Sermonette: God's Playbook Series #3

This September, we are examining God’s Playbook. We’re looking at the various choices and decisions that God has made preserved in the Bible. Plays God has run, that we would be wise to expect he might run again.

Mark 5:19 might be one of the most disregarded verses in the Bible. Verses 1-18 tells the story of a man who Jesus freed from a particularly destructive demon. I’m sure many of us know the story of the demon who called himself “Legion.” He tortured the poor man until he lived alone in tombs, screaming and cutting himself. That is, until Jesus evicted Legion who then destroyed 2,000 pigs on his exit. Many of us know this story, but the part that gets forgotten is that the man then requested to follow Jesus in verse 18. Requested? No, he begged to follow Jesus. Presumably he wanted to be a disciple himself. However, in Mark 5:19, Jesus says “no.” Jesus commands the man to go home, tell what Jesus did for him, but refuses his request to become a disciple.

Last week, we appreciated that our God tends to pick people we would regard as unsuitable.

However, the inverse is just as true. God often withholds leadership from people that are clearly qualified. In Israel, only one tribe was allowed to work in the temple, and only one family was allowed to be priests. Only one family was permitted to be kings. Was every Levite more pious than the other tribes? Was every son of Aaron more holy than the rest of the Levites? Were the descendants of David always the best option to lead the kingdom? The prophets paint a pretty clear picture that the answer to all those questions was a no. The descendants of Aaron were no more pious. The Levites seemed to do a pretty good job, but were by no means perfect; and while David’s line had a handful of winners, most were pretty rotten. Not to mention the biggest ‘snub’ in the Old Testament: women. Israel was formed in Egypt, a land of two female pharaohs and many many female priests. Israel would have expected women to be priests in their religion, why wouldn’t they? However, on Mt. Sinai, God says “no.”

The idea that God picks the runts to lead makes us feel all warm and fuzzy inside. But if we’re going to have a clear understanding of our God, we must appreciate that sometimes God looks at a perfectly willing and qualified candidate in the eyes and says “no.” It’s a tough pill to swallow that in

God’s kingdom, whether we want or don’t want a leadership role is largely irrelevant. Has God chosen us? That’s the important, but often uncomfortable question.

Today, I call us to rest and find peace in this favorite “play” of God’s. Find the peace that leadership in God’s kingdom rests not on human emotions, but on his holy and omniscient (all knowing) choice.