Stubborn Heifers or Submissive Sheep?

I'm not a farmer or a rancher. And I'm not really much of an animal-lover. They belong outside or on the grill. I don't hate animals, I'm just not an expert. Nor do I intend to be.

But Hosea uses an interesting picture that I think I understand. Some of you farmers and ranchers might need to correct me if I get this wrong.

"Like a stubborn heifer, Israel is stubborn;
Can the LORD now feed them like a lamb in a broad pasture?"
(Hosea 4:16)

For those of you who don't know, a heifer is a young female cow that has not borne a calf. (I looked it up, just be sure).

So, make that young female cow that has not borne a calf a stubborn young female cow that has not borne a calf.

I've been to a few rodeos. And I've been on a few farms.

My observation: Cows are pretty big.

If they don't want to move, you have to hit them pretty hard. Pull on their ropes. Hoot and holler at them. Shock them with electricity.

God is comparing Israel to a stubborn heifer that won't do what He wants them to do. She won't go where He wants them to go. Israel is fighting every command, every prodding, every shock.

When they are in that state, can God let them graze in an open pasture?

Think of a herd of sheep. No fence around them. A shepherd and his dog can keep them together. They can go from juicy blade to juicy blade. Eating until they're nice and plump. Taking a drink when they're thirsty. Resting and chewing their cud at leisure.

The shepherd wants them to eat the best grass, so he leads them to where the pastures are green. He wants them to be protected from predators and the elements. He wants them to get the fresh water that they need.

He does everything he can to give them what they need and want.

But then he lets them graze where they want in that wide open pasture.

If that stubborn heifer were let loose in that open pasture, she might run off. The rancher can't take that risk of losing his source of income. So he has to keep that stubborn heifer penned up and feed it dry grass from the last cutting of hay. She has no choice. No freedom.

How often have I been like a stubborn heifer?

"No, Lord, I want to do it this way!"

"No, Lord, I want to go to this place!"

When the Shepherd wants to give me exactly what I need and want, doesn't it just make more sense to submit to His leading?

Eat, Drink and Be Merry

More thoughts from yesterday's sermon:

This is obviously an area where I've needed help in the last months. I lean more to an Eyeore-mentality, at least internally. Gloomy rain clouds overhead. Everything isn't as bad as it could be, but it's probably headed that direction. Maybe you're the same way.

Even in submitting to God's sovereignty, I can be a pessimist. God's in control. He's got a purpose. I'll just live out the days of my miserable existence and see what His plan is.

But Solomon puts the two together in a biblical perspective in Ecclesiates 3.

"For everything there is a season,
And a time for every matter under heaven:" (v 1)

""I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil - this is God's gift to man" (vs 12-13).

Since God is in control, since He is directing the events of my life - the good and the bad, I can enjoy life!

What does that look like?

It's not the hedonism that lives for pleasure: eating, drinking and being merry for tomorrow we die. Live the good life because there's noting after this life.

It's not the pessimism that resigns itself to fate: eating, drinking and maybe being merry because it's bound to get worse. Just eat and drink enough to get by.

And it's not the optimism that ignores the problems of life: Let's ignore the problems by eating, drinking and being merry.

But it's the enjoyment of the blessings that God has given me. Food, drink, laughter with friends and family, even my job. Oh, you probably didn't want to hear that, did you - "...take pleasure in all his toil - this is God's gift to man."

Submitting to God's sovereignty and enjoying His provision relieves me of worry.

It also relieves me of being a control maniac. I don't have to have everything under my control, because God has it under His control.

So today I can enjoy the meals that God has set before me. I can look forward to going to work. I can anticipate a few laughs with co-workers and customers. I can enjoy life!

He lifted me up...eventually

"He drew me up from the pit of destruction,
Out of the miry bog,
And set my feet upon a rock,
Making my steps secure.
He put a new song in my mouth,
A song of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear,
And put their trust in the LORD."
(Psalm 40:2-3)

We love to sing this song, don't we? God has redeemed us. He lifted us up out of the miry mess of sin. He put us on Jesus Christ, our solid rock. He guides us. He gives us a reason for singing. People notice the change in us and put their trust in the LORD, too.

It's a great passage that helps us to look back at what God has done, what He is doing and what He will do.

But we don't like to sing the first verse of this Psalm - at least not the first line:

"I waited patiently for the LORD,
He inclined to me and heard my cry."
(v 1)

Waiting patiently for the LORD?

Are you crazy?

In our microwave-mentality waiting patiently is not on the radar.

We want God to answer our prayers right away and in the right way - our way. We already know what is best for us and our situation.

All we need is God to step in and straighten out that spouse who has so many problems.

We're just waiting for Him to heal that son who has cancer.

We want Him to move the heart and hands of our boss to give us that promotion.

We know that He can do it. We trust Him to do it. We've got the faith and we're praying.

Just do it, God!

Isn't that how we pray so often?

We want to be lifted up out of the mess that we're in. We don't want to wait patiently for the LORD.

Go back and read verses 1-3 together.

Look at the subject and verbs of the sentences.

What was the only thing that David did?

He waited patiently.

That's a life of submission. That's a life of trust. That's a life of obedience.

David waited patiently. God acted.

Why fight against it?

The nations of the world plot and scheme. They work to rid themselves of God. They set themselves up as the authority. Whether it's a Muslim, communist or capitalist country, they try to exist without god.

How does God respond? He laughs (Ps 2:4).

God's plan is that His Son, Jesus, will reign from Jerusalem over all the nations. All the nations will be His possession. He will rule with a rod of iron and crush His opponents. God laughs because He knows that nations' attempts to live without His rule are pointless.

So the kings and rulers are called to submit to Him now. They will eventually submit or be destroyed. Submitting peacefully and lovingly now is the better alternative.

God will rule over them. the question is how they will respond.

The same is true on a personal level. God is sovereign over my life and yours. He has a plan and He has the resources to carry out His plan.

Whether I like it or not. Whether I realize it or not. No matter how hard I rage and plot against it.

God is in charge.

The best thing for me to do is to lovingly submit. Submit to what He is doing. Submit to what His Word reveals about His plan for my life.

"Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish in the way, for His wrath is quickly kindled.
Blessed are all who take refuge in Him" (Ps 2:12)