The Hornet Song

The Hornet Song

Here's the song that prompted the previous post.  Enjoy!

Hornets Anyone?

Still in the throes of remodeling, a seemingly endless process as is the remodeling of my life, we are making some headway.  My bathroom, almost totally completed looks beautiful, not like a "model home" beautiful, but stunningly different than before the face lift!  The kitchen, tho' partially complete, has a stunning backsplash, and the living room floor/hall way is on its way to magnificent!, especially since the carpet that was there had been there for at least 13 or more years & was so degraded it was like .... well it was awfull!!! 

There is much yet to be done, but, as in life, we shouldn't look so hard at what is still to be done, but enjoy what has already been done and give God the Glory for it that He so richly deserves, and continue to work on those other things as He provides Grace, Mercy and Favor to do so. 

However, as is often the case, we want to take some of that glory for ourselves as if we had something to do with changing ourselves.  That's a dangerous place to be in, if that is where you are.  God allows us to play a part, to be involved, to lend our person to the changes being made, but ultimately, it is He and He alone who accomplishes the changes, the remodel that is happening.  After all, how did you become willing to be changed if it weren't for His coaxing, compelling, loving persuasion?

I heard a song years ago by the singing Cameron's, a Scottish family who traveled and ministered in churches all over the world.  They sang a song about how God often "helps" us to go His way.  The words to this catchy tune taken from Exodus 23:28 and the book of Jonah are as follows:

"I [God] will send the hornet ahead of you to drive the Hivites, Canaanites and Hittites out of your way."¹   

 

When the Canaanites hardened their hearts against God,
And grieved Him because of their sin,
God sent along hornets to bring them to terms,
And to help His own people to win.

Now the hornets persuaded them that it was best
To go quickly and not to go slow,
They didn't compel them to go ‘gainst their will.
But they just made them willing to go.

If a nest of live hornets were brought to this room,
And the creatures allowed to go free,
You would not need urging to make yourself scarce,
You’d want to get out, don't you see!

They would not lay hold and by force of their strength

Throw you out of the window, oh no!

They would not compel you to go 'gainst your will,

But they'd just make you willing to go! 

When Jonah was sent to the work of the Lord,
The outlook was not very bright,
Why he never had done such a hard thing before,
So he backed out and ran off from the fight.

Now, the Lord sent a big fish to swallow him up,
The story I am sure you all know,
God didn’t compel him to go 'gainst his will,
But He just made him willing to go.

Chorus:
God doesn't compel us to go, oh, no!
He never compels us to go,
God does not compel us to go 'gainst our will,
But He just makes us willing to go.

I have to say, this is one of my favorite little songs because it reminds me that God doesn't make me do anything, or change anything in my life.  But, for my own good, and perhaps the good of others that my life may touch, He will on occasion arrange circumstances so that I am willing to listen and then go where He leads.  

If you find yourself in an uncomfortable situation now, maybe this is what is happening to you.  He wants you to go one way, you don't want to, so circumstances arise that seemingly force you to go the direction you don't wish to go.  Perhaps God is just making you willing to go?  Although it really is a lot easier to just go where He leads in the first place...willingly instead of pitching a fit, but sometimes, being human, we scream, holler, fight back and yell thinking that nobody can push us around!! Yeah!!  So there!!!   

But in the end, His way is better, higher, more fulfilling, satisfying, and we'll be left wondering why in the world we waited and fussed for so long to keep from doing things God's way! 

How will you deal with uncomfy circumstances?  Will you willingly obey when God calls or will you find yourself the target of hornets or a big fish?  Well, I guess that's up to you.  As for me, I think I'll just try my darnedest to be obedient...  

Otherwise, .... hornets anyone?