Desperate Measures

Desperate Measures for Desperate Times

Picture this true story of a man in a restaurant. He gets a salad crouton stuck in his throat.
Immediately he tries to solve the problem by causally coughing (ahem), hoping that the crouton would go down and that he would not draw attention to himself.  Unfortunately, this was not to be.

Then the man coughed more forcefully (AHEM), aware that a few heads were beginning to turn but with no real alarm.  Still, the crouton stuck.

His situation turned desperate. The ordinary lunch turned into a fight for life.  He stood and coughed as loud and forcefully as possible (AUUUU – HEMMMM!!!!). Now everyone was looking, but he could care less. His friend tried patting him on the pack while shouting to the crowd, does someone know the Heimlich maneuver? The whole restaurant was engaged in the scenario.

Finally, the crouton popped. Fresh air. Relief. The man and his friend sat back down, along with everyone else and continued their lunch, more carefully than before.

Sometimes we need to call attention to the situation.

Have you ever been in a desperate situation? How did it feel? How did it turn out?

In the Bible we read about the Israelites relocating to Egypt because of drought and at the invitation of Joseph and a friendly Pharaoh. But over the years, leadership and attitudes changed. A new Pharaoh viewed the Israelites as a threat and was determined to make their lives miserable and keep them from acquiring any power. (Exodus 1:6-14).

The Israelites were desperate. The Bible tells us, “The Israelites groaned in their slavery and cried out, and their cry for help because of their slavery went up to God. God heard their groaning, and He remembered his covenant…and was concerned about them (Exodus 2:23-25)."

This is just one small part of the terrific account of God’s faithfulness toward His people as they moved from their homeland to Egypt, and back to the land God promised them. Read the entire upfolding story in the first 12 chapters of Exodus.

How do most people react in desperate situations? How do you? What do people need most in desperate situations? For many, it may simply be to be heard by someone. It may be the need to know that someone cares. For all, it is that they need to know God’s love, care and protection for them, even in very bad situations. Let’s unpack five truths about our Personal God from the scripture passages above:

Truth #1: God Heard (verse 24) - The God of the universe takes time to hear my cry. We can count on His knowing about our tough situation. When is it hard to remember this truth?

Truth #2: God Remembered (verse 24) - God remembers His promises to the Israelites and to us. He came to earth in human form to keep His promise.

Truth #3: God saw (verse 25) – God was not disconnected or taken by surprise. Nothing we go through slips into our lives unnoticed by God. He sees our desperation, our hurt, our pain, and our struggles. His view of our lives is not distorted.

Truth #4: God was Concerned (verse 25) - God was not, is not, indifferent. We need not press through life alone. We can come to the God who dearly loves us and provides for our needs.

Truth #5: God Acted - This truth is only hinted at but unfolds in the remainder of Exodus. God acts. Sometimes we don’t understand His way or His timing, but He does. He is not disconnected. He does not live outside of real life; yours, or mine.

To claim these God-truths and allow them to speak to you in your difficult times, describe God in your present life. Speak “present-tense,” truths that describe God in your life. For example:

Truth #1: God Hears Me – God loves to hear my prayers. He wants me to be honest and real and share what’s on my heart. He wants to hear those things that keep me up at night.

Now you try! Take each of these truths and rewrite them as they play out in your life. Count on God!