The Old Testament has many prophecies concerning the promised Messiah of Israel, a Savior and Deliverer of God's chosen people. These prophecies were fulfilled through Jesus Christ. Jesus was the promised Savior of Israel. But God didn’t send him in the way the Israelites had expected. The Jewish people were so focused on their IDEA for deliverance that when deliverance came, they completely missed it!
How many of us know that God doesn't always work the way we expect? We pray for God to move, to act, to deliver us from whatever we are going through. We have an idea in our minds of what that may entail. We pray specifically for God to move in the ways we think He should. But many times, God has a different way of doing things. And because we are so focused on how WE believe things should happen, when God does send deliverance our way, we don't see it.
A man caught in a terrible flood climbed on top of his house to avoid the rising water and prayed that God would save him. A few minutes later a boat came by and offered him a ride. “No, thank you,” he said, “I trust God to rescue me.” A few minutes later a helicopter flew overhead and dropped down a rope ladder. His response, "I'm believing God to deliver me." Finally, another boat came by and offered to help him, but no, he was waiting on God.
He was eventually overcome by the water and lost in the flood. In heaven he asked God why He didn’t save him. God’s response was simple: “I sent you two boats and a helicopter, but you wouldn’t accept My help!”
God's ways are higher than our ways and His thoughts above our thoughts. He has a plan. Someone once told me to pray with expectancy but not with expectations. Move forward with open eyes, watching for God to move. But even more than open eyes, walk forward with an open mind, watching for the unexpected.
