In God’s Classroom
“Teach me your ways so I may know you.”
Exodus 33:13 (NIV)
Almost twenty years ago my husband Bruce purchased Robert J. Morgan's little book The Red Sea Rules. The book contained an anonymous and untitled poem that begins:
When God wants to drill a man,
And thrill a man
And skill a man
To play the noblest part;
When He yearns with all his heart
To create so great and bold a man
That all the world shall be amazed
Watch His methods, with His ways!
A couple of stanzas later the poem ends with the words "God knows what He's about."
I was surprised that Bruce purchased the book primarily for the poem. He's not usually the poetry type and neither am I, but one night I picked up the little book and began reading. When I finished it two hours later, I had found a new friend. Over the next few weeks, I worked through Morgan’s little book again and again. The book's content focuses on the historical events recorded in Exodus 13-15, Israel’s miraculous crossing of the Red Sea. Robert J. Morgan describes his writing process saying, "As I worked through the chapters, ten rules unfolded like rubber life rafts; ten ways of handling dilemmas and discouragements - a divine protocol for handling life when we find ourselves caught between the devil and deep Red Sea."
Through the years, The Red Sea Rules has become one of my two most requested topics for women’s retreats. It’s a really practical strategy for dealing with adversity. I’ve previously written about it here. In God’s providence, I had already planned to use The Red Sea Rules as the basis for this semester’s women’s ten-week Bible study that I was scheduled to teach. Red Sea Rule (RSR)#1 forms the foundation for the other nine Red Sea rules. It simply states: “Realize that God means for you to be where you are.”
Over the last two weeks as I’ve scheduled various tests and doctor appointments or cancelled Bible study, Flower Guild, and Big Oak Ranch commitments, I’ve found myself returning frequently to Red Sea Rule #1. God knows where I am and He means for me to be here. I’ve also identified with Andrew Murray, a South African pastor who, when faced with a terrible crisis himself, wrote this in his journal:
“Let me say I am here,
By God’s appointment,
In His keeping,
Under His training,
For His time.”
Proverbs 20:24 reminds us that “A man’s steps are directed by the LORD.” I believe that God not only orders our steps, but also our stops. I don’t know the “Why?” behind this present suffering, but I absolutely know the Who.
Elisabeth Elliot in her book Suffering is Never for Nothing writes, “The deepest things that I have learned in my own life have come from the deepest suffering. And out of the deepest waters and the hottest fires have come the deepest things that I know about God…The greatest gifts of life have also entailed the greatest suffering.”
Please know that Bruce and I are grateful for every prayer, card, meal, text and phone call that has been given on our behalf. My Bible study women are making sure that we are well fed through January thanks to a Meal Train sign-up. For now, I am the student in God’s classroom learning to grow in rest and dependence, not just on God, but others within the Body of Christ. It is very humbling to be the recipient and not the giver, the student and not the teacher. But these are important lessons to be learned and I hope I learn them well. Only in God’s classroom does an increasing growth in dependence actually lead to more maturity.
Please pray that I will, like the Psalmist, have a steadfast heart (Psalm 112:7) in this season of suffering. Thank you for praying!