Surprise Party
In a previous post I touched on the endless subject of the sovereignty of God. Again I want to reinforce that it is something we can neither understand nor comprehend but rather let's approach it with childlike faith and wonder. The book of Daniel is where I want to focus on today. It is a book that yells God's sovereignty out through a mega phone quite extravagantly.
(A side note to this post: I am writing this while chewing on some really gummy fruity jelly beans. As you might know, I LOVE fruity candy and have a mega sweet tooth- a dangerous combination. For Lent I gave up fruity candy, which for me proved to be a major sacrifice. Now, in celebration of the risen Christ, I am enjoying these extra sweet, super fruity jelly beans- HALLELUIA!)
Daniel 2:21-22 says, "He knows all, does all: He changes the seasons and guides history. He raises up kings and brings them down, He provides both intelligence and discernment. He reveals deep and mysterious things and knows what lies hidden in darkness, though He himself is surrounded by light."
God is sovereign. God is in control. God is the great I AM.
Webster defines the word sovereign:
1. Self-governing and not ruled by any other state
2. Having supreme authority or power
3. Outstanding, for example, in its excellence or effectiveness
So in this one word we see that God is all-sufficient in that He is self-governing: no one else tells God what to do. It is as the saying goes, 'The buck stops here!' God has supreme authority- no one has more authority, more power, more wisdom, more strength than God. Who else tells the sun when to set and the moon when to rise and it obeys perfectly? No one but God! He is outstanding- above the rest- in a league of His own.
No one can compare to Him. No one can control Him or manipulate Him, neither by obedience nor disobedience. No one can surprise Him, but rather He is the one who throws the surprise parties. He plans them right down to the very last detail. He decorates the cake, ties the ribbons on the gifts and throws the noisemakers to the guests inviting them to join in the celebration.
I often think of life as one big surprise party. God has good things for us and often gives them when we least expect them but need them the most. He knows all about the gifts He is going to give us and spends time preparing each gift so it is just perfect when we receive it.
(MmmMmMmmmm...strawberry)
Imagine how much fun it is for the person throwing the party. There is great joy and anticipation. Why? Because they love the person they are doing all the planning for. They put time and energy into thinking of what that person's favorite things are. They try to creatively think of ways to bless the person. Much effort goes into this process. The planner knows all the details and knows what is to come while the one the surprise party is for has no clue of what joy is about to come.
God is in the surprise party business. He is sovereign over it; in control and planning the details. He sees the end and knows what the party is going to look like. He knows just what gifts are going to be there and when the time is right to open them. He knows the way to bless us more than we could ever ask or imagine, dare to dream or hope for. This is how we can trust and take delight in a Sovereign God- He is good, He knows what's coming, He's in control, and working out the details.
There is another aspect of surprise parties that relate to God and His sovereignty. It is the quiet whisper before the big event. When a surprise party is being planned people begin to whisper as not to let the big secret out. The planner, as a way to conceal excitement until the appropriate time, might seem distant. This is intentional because the joy of a surprise is irreplaceable once the surprise aspect is gone. Timing is key to it all working out as is intended by the planner.
(mmmMMmMmMMmM...lemon)
As we wait, God often seems distant. We make up in our mind what it is we want to receive, when we should get it, and how it should all happen. But God has His own plan and it is greater than our plan. It is perfect and pleasing- for Him and for us. His distance we feel is most often caused by our expectations not being met. Imagine His perspective: He knows that there is a surprise party being planned that will bless our socks off! He just wants us to wait. We need to wait for our time will come. Joy will come.
It is like when your birthday comes and all day long no one really notices it is your birthday. Sure, you might get a casual 'Happy Birthday'- but no cards, no flowers, no balloons, no presents. The afternoon rolls around and your plopped on your couch with a carton of ice cream and an unlit candle as the climax of your celebration and you think to yourself, "What was up with everyone this year- I guess as you get older birthdays just aren't as big of a deal. Afterall birthdays are for kids right?!?"
The next thing you know the doorbell rings and a friend is there holding a great new outfit in your size, ready to take you to an unknown destination. You arrive with your friend to find a room full of people you love at a decked out party. Each person is there to celebrate you- because they love you. They all have gifts especially for you. Specifically picked out to bless you and fit perfectly into who you are.
If only you could have known this during the disappointments you felt earlier in the day- during the times when your expectations and hopes were let down. The party planner surely noticed your disappointment and wanted to cheer you up but it wasn't quite time yet. In waiting, the joy now greatly surpasses the joy you could have had earlier- this was the better way, the way intended and the way that was planned for you. Surprise!!!
(MmmmmMMMmMMmm...orange)
God is in control just as the party planner is in control- only even greater! He leaves no detail not tended to. Life comes and with that disappointment comes. Age brings increasing expectations and expectations are often not met. We feel let down by ourself, by others and by God. Our circumstances might change but God never will! No matter how old we get and how many expectations are unmet, God remains the same- He remains good- He remains Sovereign. He is El Elyon!!!
We are to live by faith. Only by faith can we know God as El Elyon. It is only by faith that we can believe that He is sovereign. It is only by faith that we can trust in His authority, power, control and goodness. Living by faith is understanding that God is not always going to meet your expectations, but rather that He is ALWAYS going to meet His expectations for you!"
Daniel 4:34-35, "His rule is everlasting, and His kingdom is eternal. All the people of the earth are nothing compared to Him. He has the power to do as He pleases among the angels of heaven and with those who live on earth. No one can stop him, saying, What do you mean by doing these things?"
I have had a difficult time with the expectation factor. It seems more often then not my expectations are greatly let down and unmet- and this is often by God. I face the question of how to deal with this. Does it mean He does not care or is not good? Does it mean He doesn't have time for the details of my life? Does He not love me enough to give me whatever it is I think I need or deserve?
The answer to all of these questions is a big resounding NO!!! The exact opposite is true. He cares so much and is so good that He wants me to wait till His perfect time for His pleasing way. He is taking as much time as is possible to get every detail worked out and perfected. Why? One simple answer...love.
He is giving me a heart that follows hard after Him. He is shaping me into what He wants me to be. Often a way this molding takes place is through pressure being applied to me. This happens in the times of disappointment. He wants me to come to Him to find all satisfaction in Him. He wants me to be content in Him. He wants me to trust Him and His sovereignty and love.
The greatest part of this whole challenge and shaping process is that it is God initiated and God incorporated. God not only wants me to come to Him and trust Him but He is giving me all that I need to do this. We are human beings not human doings. In quietness and trust there is peace and strength. This is because we are letting go and letting God have His way in us. So here we are back to that sturdy ole place we seem to keep getting at once again...surrender.
(MmmMMmmMMMMmm...pineapple)
Let me close by sharing with you a couple of great surprise parties that God threw which are recorded in the book of Daniel.
Daniel 3- The Blazing Furnace:
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were devout worshippers of God; the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. But their king, Nebuchadnezzar, issued a decree that everyone must worship his gods and the gold statue he set up. Of course this was something Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were unwilling to do. Because they did not bow down to their king's gods they were going to be put to death.
The king had the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual because he was so enraged by their disobedience. It was so hot that it killed the soldiers that threw Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego into the flames. Yet all throughout this terrifying and confusing time the men never wavered in their devotion to trust and worship their God. They declared in vs.17-18, "If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us, He will rescue us from your powers. But even if He doesn't you can be sure that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up." The fact that they were able to make this declaration literally as they stood before the fire is remarkable! It is bold and required great trust in the sovereignty of God!
Time for a surprise party Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego...here's a friend to get you there...
God did deliver them that day. As king Nebuchadnezzar was watching Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego burn he noticed there were four men in the furnace- and beyond that, they were walking around. There were only three men thrown into the flames and they were bound and tied by the strongest soldiers to prevent escape, but now there were four unbound men!!!
Vs.25 & 28,"Look! Nebuchadnezzar shouted. I see four men unbound walking around in the fire. They aren't even hurt by the flames! And the fourth looks like a divine being! Praise to the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! He sent his angel to rescue his servants who trusted in him. They defied the kings command and were willing the die rather than serve or worship any other god except their own God."
There was a great celebration and blessing that day. God surprised everyone by how he rescued Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. His ways are not our ways, His thoughts are not our thoughts. He could have prevented Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego from ever even having to enter into the raging fire- but by letting them enter the flames He was able to display His sovereign strength by delivering His beloved children. There was a surprise ending filled with joy and excitement which resulted in worship, greater worship of God. HE was glorified even in the midst of the flaming fire!!!
Even as we face the flames or are standing in the midst of the blazes God is there with us protecting us so we, as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, might not be scorched and so He can be glorified. His way might be the hot way but it's always the highway. Although we don't see life beyond the fire because all we see are ashes, God sees life and gives beauty for ashes. (Isaiah 61:3)
(MMmMmMMMMMMmmmm...lime)
Daniel 6- The Lions' Den:
Daniel was highly favored and influential with the king. This made some of the king's administrators jealous. As a way to get Daniel killed these men devised a scheme. They got the king to pass a law saying that for thirty days no one could pray to anyone or anything besides the king. They knew Daniel would continue to pray to his God and thus be found guilty of breaking the law.
Sure enough the men found Daniel praying as he always did and they arrested him. The king regretted signing the law since Daniel was his friend, but yet he had to keep his word. Daniel was sentenced to death and thrown into the hungry lions' den.
The next morning the king went to check on Daniel and SURPRISE...he was safe and alive!!! Vs.22-23,"My God sent His angel to shut the mouths of the lions so that they would not hurt me...not a scratch was found on him because he had TRUSTED in his God."
God protected him even as he faced one of the fiercest and strongest beast on the earth. God was stronger. God was sovereign. He had a plan for Daniel and SURPRISE...becoming friends with a lion was part of it for through that God was able to display His power to all the world for many generations till the end of time!!! That should make you look at the lions in your life a bit differently!!!
God is in control. He is Sovereign. He is El Elyon. Trust Him for He is good and His love endures forever!!!
posted by Kellie # 11:47 PM
