Make God Your First Stop
(Tony Tng, Chairperson, Missions)
READ:
Zechariah 10:1-3 (NIV)
OBSERVE:
Ancient Israel, without an irrigation system, had to rely on rain in spring and autumn to water their fields and crops. Verses 1 and 2 painted a contrasting picture of the behaviour of the people of Israel. Nehemiah 9:6 states that God is the creator of all things in this universe including the earth and seas and everything in them. If God is the creator of all things, it would seem natural that when the Israelites needed to water their crops, they should ask God to provide them with the water. However, we observed here that the Israelites did not go to God as their first stop. Instead, they prayed to idols, asked fortune tellers and interpreters of dreams for answers to their problems. Zechariah 10 reminded us that idols, diviners and dream interpreters are false gods that give no comfort but lead the people astray.
Contrasting that in v1, it is clear who the true God is. The Lord had consistently provided rain in spring and autumn year after year and the land was filled with lush pasture. Yet, God was not their first stop. For God to be so displeased that He had to send his prophet to chastise them, it can be extrapolated that the Israelites had lost sight of their Lord, trusting everyone else other than God. If the Israelites had gone to God at the first sign of trouble, God promised that He would look after His people and make them strong and glorious, like a proud warhorse in battle (v3). He would be able to restore Judah and save Israel for God has the power to make His people strong and they can go wherever they wish (v12). More, from Judah would come the cornerstone, the tent peg, the bow for battle and all the rulers (v4) if they would remember their God.
In short, the relationship between God and the people had been broken. They no longer trusted their God. They thought that God had moved away from them. The truth is that God had not moved, it is the people who had moved away from God.
APPLY
Are you surprised that Christians do not always make God their first stop when facing trials and tribulations? I have done that myself and some of my Christian friends have done the same too. Somehow, there is a tendency to solve the problems ourselves first. Only when the road leads to a dead end, when all avenues have been exhausted without a solution in sight do we seek God, go on our knees and beg. Often, that would have been one long painful journey because God was not the first stop.
I remember an incident more than 12 years ago. Then, I was quite a fitness nut, going to the gym 3 to 4 times a week working out my cardio fitness or out on the golf course playing golf. According to my own standard, I was fitter than many of my friends. One day, in the cardiologist clinic, I received a shock. I was told that I had blocked cardiac arteries and would likely require a heart bypass. I couldn’t accept that and tried to do anything possible to avert it. I went to seek second opinions to find solutions in the next couple of days and it was the most stressful time of my life. During that time of distress, while I seek doctors and other people hoping that they would tell me that I do not need the bypass treatment, I totally forgot that God would have all the answers that I need. In hindsight, that was the most foolish thing that I have done. Instead of seeking God first, I sought men first. While it is not wrong to seek the advice of doctors, I now realise that God should be my first stop. To complete the story. When I finally realised my error and returned to seek God, it still amazes me that He had already prepared the answers way ahead of my asking. After that, all stress disappeared and I had complete peace to proceed with the most appropriate treatment prepared for me. Yes, the doctors did the treatment but God prepared the way. My relationship with God was mended and went up a few notches. After that, my response to His love has been nothing but to serve Him and return to my first love. When God is my first stop, the outcome always surprises me.
DO
In every turn of the corner, at every impasse, facing every trial, I will seek God and make Him my first stop, whether it is in my personal, corporate or church life.
PRAY
Heavenly Father, the Creator of all things on earth, in the sky and under the water. You are the Provider of all things that I need but often, You are not the first Person I seek. Forgive me for my stubbornness and forgetfulness for not making You the first stop. Yet, Your mercy always abounds and for this, I am forever grateful. Help me to keep that in mind and help me to always make You my first stop. Help me Lord to seek You first when I serve in Your Kingdom. Let me respond to Your love for me through my service. In Christ’s mighty name, I pray. Amen.
