I gave you a land on which you had not labored and cities that you had not built, and you dwell in them. You eat the fruit of vineyards and olive orchards that you did not plant. (Joshua 24:13 ESV)
God’s Work
I have been assured, by experts in such things, that I cook the best Macaroni and Cheese in the universe. Sometimes, when it turns out particularly phenomenal, I feel pretty good about it.
But other times, standing in the church kitchen, I notice that really all I do is mix ingredients. A cow and some ranchers made the raw ingredients of the cheeses, and cheese-type substances. Those cheeses were manufactured in some cheese factory. The noodles were formed by a company in Mexico, using ingredients grown in California and Colorado. The bacon was offered by a pig, a butcher, and a renderer. The oven was sold to us by a supply company, after being built in a noisy production facility…
I stand on the shoulders of hundreds, if not thousands of producers, laborers, manufacturers, deliverers, architects, investors, developers… and God.
I can imagine Joshua’s audience listening with gaping jaws. They had fought, bled, suffered, and sacrificed for that land. They had gotten up early and planted, skipped a few lunches, and went to bed late, particularly during planting and harvesting. They had wandered forty years. They had overcome hardship and trial.
But God is the source of their success, the provider for their resources, and the force behind their labor.
And He did it (and does it) because of His love.
God could sit back and whistle hymns. But instead, He works on our behalf. God could treat us as we deserve. But instead, He saves us. God could let the universe wind down to a shuddering end. But instead, He makes all things new.
Because He loves His people.
We are peculiar, God works on our behalf.