It reminds me of times in my life when I heard the Spirit say, "Well, Les, we can do this the easy way or the hard way!" And, like a rebellious Tween I said, "I'll take the hard way." Well, I don't think I ever SAID that, but I implied it with my disobedience. And I wonder, why would God give me the option? Well, maybe the answer can be found in Exodus.
Moses went to Pharoah, asking him to let the Israelites go! But even when God turned the Nile to blood, when He decimated the livestock, when He rained hail down from heaven, when He inflicted them with boils, Pharoah would not be moved. Why? Well, God tells us in the 9th chapter, "I have spared you for a purpose, to spread my fame throughout the earth." I don't think the story of liberation would be quite as powerful and world reknown if Moses would have simply gone into Egypt, told Pharoah to let the people go, and Pharoah immediately complied, bowing out gracefully! No, instead, you see a bull-headed man, convinced that He will stand firm against God until the very end...now, the frogs, flies, and locusts make for a whole new incredible story!
It's the same way in my life...If I would have easily given in and been obedient, maybe I wouldn't have quite the testimony I have today. If I hadn't eaten crow, and bit my tongue, and suffered pain, my story wouldn't be quite as powerful. But, God in His grace allowed me some distance, a chance to choose, to try to walk on my own, so that I would see that I have to depend on Him to keep from falling. And because of that, I can do as Jesus instructed Paul, "...go back and strengthen [my] brothers." Because, thankfully, what I have learned can be transferred to others to inspire, encourage, and strengthen! Blessed be the name of the Lord!
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