“Can you come home early? I’m not sure Bucky will live the rest of the day.” When I arrived, I found Bucky, our pet goat that we raised from birth, lethargic, bloated, and not eating or drinking. After checking several websites, I determined he had eaten moldy hay, which can be deadly. The only treatment required force feeding him with a large syringe a mixture of 8 ounces of yogurt and milk of magnesia four times a day plus 4 ounces of baking soda once a day for four days. The procedure turned out an unpleasant experience for him and for me. Yet, it saved his life. He got better and returned to normal. Problem—my pet goat won’t let me anywhere close to him. I saved his life but now he doesn’t trust me. Ok, he’s just an animal unable to comprehend I was helping him.
As always, I seem to learn something from these experiences. In life, we go through unpleasant situations. The older I get the more doctors perform uncomfortable medical procedures on me. Both my mom and dad died from colon cancer, which means I need a colonoscopy every three years. Not the most enjoyable two day process, but I know it is necessary and I don’t resent my doctor. I know he’s doing it for my wellbeing. This principle is no less true when it comes to our spiritual wellbeing. At times during the course of life, God may see our spiritual health isn’t good. Most of the time the remedy is simply responding to the leading of the Holy Spirit and the Bible and making necessary corrections. Yet, what about times when we have eaten the ‘moldy hay’ of the world and are on the verge of spiritual disaster?
I’ve often heard people say, “Yea, God took me to the woodshed and beat me senseless. But, I needed to be punished. I won’t make that mistake again.” First problem with this folk theology is that God doesn’t have a woodshed. Rather He has a hospital and training center. Second problem: God doesn’t punish His children He disciplines them. Discipline and punishment are not synonyms. Jesus has already received the punishment for believers. God now treats us as His children. Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father (Heb 12:7 NIV)? Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. (Rev 3:19 NIV). The root word we translate discipline comes from the word, child and means to train up a child, instruct, learn, and teach. However, note that this doesn’t mean it is always without pain. Ask anyone preparing for the Summer Olympics if their training has been painless.
Too often, I’ve talked with people who are angry with God because they went through difficult circumstances. “Why is God punishing me?” “A loving God would never let this happen to me.” That’s like saying, “A good doctor wouldn’t do this procedure.” More than any other character in the Bible, who could have easily become angry and bitter at God, was Joseph. A young man loved by his father, but hated by his brothers who sold him into slavery. As a slave in Egypt, he became successful in Potiphar’s house and made overseer of all he owned. However, Potiphar’s wife falsely accused him of rape and Joseph was thrown into prison. He had an opportunity for release through Pharaoh’s cupbearer. Yet the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph, but forgot him (Gen 40:23). Joseph was approaching his thirteenth year as a slave and prisoner but he still wasn’t angry or bitter. After Joseph’s release, he became overseer of all Egypt second only to Pharaoh. Within several years, he encountered his brothers who became afraid because of what they had done to Joseph. Note what Joseph said; Now do not be grieved or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life (Gen 45:5). Later the Psalmist wrote, God sent a man before them, Joseph, who was sold as a slave. They afflicted his feet with fetters, He himself was laid in irons; Until the time that his word came to pass, The word of the Lord tested him. (Psa 105:17-19). Tested means purged, purified, or refined as gold ore. God wasn’t punishing Joseph, but had placed him in training school preparing him for a purpose far greater than anything he could imagine.
I learned this lesson when complications followed a bout with malaria left me paralyzed for months. The day prior this I memorized this scripture. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on,[nevertheless, afterward NKJV] however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it (Heb 12:11 NIV). Nevertheless afterward gave me hope that an afterward was coming. Was this a pleasant experience? No! I could have become angry and bitter at God and learned nothing, but I had to trust God for my next breath and this experience forever changed my life. Even now it is still producing a harvest of righteousness and peace. The Father loved us so much He allow His son Jesus to receive our punishment. He wants the best for us and puts us into His training school or if needed, His hospital.
Sustaining Word for the Week: Take your medicine. The Lord may be saving your life and refining you for a purpose far great than you can imagine.