Little Did They Know

I’ve been reading a biography on Oswald Chambers entitled, Abandoned to God. It is such an inspiring book. If Oswald could be used of God, so can I. Anyway, Oswald went through some tough times before he got married later in life. His wife, Gertrude (Biddy) Hobbs had left school early in life to help her mom, and also so her older brother and sister could keep their education going. But did Biddy fall into despair over her lot in life? No. She studied shorthand, and when she was able to work full-time she could take 250 words a minute. Most people can’t even talk that fast. But there was a purpose for this. Oswald and Biddy married in 1910. They had one daughter, Kathleen. Together, Chambers and his wife opened a Bible school, and Biddy took notes of Oswald’s lectures. You see, Oswald didn't write his sermons out - he only had outlines. Later, when they went to Egypt, since Chambers became a chaplain to the British troops, Biddy continued her “job” of taking notes of her husband’s lectures. In 1917, at the age of 43 and after only 7 years of marriage, Oswald Chambers died from complications after an emergency surgery for appendicitis. He left behind a wife and four year old daughter.

What did Biddy do at this time? Did she wallow in grief and self-pity? No. She got out her notes on her husband’s lectures that she had taken by short-hand, and wrote them out. My Utmost for His Highest was published in 1927, ten years after Oswald’s death.
It seems Oswald needed someone who would take notes of his lectures, who would be able to get them published after he died. Little did he know what God’s plans were.

That reminded me of my song Little Did They Know…After going through a confusing and trying time in my life, I turned to the Bible for answers. I found “answers” in three specific stories in the Bible. Of course, my understanding of these accounts wasn’t as elaborate as it is now, so I’ll give you the updated version :-) First, the account of the Israelites at the Red Sea came to mind. The Lord had just delivered them from bondage in Egypt, and now they were on their way to the Promised Land. Their deliverance had been so great! Such miracles, such mighty showing of the Almighty’s power. But now, where were they? They were stuck; and they had a huge problem. The Red Sea was in their way. They couldn’t get through it. What had God done? Why did He lead them here? On top of that, the Egyptians were coming after them. The Israelites were trapped. Had God done all those great things to get them out of Egypt only to destroy them a few days out, to give them back into the hand of their enemy? It didn’t make sense! Why did the Lord Who delivered them lead them to such a problem – the Red Sea? Didn’t He know it was absolutely impossible for them to overcome this obstacle? But little did they know that their great problem – the Red Sea – would become their greatest gift.
First, the Lord blocked the Egyptians. Then, through the night, when the Israelites couldn’t see what was going on, when they were supposed to be resting, the Lord was parting the waters of the great Sea. In the morning, there was a pathway of dry land reaching to the other side. And now, the impossible orders were given – go through the waters. What? Are you serious? I would have been scared to death. Go through the Sea? What if the water comes crashing down on me? What if the walls of water don’t stay up? I’ll drown for sure! But no, the command was clear. Go through the Red Sea. So the Israelites did. They walked through on dry ground. And they all made it to the other side. But then they looked behind them. The Egyptians were coming through too! But this pathway through the obstacle wasn’t for them. It wasn’t their pathway of faith. They should never have gone through it. But they did. And as they went, the Lord caused the wheels to fall off their chariots. They were stuck. Then, the unthinkable happened: the waters came crashing down. The Egyptians army was drowned, destroyed. The Jews’ oppressors would never be seen by the Israelites again. They were truly free. God had turned what had seemed to be their greatest problem, the Red Sea, into their greatest gift. After they had gone through those waters by faith, the Lord used those waters to deliver them.

Second, the story of Hannah and Samuel came to mind. Hannah wanted a son. She had a husband, and he loved her greatly, more than his other wife (ok, that was a problem). But she wasn’t satisfied. She saw her husband’s other wife having kids, and everyone knew that the reason Hannah didn’t have children was “her fault.” For years this went on, with her enemy provoking her and Hannah getting upset. Finally, in bitterness (yes, bitterness) of soul, she prayed to the Lord. She promised Him that if He gave her a son, she would give him back to the Lord. This was exactly what God had been waiting for. He was looking for a final judge for Israel, and this judge had to be raised in the ways of the Lord, in Shiloh. But priest Eli had forfeited this privilege by not restraining his sons, and instead of producing godly offspring, had produced two sons who turned out to be such wicked men. So God had to “import” someone. But this would have to be done willingly by someone else, a mother who would give her son to the Lord by giving him to this failure of a father and priest. The eyes of the Lord must have run to and fro throughout Israel to find someone on who’s behalf He could prove Himself strong. Hannah was chosen, and all those years of provocation and bitterness were bringing her to the point where she would ask God for a son, and in doing so, would promise to give him back to the Lord all his days. Therefore, as soon as Hannah surrendered her desire to the Lord, God heard her prayer. Hannah believed; the proof is that her countenance was no longer sad. And then she conceived, and bore a son. His name was Samuel, which means “God heard” or “asked of God.” Now, Hannah could have changed her mind after Samuel was born, and kept her son. She could have said, “You know, I’m having second thoughts. Eli didn’t do a very good job of raising his kids, so I think I’ll keep Samuel here. He’ll get better spiritual training with me.” But no, that’s not what Hannah did. She kept her promise, and gave him to the Lord, entrusting him to the Lord in the hands of Eli. Her trust was ultimately in God, not man. And on top of that, after she dropped off Samuel, she praised God! How in the world did she do that? But you know what? God honored her. He gave her 5 more kids! Little did Hannah know that her greatest problem – not having a son – would turn out to be her greatest gift. She would forever become the mother of Samuel, and would have a place in the never-ending Word of God. Oh, and she also got five more kids :-)

Finally, there was Jesus Christ. His disciples thought He was going to redeem Israel, that the time of restoration had come. They believed Jesus was the Messiah, but they misunderstood how He was going to deliver them. God’s view and plan of Christ’s life was completely different from theirs. They thought Christ had come to conquer; but He had come to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many. When they saw Him die, all their hopes and dreams were dashed, thrown to the ground and trampled on. This was completely against their plans. Christ wasn’t supposed to die! Had they been so blind? Had they so misunderstood? Wasn’t He the One they had been waiting for? For three days they were in despair. They ended up hiding in an upper room somewhere. But then Jesus appeared! He was alive! He had risen from the dead. The Holy Spirit came. They understood now the purpose of Christ. Their lives were transformed. They became completely different people. What they had thought was their greatest problem – Christ dying on the cross – became God’s greatest gift to the world: the chance of salvation to all who believe.

Every Christian will face something in their lives that will be similar to these great saints of old. Maybe it’s a “Red Sea,” or the lack of something you really want, or maybe your hopes and dreams have died. Look up – think like Joseph in Genesis, who knew amidst all his troubles, that God meant it all for good. In God is to be my trust and hope. I’ll find His promises in the Bible, and there are more stories that go along with this subject: Joseph (OT), Daniel, Ezekiel, Isaiah, Mary, Joseph (NT), Paul, Peter, John. I recently heard a preacher say, when bad circumstances come into your life, they will make you bitter or better, and the choice is yours. Ask God to make you better, not bitter, and remember: You have no idea what He has planned on the “other side.” BTW, you can hear a clip of it here

God led Israel out of Egypt’s bondage, right out to the Red Sea
But the Sea became a problem when they saw the enemy.
What had God done? Why did He leave them there? They faced such an obstacle.With the enemy behind and the water in front, escape seemed impossible.
But God had a plan and He parted the Sea; they walked through on dry land.God used the waters to then drown their enemies and wash their bodies up on the sand.

A woman named Hannah had a problem, no child she could bear.
No one seemed to understand or seem to care.
So she took her problem and went to God, and asked Him for a son,
She promised she’d give him back to Him and the battle then was won.
For this was what God had been waiting for, and Samuel soon was born.
Five children more did follow him, but Hannah’s firstborn was the Lord’s.

On a cross, Jesus died, bleeding for our sins.
His disciples didn’t realize He was delivering them.
Their hopes where gone, their dreams had died, their spirits sank so low.
Where was God in this injustice, as Messiah’s blood did flow?
But three days later they saw God’s purpose in an upper room.
After Christ arose triumphantly, leaving behind an empty tomb!

Christian in your life today are you facing your own Red Sea?Or like Hannah you’ve been praying in bitter agony?Like Christ’s disciples your hopes have died and your dreams lie on the ground?
Make the choice to lift your eyes to God, for in Him your hope is found.
You’ll find God’s promises in Your Bible if you search it far and wide.
You have no idea what God has planned on the other side!

How little do you know, that your greatest problems won’t bring your greatest gifts?
Only God can take your tragedies, and turn them out like this.
How little do you know, that when the path you travel
doesn’t go where you think it should;
God is waiting to take your circumstance, and turn it out for good.
How little do you know!