Oh, that You would rend the heavens! That You would come down! That the mountains might shake at Your presence—as fire burns brushwood, as fire causes water to boil—to make Your name known to Your adversaries, that the nations may tremble at Your presence! When You did awesome things for which we did not look, You came down, the mountains shook at Your presence. For since the beginning of the world men have not heard nor perceived by the ear, nor has the eye seen any God besides You, who acts for the one who waits for Him. Isaiah 64:1–4
If we had the power to choose everything that happens to us in this mortal existence, it seems likely that few of us would have been born, and perhaps even fewer would ever die. What blessings would be forfeited by missing out on either of these important events? There are many parts of life which, though a little frightening, lead to blessings that we never could have imagined.
Think about Israel for a moment. Throughout their history as a nation, God blessed them in ways they never could have imagined. He blessed them a land that “flowed with milk and honey,” but to receive that blessing, they had to leave the only life they had ever known (Exodus 16:3), cross the Red Sea, face a barren wilderness, and stand up to giants. Paul tells us that the Israelites’ chief advantage over the Gentile races rested in the fact that they were given the oracles of God (Romans 3:1–2), and yet when they received these living oracles, they were absolutely terrified (Exodus 20:19; Hebrews 12:19–21). How many people refuse the greatest blessings that God has to offer because they will not open the book in which they are found? God also blessed Israel with the coming of the Christ. As great as God had depicted the Messiah, who could ever have imagined that God would Himself take on flesh and suffer for man as He did? As surprising as it is that the prophets were held in ignorance on this point––albeit against their will––it is even more remarkable to consider the fact that the angels themselves were unable to foresee this (1 Peter 1:10–12)! God had a blessing in store for humanity that could not be seen by the wisest man or even by the mightiest angel in glory! What is even more remarkable is that so many of God’s people missed the great blessings He offered in Canaan, the law, and the Christ because of their faithlessness.
Many have actually prevented God from blessing them through unfaithfulness. God would have driven out all of Canaan’s inhabitants until Israel made unlawful pacts with them (Judges 2:1–3). God would have fought for them, but because of their unfaithfulness He fought against them (Isaiah 63:7–10). God warned the returned exiles that He would turn their blessings into a curse if they did not honor Him (Malachi 2:2), but He also promised to open the windows of heaven if they would just try Him by bringing in their tithes (3:10–12). To the Jews who had killed heaven’s messengers Jesus said, “How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! See! Your house is left to you desolate” (Matthew 23:37–38). Paul accused the disbelieving Jews in Antioch of judging themselves unworthy of everlasting life (Acts 13:46).
We must make sure that we do not prevent God from blessing us also. Paul said, “Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience” (Hebrews 4:11). To the faithful the Lord promises the tree of life (Revelation 2:7), the crown of life (2:10), and even a place on His Father’s throne (3:21)! On the other hand, the unfaithful will have Him as an enemy (2:16)! God may be ready to bless you in a way that you can’t begin to imagine, and when He opens the door of opportunity before you, you may be terrified. Just remember that the greatest blessings lie on the other side of things that we fear the very most!