Bow the Knee

As I have been studying and praying this week, I have been meditating on what it truly means to bow the knee to the Lord through this crisis. It might be in our best interests to turn off the news sometimes and/or take a break from social media. Are you tired of the endless merry-go-round of the blame game? Are you avoiding foolish controversies and avoiding stirring up strife during civil discourses that are far from civil? The world is absolutely terrified right now, and they are seeking answers and looking to hastily place blame without investigations and due process. We are seeing the hatred and strife in the world stirred up in a large-scale bonfire that leaves massive destruction in its wake. We can allow this crisis to cause us to stumble into sin or we can bow the knee to the One who sits over all things, Jesus Christ. Are we surrendering daily to Jesus Christ? Are we finding peace in Him?

I am reminded of Job’s story and testimony. He faced horrible affliction, death, and disease within his own household, his own health, and his possessions. His friends were not helpful, and added insult to injury. I imagine that as Job went through the trials in his life it was tough to see God’s purpose and plan through it. He even took his complaints directly to God. The Lord responded in Job 38:4, “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding.” Instead of answering Job’s complaints, the Lord reminded Job that Job is not God. Job does not have the capacity to see the Lord’s plan through it all, and he needed to be reminded that he should trust fully in the One who does know. We know from Job 42, that Job repented, and the Lord restored everything that Job had lost to far greater extent than before his trials. He lived a long and prosperous life enjoying the blessing the Lord gave to him. Did Job know that this was how his life story was going to play out? Absolutely not, but God knew.

Another great example is Joseph’s testimony recorded in Genesis. Did Joseph know how much the Lord would use his gift of dreams and dream discernment to save thousands from famine? Did he know that the jail cell in which he sat for false accusations would provide an opportunity to advance to the right hand of Pharaoh in Egypt? Did Joseph know that he would be restored with his brothers that sold him into slavery? I am reminded of Joseph’s conversation with his brothers in Genesis 50:20, “But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.” His brothers intended harm in selling him into slavery, but God used that situation in His will to save many people from famine, even his own brothers and their families. There are countless examples like this in God’s word. Will we trust the Lord through trials like Joseph?

Are you like Job today, questioning the Lord? If so, would you also follow Job’s example by bowing the knee and surrendering to the Lord? “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6) Let us place all of our trust in Jesus Christ. We don’t need to have all of the answers, Christ wants us to follow Him. We just celebrated the glorious resurrection of Jesus Christ this past weekend, and we know from scripture the challenges the disciples faced during the trial, death, and burial of Jesus Christ. The disciples scattered, and I’m sure many of them were unsure what the Lord’s purpose was after the death of Jesus. We, like the disciples, can get “tunnel vision” limited by surroundings and circumstances. Let us focus all of our attention on Christ, and keep our eyes fixed on Him. Continue to trust Him regardless of any circumstances we may face in these uncertain times.