No Shortcuts

And Manoah said to his wife, “We shall surely die, because we have seen God!” But his wife said to him, “If the LORD had desired to kill us, He would not have accepted a burnt offering and a grain offering from our hands, nor would He have shown us all these things, nor would He have told us such things as these at this time.”Judges 13:21-22

Manoa and his wife had been told by the angle of the Lord (Jesus) that they would have a son and gave specific instructions about her pregnancy. When they offered a burnt sacrifice, the angel disappeared in the cloud of smoke and they realized they had just seen God, face to face! Manoah, possibly remembering Moses experience thought they would surely die, having seen the face of God. His wife corrects him with the facts of the message and the logic that the message would make no sense if they were dead!

This so reminds me of Jeremiah 29:10- For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. What an encouragement to know that God doesn’t ask us to do something and then not fulfill His promise. He does not reveal Himself and then punish us for recognizing His presence. What He says, He will do. What He commands of us, He will provide the way to accomplish. And He calls us to obey His instruction to the “T”, not take shortcuts! He makes it simple, but we often make it sound complicated. Obey and be blessed; disobey and suffer the consequence.

Lord Jesus, You have revealed You plan and directions for living out Your will, in Your Word. You don’t play “cat and mouse” with us. Help me not to complicate what You have made simple. Help me to have confidence in the hope and future You have planned for me and not question Your ways. Help me to trust and obey!