Stories

When someone tells you their story you always have the choice to start thinking about your own story, or you can submerge yourself and just drown in the details of their story.

Very often (actually most of the time) I’m so busy figuring out my own story that I am clueless about the Story of God. In the last week I have been taking a journey with 4 people, and a TV character who, by living their lives, become part of the Story of God.

Hannah, this gracious lady, overcome with the desire to have a child, pleaded with God, and when He answered her prayers, she gave Samuel back to God, “sacrificed” her dream. And God blessed her with more children, and created a voice to His people through Samuel.

Samuel, sold out, committed and submerged in God, follows God script for His story to the letter, influences not only Israel, but the lineage that leads us to the stable in Bethlehem.

Saul, nation-demanded and God appointed King over Israel, who throughout his career finds it very hard to consistently, hear God’s voice. Who destroys himself by NOT listening to God, but following his own heart. He however plays a major role in developing David, who for most of his young life is seen by Saul as his direct opponent and enemy. His pursuit of David makes him a skilled worrier who seeks the face of God, who in his adversity seldom moves without being VERY sure that God is leading him. Saul, as egocentric King, plays his role in God’s story to be His instrument in developing the character of David.

David, from a young, very young age, seeks the face of God. He listens to Gods voice through Samuel, but seeks an audience with the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Overcome by his own desires, he steps out of Gods guidance, sins, repents, God - in His grace, uses David as one of the main characters in the lineage of Jesus, He blesses David and Bathsheba with Solomon.

Joan of Arcadia is currently on our local TV network. This program is about a teenaged girl(Joan)who finds her role in Gods story. To make it easier for us desensitized-to- Gods- voice people, God communicates with Joan, clearly through various, and sometimes insignificant people. He teaches her, and tells her, about the interconnectedness of peoples lives. He shows her, her role, always giving her the choice to choose her own script. On Sunday nights, I’m glued to the TV, I relive my teenage years, and am amazed at how clearly God’s story lies in front of us/me, providing that I am aware of God, the Director of life, aware of how I can live myself into the Story of God.