Life is not a movie. Criminals are not brought to justice, nor are terrorist’s plots or attempts at world domination foiled, in a short 120 minutes of time, sans commercials, by the likes of Jessica Fletcher, Benjamin Matlock, or Ethan Hunt. Chance meetings leading to misunderstandings and broken hearts are most definitely not resolved into happily-ever-after endings in single two-hour sittings.
No. Living is just not that simple. Living life through faith in Jesus Christ requires effort.
In “A View from the Zoo,” Gary Richmond writes about one such remarkable effort in the animal kingdom — the birthing of a giraffe calf.
Who would not agree that the Creator God’s amazing design of this gentle giant is quite extraordinary: long spindly legs with an equally soaring, powerful neck? Distinctive spotted markings, much like a human fingerprint, make each animal individual. Gorgeous!
At delivery, momma giraffe drops her bundle a scant ten feet to the ground … the plucky little one landing on its back. Ouch.
Lying there, getting its bearings, the calf scrambles. Legs underneath, it peers out to see what is going on. There is momma!
Then in the most unreasonable manner, momma giraffe swings her pendulous leg sending her calf sprawling head over heels. What? Why?
Richmond notes, “Because she wants the little guy to get up!”
As the baby struggles, momma is not hesitant to stimulate its efforts with another kick.
Soon the calf gets to a wobbly stand. And momma? Well, she is at the ready to serve up another helping of effort — another boot sending the little one back to the ground.
In the wild, this little guy needs to remember how to get up and get on with it … and it must do so with haste, without hesitation. Mother giraffe knows they both need to get with the herd for protection from life’s predators: lions, hyenas and hunting dogs.
In the Old Testament book of Genesis we read of Joseph who experienced his share of kicks as he got his bearings. (Genesis 37-50)
Joseph was the son of Jacob, the grandson of Isaac, and the great-grandson of Abraham, who is called God’s friend. (James 2:23). Quite a lineage with which to begin one’s life. But ancestry does not make for uncomplicated living.
The favorite son of his father, Joseph’s ten brothers hated him and could not speak a kind word to him. Genesis 37:4
Somewhere around age seventeen, Joseph’s father sent him to see how the elder brothers were doing grazing the family’s flocks some miles from home. Arriving in camp, Joseph’s brothers stripped him of the richly ornamental robe he wore. They threw him into an empty cistern with plans to kill him. Now, that was one good kick.
When an Ishmaelite caravan came through on its way to Egypt, the brothers instead sold Joseph as a slave. (Genesis 37:12-36) That double whop* must have sent Joseph sprawling!
Arriving in Egypt, one of the Pharaoh’s officials bought Joseph. And there in Potiphar’s house, Joseph prospered; that is, until his master’s wife took notice of the well-built, handsome young slave. Refusing the woman’s advances, Joseph is falsely accused of attempted rape and thrown into prison. (Genesis 39) Smack! Down again.
In prison, Joseph found favor with the warden, who put him in charge of those held in the prison. When the Pharaoh’s chief cupbearer and baker were put in custody, Joseph interpreted dreams that the two men had. He asked the cupbearer, whose dream was one of restoration to his original position, to remember him and get him out of prison. The chief cupbearer was reinstated … Joseph was forgotten. (Genesis 40) What a wallop!
Two full years passed before Joseph was remembered. This was when Joseph was brought before the Pharaoh to interpret the king’s two unexplainable dreams, and Joseph is recognized as a man in whom is the spirit of God.
It had been some thirteen years since Joseph was taken from his homeland. At age 30, he enters the service of the Pharaoh becoming second-in-command in the whole land of Egypt. (Genesis 41)
God toughens us in the ups and downs of living. He prepares to use us in days to come, for His glory, for His work. Alone in a pagan land filled with idolatry, Joseph needed strength to live a lifetime for Jehovah God.
Thankfully, our Father God is more gentle than a giraffe — although at times life’s “kicks” may not feel very good.
Look back again at Joseph’s life. When Joseph arrived on that slave block in Egypt, we are told, The LORD was with Joseph and he prospered. Genesis 39:2
When Joseph landed in prison under false allegations, the LORD was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. Genesis 39:21
And upon interpreting his dreams, the Pharaoh said, “Since God has made all this known to you [Joseph], there is no one as discerning and wise as you. You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders.” Genesis 41:39-40
The Lord God never left Joseph. In humility, Joseph remained under His loving hand; he made the effort to cooperate with God throughout his life.
“How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God!” Joseph told Potiphar’s wife. Genesis 39:9
Taking no credit for himself, Joseph told the chief cupbearer and baker, “Do not interpretations belong to God?” Genesis 40:8
To the Pharaoh, Joseph said, “God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do.” Genesis 41:25
Joseph was a real man living in a real place in a real time in history. He got up each day. He made the effort. He lived a life faithful to the Lord God. By the grace of God, so can we.
Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked
or stand in the way of sinners
or sit in the seat of mockers.
But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
on his law he meditates day and night.
He is like a tree planted by streams of living water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does prospers.
Psalm 1:1-3
*NOTE: Abraham had two sons: Isaac, the child of God’s promise, and Ishmael, the child of compromise. Ishmaelites, also known as Midianites, were descendants of Ishmael. (Genesis 21:8-21)
Bitter fruit was produced when Abraham sent Ishmael away. This bitterness survives in the religion of Mohammed, of those in the Moslem Arab world. Little did Sarah know when she persuaded Abraham to take Hagar to have a child, she was originating a rivalry which has run in the keenest strife through the ages, and which oceans of blood have not stopped. (Biblegateway.com/All the Men of the Bible)