For a century, a successful company sold quality drill bits. Then the “bit” market diminished. When an innovative leader took over, he strategized: “There is no market for bits; our market is holes. Drill bits were needed only as long as bits were the best way to make holes.” Before long, the company made better, cleaner, safer, and cheaper holes – with lasers! The CEO focused on the end, not the means.
Let’s focus on the end too. For us to accomplish our dreams, we will need to go ‘through’ many obstacles. ‘Through.’ Our word comes from old English ‘purh.’ Among the ten other possible antecedents is the Dutch word: ‘door.’ Fascinating.
There is a lot we like about our single syllable word, ‘through.’ What hope we have when there is a ‘breakthrough.’ Bosses love it when we ‘follow-through.’ We are relieved when we ‘see through’ deception. And, with imagination, there is much we may see ‘through’ – even Alice’s “looking glass.”
Sometimes, ‘through’ describes our limitations. When Paul describes love, he writes: “Now we see ‘through’ a glass darkly.” (1 Corinthians 13:12) Spiritually, we may be blind or we may have developed cataracts. God, help us see ‘through!’
As a pastor, I found that ‘through’ often speaks to people in grief. “God will help you ‘through’ this sorrow.” At times, we desperately grab hold of David’s words in Psalm 23 when he confides that God walks with him ‘through’ the valley of the shadow of death.” ‘Through.’
Some of us are not achievers. We have other strengths and might assume that the power to go ‘through’ grief and difficulty belongs to someone built differently. We wonder: “Is there an enduring courage – Hemingway’s ‘grace under pressure’ – that can sustain any of us?” How could David be so confident that God would go with him ‘through’ the valley of the shadow of death?”
For hundreds of years, other Israelites had been belting out songs that recounted a crisis – when a thundering horde of Egyptian soldiers and chariots bore down on runaway slaves – the Israelites. The Red Sea blocked their escape. Then, surprise! “The LORD turned the sea into dry land, they passed ‘through’ the waters on foot.” (Psalm 66:6) Astounding! The Hebrews wrote song after song about their great deliverance. “Your path led ‘through’ the sea, your way ‘through’ the mighty waters.” (Psalm 77:19) ‘Through!’
I called the mother of quadruplets when her four were preparing to enter college. Would she counsel a woman who recently learned she was pregnant with triplets? “Of course!”
Then, she informed me that when she first learned that she was carrying four children, she felt like the Israelites at the Red Sea – with the Egyptians coming! “God, you have to make a way ‘through!’” He did. And, for eighteen years, she daily called out to God: “You have to make a way ‘through’!”
After the rescue at the Red Sea, God helped the Israelites ‘through’ again. He went ‘through’ the wilderness with them.
So, they sang more ‘through’ songs. “You went out before your people, O God, when you marched ‘through’ the wasteland.” (Psalm 68:7) “God brought his people out like a flock; he led them like sheep ‘through’ the desert.” (Psalm 78:52) ‘Through.’
And what was their response? The leader called out: “Give thanks to him who led his people ‘through’ the desert” – and the people responded: “His love endures forever.” (Psalm 136:1, 16)
Such history and such rejoicing may call those who are suffering to hope.
And those who are rejoicing may need to go and weep with those who weep.
“When you pass ‘through’ the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass ‘through’ the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk ‘through’ the fire, you will not be burned…For I am the LORD, your God…I love you.” (Isaiah 42:2,3) Friend, will these words drill through the scabs, scars and calluses of our hearts?
God continues: “I am making a way in the ‘desert’” (‘midbar’) “and streams in the ‘wasteland’” (‘midbar’) “that they may proclaim my praise.” (Isaiah 43:21) ‘Midbar’ comes from ‘dabar’ – ‘word, speech.’ ‘Dabar’ can have several prefixes. When using a form of ‘dabar’ with this prefix, ‘mid’, to describe the ‘desert,’ apparently the sense is: “This place is inhospitable to words; it is uninhabited – un-worded; this is a place where your voice makes no difference; you are abandoned, forlorn, inarticulate, unheard.” Sometimes, our lives feel like ‘midbar’.
But, according to Isaiah, even the vast, howling, wordless desert does not overwhelm or silence the Word. Even there the Word makes a way – he makes “streams in the ‘wasteland’” (‘midbar’). With God, there is a way ‘through.’ God will not be gagged; nor is he hard of hearing. For example, our first parents succumbed to Satan in ‘paradise.’ Not Jesus. After fasting 40 days, Jesus resisted Satan’s temptations in the ‘wilderness’! He went ‘through’ even the desert – accomplishing his purpose.
Note: in our “desert” world, authors of the New Testament need to use the word, ‘endurance’ (‘meno’) 118x. Seventeen times, needing a stronger word, they add the prefix ‘hupo’ to ‘meno.’
As we expect, ‘hupomeno’ describes Jesus. “Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he ‘hupomenoed’ the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who ‘hupomenoed’ such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” (Hebrews 12:2, 3)
God, for Christ’s sake, give us faith that goes ‘through;’ hope that goes ‘through;’ love that goes ‘through.’
What is our end? Lord, give us this faith: “Now we see through a glass darkly; but then face to face; now I know in part; but then I shall know even as I am also known.” (1 Corinthians 13:12) Jesus, you are the Door. With you there is a way ‘through.’
