Hand to the Plow

 “But the dove found no rest for the sole of her foot. And she returned to him into the ark, for the waters were on the face of the whole earth. Then he put out his hand and took her, and pulled her in to him into the ark.” (Genesis 8:9)

Everyone knows about Noah and the ark. “And God remembered Noah, and every living thing, and all the cattle which were with him in the ark. And God made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters subsided. Also the fountains of the deep and the windows of heaven were stopped, and rain from heaven was restrained.” (Genesis 8:1-2) Noah opened the window of the ark to let a raven fly out, but it returned meaning it had no dry place to land. He also let out a dove. She returned to Noah who put out his hand, took her and pull her into the ark. We know that every word in the Bible is canon, meaning it has significance. So the symbolism in this event transcends to the now.

The dove was in the ark, protected from the destruction of the world by the flood. It must have been frightening in the ark, bobbing up and down while the storm raged outside. Not being able to observe what was going on and holed up in the dark ark for so many days as the waters surged from the rain and from below. When Noah opened the window, the dove flew out of the ark into the world. The Bible tells us it found no place to rest. The world was still inundated, the flood waters covering the highest trees. So, it returned to the ark, the place of protection and rest. There was where the blessing was. All it needed was in the ark. Noah’s ark is a symbol of God’s protection and salvation which is a foreshadow of Christ. Those in the ark were protected from the judgement of the world. But notice that the dove didn’t go in the window. Noah had to get a hold of her and pull her in. Isn’t that just like us. We know where the blessing is. We know where we should go. We want the blessing, but our flesh just keeps us from seizing the moment and entering in.

We see that when Lot was told to leave Sodom, but he hesitated. The angels told him the city would be destroyed. “For we will destroy this place because great is the cry of them before the face of Jehovah. And Jehovah has sent us to destroy it.” (Genesis 19:13) The wicked men of the city abused his daughters, but yet he was hesitant to leave. “And when the dawn rose up, then the angels hurried Lot, saying, Rise up! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be consumed in the iniquity of the city. And he lingered, the angel laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters (Jehovah being merciful to him), and they brought him forth and set him outside the city.” (Genesis 19:15-16) God in His mercy, took him out of that city forcefully. Lot knew that there was no blessing in Sodom. Yet he lingered. He knew that the angels would take him to a place of safety, refuge and blessing. Yet he lingered. Are we not that way when we know where God will bless us, but we are too comfortable and want to stay where we are? Lot’s wife also was reluctant to leave Sodom. She looked back and was turned into a pillar of salt. (Genesis 19:26)

Looking back does not please God. Luke writes about what Jesus said about the ones He called but hesitated following Jesus. “And He said to another, Follow Me! But he said, Lord, first allow me to go and bury my father. Jesus said to him, Let the dead bury their dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God. And another also said, Lord, I will follow You, but first allow me to take leave of those in my house. And Jesus said to him, No one, having put his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:59-62) When we know it’s the Lord’s call, why would we hesitate? In God’s eyes it’s rebellion and stubbornness. It’s proof of a heart that is not right and is unfaithful to God. Such were the sons of Ephraim who turned back in the day of battle. (Psalms 78:8) Paul refused to take Mark to visit the cities where they had proclaimed the Gospel because Mark had failed to finish the work in Pamphylia. (Acts 15:36-38) Holding back does not please the Lord. “ Now, "the Just shall live by faith. But if he draws back, My soul shall have no pleasure in him." (Hebrews 10:38)

In Hebrews, we learn it’s lack of faith that causes us to draw back and to hesitate. We can stop here because there is a flood of revelation with that one verse. The Just are the redeemed who have declared Jesus their Lord and Savior. Does it mean that those who are hesitant aren’t part of the Just? Some believe in their hearts that Jesus is Lord, but do not have faith to make Him Lord of their lives. That’s food for thought and contemplation, for examination, repentance and confession. Pleasing the Lord is sometimes doing what we don’t want. There is blessing in that. The dove was blessed in the ark, even if Noah had to grab it and take it in. There was blessing for Lot in a place away from Sodom, even if the Angel of the Lord had to forcefully take him out of the city.  There was blessing for the two men Jesus called, but who hesitated. There is blessing where God has called us. And the Lord expects us to trust Him and have the faith to go forth.

But how do you know it’s God? Again, we have three criteria that we’ll review. First, does it glorify the Lord? Does it align with the Scriptures? And lastly, does it bring you peace? And I will add another. Is it a confirmation of what the Lord has already put in your heart? Whenever a pastor or leader in the church asks me to do something, I always say, “I need to pray about it.” I know that they have prayed and believe God that they have settled on a certain person for a task because God has shown them in prayer. The reason I ask for time to pray is for confirmation. When my husband was alive, I would ask him. He was my confirmation. God will always confirm to you either by Scripture, a sermon, a person’s conversation with you or God will just impress something about it. I’ll never forget when I was asked to do something and went to prayer about it. The Lord reminded me that I had prayed, “Open a door and I will walk through it.” I think the Lord gets exasperated with us sometimes because His exact words were, “Did you not say if I opened a door, you would walk through it?” Yikes!

Summarizing, we see through the Bible instances where because of God’s mercy, those who hesitated, God literally moved them like He did Lot and like Noah did with the dove. But God is not pleased with hesitation because it’s evidence of lack of trust and faith in Him. Like Paul we should declare, “My brothers, I do not count myself to have taken possession, but one thing I do, forgetting the things behind and reaching forward to the things before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13-14) No matter what our limited reasoning may be telling us, forge ahead if you know without a doubt that God has called you to something without fear, without doubt, but with trust and faithfulness.

Let us pray:

Father God, Your mercy is great toward me. You are compassionate and longsuffering with my weaknesses. Forgive me for the times I have hesitated, but not of failing to trust You my Lord, but because I know my weaknesses. And yet, if You have called me to something, I know Your enabling will take up the slack of my experience, my knowledge, my strength and ability. I know that if You have called me to something that You will be glorified because my Lord I cannot do anything apart from You that will bring glory to Your holy Name. Thank You Lord for doing wonderful works in me, for me and through me. I love You my Lord. To displease You would be devastating to me. Lord help me to always please You in word, thought and deeds. I yield to the Holy Spirit. Be glorified in me. In the Name of Jesus I pray, amen.