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Trapped Betweeen Two Giants
by Frank approached the goat from one direction of the railroad track and Trinity approached her from the other. The yearling nanny had followed the older goats over the field fencing but had lost her nerve when they all returned while she remained alone, walking the perimeter of the fence and crying forlornly. I was ready with the materials to fix the fence but needed to wait until this one goat came back so she wouldn't be permanently locked out. She was too afraid of the fence to jump over it alone, and she was too afraid of human beings to even be tempted when I offered her some grain. Frank was working outside and having to listen to the bleating of the lonely goat tore at his heartstrings. Finally he decided to get the goat back inside the fence. The railroad tracks run along the lower end of my property, with my fencing on one side and my neighbors fencing along the other. Along the narrow stretch of abandoned railroad, there are many berries and other delicacies that tempt the goats in the first place but also make catching them almost impossible, especially for one person. So Frank and Trinity climbed over the fence on either side of the goat and walked toward each other. They shortened the gap step by step. Finally, the goat sprinted along the fence, overcame her reluctance, jumped over the lower point, and happily rejoined the flock. These two towering giants on either side of her frightened her so much that she overcame her fear of jumping the fence and returned to the safety and security of the flock. We moderns look at the fear of God, as being somewhat backward, very "Old Testament." When we dismiss God's anger and warnings, I wonder if we are losing the motivation to make the changes that God wants us to make. True, to obey out of love is the higher, more mature calling, but when our lives are at risk, I wonder if God is more than happy for us to respond out of fear, if that is what it takes at the time for us to be safe and well. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. Proverbs 1:7 Garry Genser is the author of A DOWN TO EARTH GOD: a nature lover's devotional and runs a publishing company New Life Publishing House. He currently also pastors a church in the beautiful redwoods of northern California. Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com |