'oops!' Is Not In God's Vocabulary

‘OOPS!’ IS NOT IN GOD’S VOCABULARY

INTRODUCTION

A. HUMOR: BIG ARCHEOLOGICAL FIND IN TEXAS

1. After having dug to a depth of 10 feet last year, New York scientists found traces of copper wire dating back 100 years and came to the conclusion, that their ancestors already had a telephone network more than 100 years ago.

2. Not to be out-done by the New Yorkers, in the weeks that followed, in California an archaeologist dug to a depth of 20 feet, and shortly after, headlines in the LA Times newspaper read: 'California archaeologists have found traces of 200 year old copper wire and have concluded that their ancestors already had an advanced high-tech communications network a hundred years earlier than the New Yorkers.'

3. One week later, a local newspaper in Texas , reported the following: After digging as deep as 30 feet in his pasture near Cut-n-Shoot, Montgomery County, Texas, Bubba Rathbone, a self-taught archaeologist, reported that he found absolutely nothing. Bubba has therefore concluded that 300 years ago, Texas had already gone wireless.

B. TEXT & THESIS

1. “Oops” defined: “an exclamation of surprise, as when a person falls over, or of apology” (English Collins Dic.). It is commonly used when a person makes a blunder or a mistake.

2. Christians will seldom ever articulate it, but many when something bad happens in our lives, we often experience an inner theological conflict: God either didn’t have the power to stop it, or wasn’t loving enough to stop it, or God slipped up – somehow made a mistake. Could this be true?

3. I actually got this message because a person pointed out what looked like an impossible contradiction in 1 Sam. 13:13.

4. Samuel told King Saul that if he had been faithful God would have established his family on the throne for all time. That’s impossible, because Judah, not Benjamin had already been prophesied as the family through whom Christ would come & reign.

5. It looked like an “Oops.” But the answer is that Saul’s daughter Michal, if obedient, could have born a son to David which would have united both families in the line of Christ & the throne. No ‘Oops’ after all!

I. FREQUENT ‘OOPS’ SITUATIONS

A. DIRE SITUATIONS

Many times in Scripture there are situations which defy our walk of faith with God. Like God failed. Examples:

1. God promised Abram a son when he was seventy-five... but 24 years passed and no son was born to Sarah, and they both passed child-bearing range. ‘Oops!’

2. A widow and her son had prayed and prayed. Their food finally ran out. So they went out to collect a few sticks to cook their last meal before they died.

3. Lazarus became ill. His two sisters sent for Jesus, but Jesus never came. Lazarus finally died and was put in the tomb. Jesus finally arrived four days later. It was too late.

4. Moses felt called to deliver Israel (Acts 7:24-25). He struggled with an Egyptian and ended up killing him and becoming a fugitive from justice for 40 years. ‘Oops!’

5. Joseph was given dreams that he would become a ruler. Instead, his brothers sold him into slavery and imprisonment for 13 years. ‘Oops!’

6. Samson was supposed to fight the Philistines, but because he messed up he was blinded. So how could a blind man fulfill his calling? ‘Oops!’

7. A father brought his son to Jesus’ disciples. Instead of getting better, the boy grew worse and the disciples couldn’t do anything to help him. ‘Oops!’

B. LOOKED LIKE A ‘OOPS!’

1. For every one of those Bible people, they probably all wondered if they or God had somehow gotten off track. We have the benefit of knowing that God eventually came through for everyone of them, but they couldn’t see it at the time.

2. Many times in life, it looks like God has not come through for us. His plans for us, if He had any, faltered.

C. SOME OF YOU FEEL LIKE:

1. I just don’t see any hope for my situation.

2. God has forsaken me; doesn’t care about me.

3. I can’t face these circumstances any more.

4. I feel like quitting.

D. IT MAY COMFORT YOU TO KNOW:

1. Many of the greatest Bible characters became discouraged.

a. Moses - In Sinai desert

b. Elijah – when Jezebel sought his life

c. David – When Absalom rebelled against him.

2. The same feelings you feel they also experienced.

a. Paul – Acts 27:20; “We gave up all hope of being saved.”

b. Isa. 49:14; “Zion said, The Lord hath forsaken me”

c. Elijah – “O Lord, Take away my life, for I am no better than my Fathers” 1 Kgs. 19:4

II. THE GOD WHO IS BIGGER