A Parable by Ravi Zacharias

It seems that Elijah was traveling the countryside with a rabbi when they happened upon a dilapidated lean-to owned by a poor man and his ailing wife. Outside the shack was a skinny cow whose ribs were poking through its hide. The couple let Elijah and guest to spend the night with them, offering them the best of their cupboard: a cake of bread, some butter and milk. During the night, suddenly and sadly, a wall collapsed in the poor couple’s humble cottage but Elijah had no miracle for them, despite their hospitality.

Later that day they happened upon a very rich man who entertained them and allowed them to spend the night. The evening’s fare he spread before them included rich, fat morsels and a feast fit for kings. What a bounty! The next morning, a wall also fell in the rich man’s house and Elijah immediately performed a miracle and restored the wall.

As the two travelers continued their journey together the rabbi could not wait to ask the burning question: why would you restore that rich man’s wall and let the poor couple suffer their fate without intervening?

Elijah said, “Ah sir, the Lord showed me the poor man’s wife was going to die the next day and I interceded for her and she was healed. She and her husband are so grateful to God for His overshadowing miracle they will gladly rebuild the wall together out of joy of being restored to each other.”

“As for the rich man,” Elijah continued, “he is so bound to his greed. He is held captive to it. Behind his wall is a pot of gold and because I performed such a miracle for him, he will never know it, never touch it, and never be bound to it.”

Ravi ended the parable by saying that we have many questions as to why this wall fell and that wall stayed up, why this one was left in rubble and the next is miraculously restored. His point was, quite obviously, God has a perspective on all things we do not have and He sees the end from the beginning. He can also see through the wall that looms large and unexplained before us and He holds our tomorrow in His great big Hands. We bow to the supreme great God who will answer our questions one day but we would be well served to remember that our time is but a “speck in a sea of eternity.”

A pearl to string: “It is the glory of God to conceal a matter but the glory of kings to search out a matter.” (Proverbs 25:2)

“To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted. For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him. Therefore I speak to them in parables; because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.” (Matthew 13:11-13)

“The secret things belong to the Lord our God…”(Deuteronomy 29:29)

He knows your secret ~ turn and run to Him ~ He gave His life for you ~
Know you are loved,
Lyndi