Too Good to be True
I don’t have a funny story this time. Just a remarkable one. Three, actually…
Last week, my nephew was legally adopted into our family forever. For me, Sam has been a Matzke since the day I learned of his birth, but for my sister-and-brother-in-law, it’s been a year-and-a-half of waiting to make it official – 504 days to be exact! Born into this world addicted to multiple drugs and being left abandoned at the hospital was not Sam’s choice or his fault, only his reality. But now, he is the son of two parents who love him dearly, who are committed to providing for his needs, and who will bring him up in the ways of the Lord.
No doubt, Sam will still face obstacles related to his past. He will have to deal with the trauma of abandonment, and he will have to overcome any long-term effects the substance abuse had on the development of his brain. He will always be loved, though; he will always have a home and a place at the Matzke family table.
That’s remarkable.
Also last week – and this is what I love about God’s sovereign timing – I read 2 Samuel 9, about David and Mephibosheth. I didn’t pick this story to read; it was just part of my daily Bible reading schedule, (which I’m behind on), hence God’s timing and sovereignty.
If you’re not familiar with the story or need a refresher, David had promised his dear friend Jonathan to be forever kind to his family, despite his adversarial relationship with Jonathan’s father, Saul (1 Samuel 20:12-17). And what we see in 2 Samuel 9:1 is David seeking out anyone left in Jonathan’s family to make good on that promise. Well, Mephibosheth is the only one. And he’s crippled. 2 Samuel 9:3 tells us he was lame in both feet.
Nevertheless, David has Mephibosheth brought to him and says, “‘Don’t be afraid…for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table’” (2 Samuel 9:7).
Mephibosheth would’ve been very poor and considered an outcast in his society, the lowest in social status and most insignificant. Everyone else in his family was dead. There were no handicap or welfare programs in that day. There were no prosthetics. There was no Church. Begging was most likely his sole means of survival. Thus, Mephibosheth went from being alone and homeless, a crippled beggar with absolutely nothing, to having all of Saul’s land, equating to a steady income and abundant wealth. AND the best part, he got to dine with the king for the rest of his life! The best food available with the best company possible.
Tell me that’s not remarkable!
As we reflect on these most remarkable stories, they point us to the most remarkable one of all. Jesus. The Son of God, who would leave His throne and come to earth to be with us, who would die for our sins and be resurrected, who would invite us into His Kingdom, all so that we might live with Him and sit at the King’s table forever.
Note, however, that even though Sam is adopted, he will still endure trials and trauma, and Mephibosheth still could not walk. “And Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, because he always ate at the king’s table; he was lame in both feet” (2 Samuel 9:13).
Jesus does heal, but all of our mental and physical handicaps might not be restored on this side of eternity. We are a broken, traumatized, crippled, and sinful people. Yet, for those of us who believe in Jesus as our Savior, we are saved, we are loved, we are adopted into the family of God, and He will provide all we need for the rest of our lives. The King invites us to live near Him, to eat at His table, and to enjoy His goodness forever.
It’s too good to be true, and yet it is. It’s completely and wonderfully remarkable.
