” faithfully.
It is not out of place to quote the following scripture portions verbatim, to underscore the point that the words “God’s grace and His power” have also been used interchangeably in the Bible…
“And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.” (Acts 4:33, ESV)
“…My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Cor 12:9b, NIV)
Joni Earekson Tada, a quadriplegic (paralyzed neck downwards and confined to a wheelchair now for 50 years) and a “great” Servant of God, preaches about “turning the tables” on the “thorns” in her life very effectively, not only through lip but also through her life itself.
“He has chosen not to heal me, but to hold me. The more intense the pain, the closer His embrace!!! My wheelchair was the key to seeing all this happen–especially since God’s power always shows up best in weakness….”
Prayer: Father, You know what adverse situations are buffeting us. Grant us your wisdom to turn the tables for your Glory. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Suresh Manoharan
An unworthy servant
J and SM Ministries
(To access the entire “Turning the Tables” Easter Mini-series, please click here.)