Hippos and Lilies

I have no idea what to write about for this week. Part of that is because I don’t have a grand sermon to go with this sticker (it’s simply based off of a doodle I thought was cute), and the other part is due to being tired. This introvert has had a people-packed few days and boy, am I feeling the effects now.

That being said, I’ve done a little research about the lotus flower. As most of us know, it is depicted heavily in Buddhism and Hinduism—representing everything from purity and fertility, to rebirth and renewal—but we don’t believe in their gods. However (and I didn’t know this until five minutes ago), water lilies are actually mentioned in our Scriptures too.

In Job, of all places.

Essentially, the book of Job documents the trials and turmoil experienced by Job, a devout follower of the Lord. God allows Satan to wreak havoc on his life, all for the strengthening of his faith and His ultimate goodness. Pretty flowers don’t seem to fit in with such serious, heavy subject matter, do they?

And yet, that’s where we find this passage, spoken by the Lord Himself (just as a reference, the Behemoth is probably a hippo):

“Look at Behemoth, which I made along with you and which feeds on grass like an ox. What strength it has in its loins, what power in the muscles of its belly! Its tail sways like a cedar; the sinews of its thighs are close-knit. Its bones are tubes of bronze, its limbs like rods of iron. It ranks first among the works of God, yet its Maker can approach it with his sword. The hills bring it their produce, and all the wild animals play nearby. Under the lotus plants it lies, hidden among the reeds in the marsh. The lotuses conceal it in their shadow; the poplars by the stream surround it. A raging river does not alarm it; it is secure, though the Jordan should surge against its mouth. Can anyone capture it by the eyes, or trap it and pierce its nose?” (Job 40:15-24)

You’re probably wondering what on earth God’s talking about, right? Me too. After more study, this is what I’ve come up with:

1. God’s addressing Job’s complaints and critiques about how badly He is ruling the world.

2. God made the hippo—one of the strongest, fiercest creatures.

3. The hippo is so confident in its abilities, that it doesn’t hide in the shelter of a strong, sturdy cave like a lion or bear might. No, it rests among flimsy flowers—easily able to be attacked—because it knows that it’s stronger than any opponent who comes its way.

4. The hippo is untamable… except by God, its Creator.

5. If God can tame and control the untamable and uncontrollable, then He can surely handle everything going on in Job’s life.

6. Job is not God, and therefore, he can’t complain about things waaaayyy beyond his understanding. Rather, he has to trust in his Maker and Sustainer, believing that He will work all things together for his good (Rom 8:28).

7. Now, this part’s my interpretation, not directly from Scripture: we should have so much faith and confidence in our God-given strength—that is sustained by the Holy Spirit inside of us—that we sleep soundly among flimsy flowers (1 Cor 6:!9). We don’t need to hide in the shadows, terrified and timid, because we are called to live boldly for our King (Matt 5:15). We know that whatever attack the Enemy throws our way, will be overcome. Because He has overcome all things (John 16:33).

Well, this has been one of the most unorthodox blog posts I’ve ever written. But I hope you get some encouragement out of it. May you learn from God’s hippos…

May your faith in Him be so strong, you sleep peacefully among the water lilies.