Yesterday, I almost missed something very important because I recorded the wrong time on my calendar for the event. Thankfully, I realized my error with just enough time to fix it. Even though I told those who knew of my mistake, “I don’t know how this happened…I never do this,” the truth is, I DO THIS. I always have the big picture in mind, and I have to work hard at those details. They are my arch-rival, my nemesis.
Usually, I come out on top. Yesterday, it was a close call. In general, I tend to sweat the details because I know that if I don’t give them attention, they can break me.
Last week, I was reading in Genesis about Noah. Here is a guy who had some serious details to work with. God gave Noah a verbal blueprint on what to build, the material to use, and how to build it. Repeatedly, the text tells us that Noah “did everything just as God commanded him.” (Check out Genesis 6:22, 7:5, and 7:16).
Noah is a case-study in full obedience. But there is this small statement that I’ve missed in the reading of this story previously. This time, it jumped out at me: “…Then the Lord shut him in.” -Genesis 7:16
Not so remarkable on first reading, perhaps. But to me, it makes the story take a different spin. I can just see all of the animals and Noah’s whole family walking up through the giant door that God commanded Noah to build. When they are all safely onboard, Japeth looks at Noah and says, “Uh…dad…great ark. But, how about that door?”
Think about it! How can you close a giant door in the side of an ark from the inside? Maybe God had already disclosed to Noah that He would reach down and take care of this small detail; if so, it’s not recorded in the retelling of this story.
Personally, I like to think of Noah standing there on the ark, a bit perplexed, thinking, “Well, God, I did everything you asked me – but how about this door?” And then, God Himself reaches down to take care of it. It’s a small detail in the grand scheme of things – but with the door open, the ark would most certainly not have done it’s job. An open door would sink the ark!
I don’t know what you’re dreaming of, or what kind of big plans God has placed in your heart. He’s been speaking to me about seminary. I am getting excited, and most of me is ready to take a big leap of faith and start applying. There is a small part of me, however, that has concerns about the details, like how I’ll work classes into my schedule as a mom of three very young kids, and how I’ll pay for the education.
Details, really. Big to me, small to God. When I see God reaching down to close Noah’s ark, I am reminded of how He also is reaching down into our lives to open and shut doors, and to bring about the completions that would elude us without His touch.
Today, may you look for, and begin to see, His hand at work in your life.
