Wait for It

Numbers 9:11b-They are to eat the lamb, together with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.

The speaker asked for volunteers to sample the fine kosher foods he presented. A brave ten-year-old boy took one of the matzo crackers topped with horseradish and other bitter herbs. One glance at the boy and dear speaker took the cracker back and removed at least ¾ of the herb topping. The young lad, undaunted, grabbed the cracker again and downed it in one bite.

“No problem” he grinned.

“Wait for it.” said the other.

Suddenly, the boy grabbed for his throat with one hand and a glass of water with the other. The herbs had arrived.

When I became a Christian, I thought life would be wonderful for ever–until the bitter herbs hit.

I had cancer surgery and Hubbie broke his jaw in an accident at work. A year later, I had more cancer surgery and Ron broke his back in another work related accident. The house was struck by lightning, Ron got diabetes and I began to have flashbacks.

A tired, worn out mummy spent her days at home with four preschool children. One day daddy brought home a 6-week-old puppy for the children to love and mommy to care for. The children brought the puppy to mummy and they cried “Mummy, mummy, what shall we call our puppy? “

And mummy said “You had better call that dog Mummy because if it stays—I am out of here!”

I thought someone had moved a puppy into my house. I thought I couldn’t stand one more thing.

Then I read Habakkuk 3:17-18- Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior (NIV).

Suffering comes even to God’s children but experience teaches us that the same God, who cared enough to die on the cross for our sin, cares enough to take care of us even through our bitter herb times.

Prayer: Thanks Lord for the truth of 2 Corinthians 1:2- For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ (NIV). Amen.