“Lord, what do You want me to do? Your word doesn’t speak directly to this crossroads in my life. I have multiple options that are moral and even wise. Which way should I go?”
Ever prayed words like these in the quiet of your heart? Perhaps you’re pacing back and forth at a crossroads right now. The well-intended advice we receive during these times ranges all over the map. Some advice is subjective and mysterious…”Look for the place where God is working and join Him.” The other end of the spectrum sounds very clean & logical…”While God has a moral will for your life He doesn’t have a specific will for your life. Be biblically wise and simply choose.”
A lot of ink has dried on the subject of knowing God’s will. Wise and godly people have come down on different sides of the fence. Go to the local Christian book store and you’ll be surprised by the number of sides this fence can have. This blog promises no rule of thumb to apply to any situation quickly and cleanly. In fact, if all that’s been written elsewhere were a bonfire then what follows is simply another log on that fire. My prayer is that you’ll be a little better equipped to deal with the next fork in the road.
A recent journey through Esther reminded me that God is an expert at subtlety. In the middle of the book I was struck by the words of Mordecai to Esther, in 4:13-14.
“Do not imagine that you in the king’s palace can escape any more than all the Jews. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place and you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?”
Strong conviction for such subtle times. Elsewhere in Scripture a prophet sent from God often steps onto the scene and says, “Thus says the Lord…” Mordecai had no such person to advise him. Remember there are no prophets in the book of Esther; God never speaks a word. How does Mordecai lead Esther with such strong conviction?
Remember Mordecai’s resources. He would have the first five books of the Bible and many more to boot. Even with a limited selection of Hebrew Scripture, Mordecai had several black and white truths to apply to his gray world. A quick list includes the promises given to Abraham & David for the nation and it’s king. He would have the Mosaic Law and promises that God would not abandon His people to exile. With access to the major prophets Daniel & Ezekiel, Mordecai would have glimpsed the end of the age. Mixed into all that he had would be a revelation of God’s character as well.
So put yourself in Mordecai’s shoes for a moment. With what you know from Scripture, is there an eternal future for the people of Israel? Can anyone wipe the Jews from the face of the earth? Is the God of Abraham faithful to keep His promises? Will they be in the Promise Land? Will the Messiah reign over them eternally?
Mordecai doesn’t know how the people will be saved. He doesn’t know if each and every one will be saved from physical death. He doesn’t know if God has placed Esther in a position of royalty to facilitate deliverance. Mordecai admits his lack of total insight into God’s work in the given situation. He applies what he knows to the unknown. “Relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews.”
Who else do we know in Scripture that acts this way? How about Abraham? The cliff notes remind us that Isaac was the chosen heir through whom the covenant blessings would come, Genesis 17:15-21. God tells Abraham to sacrifice Isaac in Genesis 22:2, “Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah; and offer him there as a burnt offering…”
Abraham didn’t know how God would provide. He didn’t know if Isaac would actually die. But he applied what he knew to his unknown. In Genesis 17:19 the Lord promised, “I will establish My covenant with (Isaac) for an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him.” Abraham knew Isaac would live or live again and even have kids.
Two pieces of relief are settling in my heart. First, it’s okay that I don’t have all the answers. Like Mordecai I’ll have to sometimes say, “Who knows?” Secondly, the black & white truth of Scripture is the fuel of firm conviction in the times of uncertainty. So the more familiar I am with Scripture the better equipped I’ll be at the fork in the road.
Here’s a piece of truth from Matthew 6:26 to hold at your crossroads today. “Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?” Your value is decided even in the time of your own indecision.
