Who is God? Illogical in Gameplan, Lord of the Unconventional, Planner of the Peculiar
God's ways are often irrational and unconventional. Can you trust Him?
7/2/202510 min read
Irrational. Now? No. That was all there was to it. Seventeen, maybe eighteen years old, a bright teenager full of potential pondered his future. “Clergyman” had been noted frequently in his family history records, dating back eight generations. Yes, he’d vowed at age 9 to become a pastor, but watching his own father and grandfather’s toilsome labor for souls while living in near poverty gave him an idea.
The young man, intending to preach the gospel at a later date, enrolled in Ogden College in Bowling Green, Kentucky, and began general studies. Also, because of his age, which made him ineligible for law school, he hired a private tutor to undertake a personal study of the legal world. A “delay” was logical! He’d get an education, work hard for a few years, and build up a significant “nest egg.” Then, instead of evangelizing the masses as a penniless preacher plagued with hardships, he’d finance his ministry and supplement any needs that arose. This action would certainly allow him to reach even more souls with the love of Jesus!
About two years passed, and the man received enough schooling and business know-how to try his hand in a booming Chicago. He began as a traveling salesman, then partnered with another individual in a photography enterprise. Enjoying early success, he continued his life in the Windy City until one defining moment that changed everything. Called home to say his last goodbye to his dying grandfather, he stayed with the old faithful shepherd until the end. Watching his grandfather pass away challenged his priorities. God's presence fell on the sometime-in-the-future minister and urged, "Now." Illogical and financially unsound, the businessman obeyed Holy Spirit's prompting, and, unaware the implications of God's seemingly absurd plan and timeline, left Chicago, threw himself into studying the Bible, and started preaching. The year was 1901.
Divine Timing
It's unclear the actual month in 1901 our youthful evangelist began his ministry, yet, no doubt, the events of September 6 shook the nation. A man named Leon Czolgosz, concealing a handgun in an ordinary handkerchief, casually mingled at a reception in the Temple of Music in Buffalo, New York. Approaching his target for a handshake, Leon raised the cloth-wrapped weapon and fired two shots. The President of the United States, William McKinley, fell to the ground. September 14, McKinley succumbed to the bullet wound. America mourned. She also feared for her future as some worried if his Vice President, only 42, could really handle such responsibility. No matter—amidst glee and gloom, a young Theodore Roosevelt took the oath of office. Did these monumental shifts send more souls in search of God? I would conclude, absolutely yes! With the same Holy Spirit fire and passion fueling his father and grandfather, the early-turned-crusader surely experienced a greater hunger for Christ.
The United States continued to reel. In 1906, a magnitude 7.9 earthquake hit San Francisco, CA, resulting in a staggering 3,000+ deaths, rendering over half the population of the city homeless. On April 16, 1912, The Boston Daily Globe’s large and bold headline read, “TITANIC SINKS, 1500 DIE.” World War I erupted in 1914, with the US joining the bitter fight in 1917. By 1920, our preacher, now in his mid-40s, gained momentum. He was becoming known for his condemnation of evolution, modernism, and liberalism. As his popularity continued to rise, God still wasn’t finished with surprises.
Faith at the Forefront
We humans are pretty smart, or so we think. Circumstances, past experiences, and available resources steer our decision making. While wisdom is better than silver or gold (Proverbs 3:13-18), the beginning of knowledge starts with the respect and awe of Almighty God (Proverbs 1:7). Scripture provides us numerous examples of the Lord instructing His followers to do things that honestly made no sense. To the world, the heavenly commands appeared bizarre and completely unreasonable. Why? I suppose many reasons are valid, however, I think faith is at the heart of it all. It’s easy for an army of 10,000 to rely on God for a victory against an enemy of the same size and capability. But what if 300 are asked to believe an outlandish word from the Lord that they’d conquer a fighting force of 100,000? Over 3,000 years ago, one young man decided to trust God with such laughable chances.
Overwhelming Odds
In the late 12th century BC, the Israelites, because of their sins, found themselves in bondage. Judges 6:2-6 tells us the conquerors of Israel, the Midianites, were cruel, destroying crops and stealing livestock, leaving the Israelites starving and destitute. God planned a rescue, yet the tactics proved quite peculiar. A messenger from the Lord appeared to a man named Gideon, who was in hiding, attempting to thresh wheat in a winepress (not ideal) to conceal himself from thieves. “My tribe is the weakest one! I’m a nobody in my family!” an incredulous Gideon responded to the messenger’s insistence that he, of all people, would “rescue Israel from Midian.”
Nevertheless, God confirmed His choice, and Gideon gathered an army of 32,000 to fight an estimated 135,000 of “Midian, Amalek, and the people of the east” (Judges 7:12). Instead of imparting to His new commander profound words of a rousing pep talk, the Almighty compels Gideon to offer a pass to cowardly soldiers. I can only imagine Gideon’s horror as twenty-two thousand fled.
Yahweh said to Gideon, “The people who are with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand, lest Israel brag against me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’ Now therefore proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, ‘Whoever is fearful and trembling, let him return and depart from Mount Gilead.’” So twenty-two thousand of the people returned, and ten thousand remained. Judges 7:2-3 (WEB)
Ten thousand soldiers were left. If Gideon thought God’s initial order sounded crazy, he was about to be shocked even further. “Still too many,” the Lord declared.
But the Lord said to Gideon, “There are still too many men. Take them down to the water, and I will thin them out for you there. If I say, ‘This one shall go with you,’ he shall go; but if I say, ‘This one shall not go with you,’ he shall not go.” So Gideon took the men down to the water. There the Lord told him, “Separate those who lap the water with their tongues as a dog laps from those who kneel down to drink.” Three hundred of them drank from cupped hands, lapping like dogs. All the rest got down on their knees to drink. The Lord said to Gideon, “With the three hundred men that lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hands. Let all the others go home.” Judges 7:4-7 (NIV)
Scripture doesn’t record if Gideon argued with this curious, albeit seemingly suicidal plan. All we know is he simply obeyed Heaven’s Commander in Chief. Judges 7:9-8:12 details the astounding victory for Israel. First, God sowed fear into the hearts of those in the camp of the enemy. Next, the Lord instructs Gideon’s troops to each carry a trumpet and a lit torch concealed by an empty pitcher. Around midnight, when the adversary’s camp changed guards, the tiny army shouted, blew their trumpets, and smashed their pitchers. Three hundred spots of light appeared out of nowhere. Trumpet blasts and shouts echoed through the valley. The Midianite troops panicked in the darkness. Within the pell-mell of confusion, the oppressors fought against themselves and destroyed each other. God’s timing and strategy not only showed ancient Israel the power of His might, but us, thousands of years later, still referring to “Gideon’s 300” as a source of encouragement and a reminder we can trust God’s game plan.
The Queen’s Quandary
Nonsensical. Dinner? No, that’s not what I would have done!
I remember reading the book of Esther for the first time and wondering why in the world the queen, after the king had her full attention, didn’t plead her worthy cause at that moment, but instead talked food.
The book of Esther documents the plight of a beautiful Jewish woman who, by an odd turn of events, found herself chosen as queen by Xerxes, the King of Persia (ruled 486-465 BC). It’s unclear the reason, but during Xerxes’ reign, he promoted an Agagite named Haman “and set his seat above all the princes who were with him.” (Esther 3:1) One perk of this advancement is when Haman strolled past, the king’s servants and nobles were required to bow. Mordecai, Esther’s Jewish uncle and strict follower of the true God, refused to bow to any human (or false god), as written in Moses’ law. Haman’s authority had been snubbed, and worse, his ego. Adding insult to injury, Haman discovered the offender was a Jew, an enemy of his own people since the Exodus. Enraged, Haman decided punishing Mordecai wasn’t satisfactory. Every Jew in Xerxes’ kingdom deserved to die.
Clueless of his queen’s Jewish heritage, King Xerxes gave the go ahead to a vengeful Haman to carry out a mass genocide a few weeks later. Queen Esther had to act. Conspiring with her uncle, she called the Jews in the area to fast and pray alongside her for three days. Esther knew she had to approach the king. He had not called for in thirty days, and it didn’t look like he would anytime soon. To come near Xerxes unannounced and uninvited would mean certain death, even for her. Nonetheless, during her intense intercession, God apparently gave her baffling instructions: “Banquet,” not blab the problem.
When the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, she obtained favor in his sight; and the king held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. So Esther came near and touched the top of the scepter. Then the king asked her, “What would you like, queen Esther? What is your request? It shall be given you even to the half of the kingdom.” Esther said, “If it seems good to the king, let the king and Haman come today to the banquet that I have prepared for him.” Esther 5:2-4 (WEB)
When Xerxes held out his scepter to Esther, she knew she had escaped death. Furthermore, the king is so delighted to see his queen, he offers her whatever she wants—up to half his kingdom! I’m sorry, but at this point, I would have been extremely tempted to abandon God’s unusual “feast first” scheme. I’d have blabbed to the king about my roots, Haman’s plot to kill my family, and to please, please, please fix this mess! Esther, fully trusting God, stayed the course.
Sipping the finest wine Persia had to offer with Haman at Esther’s banquet, Xerxes once more prodded his queen, “Tell me what you really want?” (Esther 5:6) Again, weird as it appears, Esther again follows what we can assume is divine guidance. Tomorrow. Haman is invited. Another banquet.
Strategic Insomnia
Maybe it was too much wine. Maybe Esther’s maid added six cloves of garlic to the roasted goat instead of two. Or maybe God knew what he was doing all along. The night after Esther’s first banquet, Xerxes couldn’t sleep. He ordered his attendant to read to him the history thus far of his reign. As the servant relayed each event and triumph, he came to the account of a man named Mordecai (Esther’s uncle) who had alerted the palace years earlier of an attempted plot to assassinate Xerxes! “What’s been done to reward Mordecai?” the suddenly thankful king queried. “Nothing,” answered his attendant. The king (unaware Mordecai was Jewish) directed his staff the coming morning to honor Esther’s uncle with a royal robe and a ride on one of his own horses through the city square as an official proclaimed Mordecai’s accolades.
The “next day banquet,” for Haman and Xerxes commenced. The king’s heart, stirred by gratitude for Mordecai’s deed, was now primed to hear and act righteously for Esther’s people and family. At the right moment, Esther revealed her heritage and Haman’s wicked plot to Xerxes (Esther 7:1-6). Essentially, Esther’s actions saved the Jews, although I omitted exciting details due to space constraints. I encourage you to read the entire book of Esther to gain a deeper understanding of how God's perplexing plans unfolded.
Father Knows Best
Throughout the Bible, we read how, as I put it, the “Lord of the Unconventional” led His children to let go of the familiar and put their confidence in His directions that defied reason. The outcome? Astonishing, glorious results no human could have orchestrated by their own strength, wit, or resource…but it takes faith! A few other examples of men and women who rejected fear and pursued the Lord’s strange yet sovereign stratagem include Noah’s ark (Genesis 6-8), Moses’ rescue of the Israelites from Pharoah (Exodus 3-14), Joshua and the battle of Jericho (Joshua 6:1-21), a widow’s dependance on Elijah’s promise of provision (1 Kings 17:8-16), and Jesus asking His disciples to feed thousands (5,000 men plus unknown thousands of women and children) with five loaves of bread and two fish (Matthew 14:13-21). When we trust God, even though His way makes little sense, victories can manifest immediately…or it could take decades.
One Night in North Carolina
In 1934, with a ministry beginning in 1901 rather than years later, the 57-year-old “clergyman” drew massive crowds, his name recognized and revered from over 30 years of service to the Lord. Not only had he spoken of hope in Jesus during the death of a president, a California earthquake, the Titanic tragedy, and WWI, he doubtless guided terrified families during the October 1929 catastrophic stock-market crash that sent the States spiraling into the Great Depression. In the fall of 1934, our preacher traveled to Charlotte, NC, to conduct a revival meeting lasting a few days (customary at the time). On November 1, he concluded his sermon of fiery warnings against sin with a gentle plea from Romans 5:8 (KJV): “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
A 16-year-old in attendance, although describing himself as “purposeless” and “spiritually dead,” still longed to know the Lord. He took in the words of the pastor and the music. The teenager responded to the message and decided to commit his life to Christ, unsure of what his future might look like. God knew. Mordecai Ham, the famous evangelist who followed God on an illogical path after the death of his grandfather in 1899, watched hundreds come forward that night. The adolescent convert, who admitted feeling “restless and resentful” during family Bible reading, was named William Graham at birth. His friends just called him “Billy.”
Sources:
https://billygrahamlibrary.org/blog-from-the-archive-billy-grahams-decision-for-christ/
https://www.preaching.com/articles/past-masters/past-masters-mordecai-ham-the-southern-revivalist/
https://scholarworks.sfasu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2482&context=ethj
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/61298798/mordecai-fowler-ham