The Surprising God

Ezekiel was trained to be a priest in the Temple in Jerusalem; he ended up a prophet by the River Chebar among the Chaldeans.  He was expecting a life midst the bells and whistles and incense of the Temple and found himself sitting in the mud and misery of a dirty pagan river.  Life did not turn out as Ezekiel figured.  One moment he was in Jerusalem and the next he was transported by the Spirit and put down in this strange land where he sat "stunned, for seven days."  (Ezekiel 3:15)    

When our life is put in the hands of God, it is full of surprises.  We think we know in the beginning what it means to follow Jesus, but what we soon discover is that we know nothing.  He takes us into the invisible at the beginning realm of "know not where."   This was certainly the experience of Abraham as he heeded a voice which said, "Go, from your father's country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you."  (Genesis 12:1)  It happened to a couple of disciples who asked Jesus about His whereabouts and heard Him say in response, "Come and see."  (John 1:39)    

The one thing we think we know in the beginning is something we really do not know.  When we say "Yes" to the bidding of God, we think it is going to be according to our expectations, but we often find out that He has in mind another way.  As we seek to discern the ever changing call of God to go, it is imperative to remember that God seldom calls us to stay in our comfort zone, but instead, is constantly calling us to step out yonder where being faithful requires not our know how, but our faith.