Just then his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, “What do you want?” or “Why are you talking with her?” (John 4:4, NIV)
The nineteenth hole is the favorite of many golfers. It’s the place where we sit and talk after the round. As a young golfer who played that day with a mentor, this meant helpful reflection on decisions made during the round and how I might have done things more effectively. Now these times give my friends and me a chance to talk about a wide variety of matters: a new restaurant in town or the employment opportunities our kids are pursuing or the health issues of a friend. We might ask if anyone knows a good plumber or whether the college football team stands a chance this weekend.
Friends in Christ have their versions of the nineteenth hole. When we sit down together, we might talk about the search for a new pastor at our church or prayer needs among us. We’ll share the guts of a sermon we heard on the radio yesterday or swap questions we’ll have for God when we get to heaven.
That last one can set up like a believer’s parlor game, or it might come with a note of seriousness. Why did my grandma die just when I needed her most, Lord? What was your reason for causing my business to fail just when my kids were reaching school age? How could you really have expected us to love those who persecute us? These kinds of questions, when asked with the right tone, demonstrate an honest wrestling with God.
But are there times when we should just shut up, when our words for God should number precisely zero? Yes, and for good reason.
God is not afraid of us. We can bring him any question we wish. But we are not always wise in doing so, for his questions will be the most piercing of all.In John’s gospel, when he recounted Jesus’ interaction with the woman at the well, the disciples returned surprised to see the Lord in conversation with the woman—but they said nothing. This may be even more of a surprise for us as readers, because this was a typically chatty bunch, led by the ultimate victim of foot-in-mouth disease, Peter. But this time, they held their tongues.
Around our tables of conversation, we could offer up our guesses as to why the disciples decided to keep their questions to themselves this time. No matter the reason, though, it appears to be a moment of awe and humility.
In Scripture, these two responses go hand in hand. When one comes face to face with the person or work of God, they are hushed. Job and his friends all went on and on with their words about God’s designs and constructions. Then God showed up and his first question for them was this: “Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge?” (Job 38:2).
God is not afraid of us. We can bring him any question we wish. But we are not always wise in doing so, for his questions will be the most piercing of all, his statements the most final. Jesus allowed the woman at the well—a woman rather innocent in her guilt—to talk openly with him for a number of minutes before she told him, “I know that Messiah is coming,” and he finally said, “I who speak to you am he.” End of discussion.
There always comes time to step back and let the voice of God ring through the hollows. It’s the voice that both asks and answers in ways we can never imagine. In those moments, we do best to say nothing at all.
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Jeff Hopper
November 6, 2019
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The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday-Friday at www.linksplayers.com.
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