Fantastic Mr Fox

I almost felt triumphant that I had caught them out in the open.

Job 22:1-30

Reference:  v.10 That is why snares are all around you, why sudden peril terrifies you (TNIV Bible)

Explore:  I drive to work at 4.30 in the morning.  The other day as I was driving to work I saw two foxes.  It's not like I live out in the countryside, I saw both of these foxes as I was driving through the suburbs of Melbourne.  It is not completely uncommon to see a fox in the city but it was quite rare to see two in one morning.  They are usually quite sly that they remain hidden and away from human sight.  I almost felt triumphant that I had caught them out in the open.  When I noticed that this is how I was feeling I had to ask myself why.  I realised that I had grown up thinking of these animals as sly and cunning creatures, and the only proof I have about that is that I read the book 'Fantastic Mr Fox' but Roald Dahl as a child.  The story is about Mr Fox and how he outwits his farmer neighbours to steal their food from right under their noses.  I'd read the book on numerous occasions as a child and suddenly realised on this day, as I drove to work, that my only knowledge of this creature was from a fictitious book.

Application:  There are certain ideas that we have in our head that we go around believing without really thinking about how we came to those conclusions.  I often find that I have certain ideas about God that I think are fact and only when they are questioned do I realise that I have no support for my thoughts at all.  Job's friends had the understanding that if things go wrong in your life then you must be sinful.  It's not that they wanted to be horrible to their friend, that's just what they believed.  And yet Job's situation was a huge challenge to that though.  When we start talking in black and white statements, and giving advice to people in trials, we need to consider where we have got our facts from and the impact they will have on others.

Prayer:  Lord, may we be conscious of where we get our information from.  May we be open to correction when our thoughts are challenged.  Amen.

What preconceived idea of yours has been challenged?

Job