Do you ever wonder why pickle jars are so hard to open? They’re more impenetrable than a maximum security jail! They’re more difficult to crack open than a high-tech vault at a bank inside the White House! In fact, I’m not so sure that the US military doesn’t have an elite group of specialist exhaustively trained in pickle jar opening. Who knows, maybe the next Strongman Competition will feature a pickle jar opening contest.
You do know what I’m talking about, don’t you? Surely you’ve experienced the same level of frustration as I have after putting every ounce of energy into opening a jar of pickles but it won’t even budge. It’s in those moments where it seems as if not even the Hulk himself could pry open this bear trap. You can try to use leverage, a grip assistant, and hot water but nothing seems to do the trick. It’s like the proverbial sword in the stone that just won’t come out no matter how hard you try unless you have the “magic touch.”
As frustrating as this is, these jars are actually manufactured to be difficult to open. Well, maybe they’re not manufactured with the specific purpose of being difficult to open but rather to be airtight which requires a skintight lid. And while it would certainly be a whole lot easier if the lid popped off like a kernel of corn over a toasty fire, the tight seal is what makes the pickles so fresh and delicious when you finally pry the lid off. If the top came off easily if would probably indicate a weak seal which would result in a soggy pickle. And believe me, NO BODY wants a soggy pickle!
The moral of the story? What may be difficult in the short run can actually benefits us in the long run. And this statement doesn’t just apply to pickle jars, it’s a pretty good maxim for our lives as well.
The nation of Israel found themselves in a bit of a “pickle jar” situation as they were preparing to enter the Promised Land. Before explaining what I mean, let me ask you a question: when you hear the term “Promised Land,” what do you envision? I know for me personally I see rolling hills, lush meadows, and perfectly manicured lawns in the front of every white picket-fenced house. In other words, I see an easily opened jar of pickles. After all, it is the land that the Creator of the heavens and earth promised to His people, so why would it not be perfect and ready for the taking?
But Scripture paints an entirely different picture of what the Israelites saw as they peered into this land that flowed with milk and honey. Check out how Moses described the land right before the Israelites crossed the Jordan River-“…You are now about to cross the Jordan to go in [to]…nations greater and stronger than you are, with large cities that have walls up to the sky. The people are strong and tall-Anakites [the Anakites were giants. Goliath was an ancestor of the Anakites]! You know about them and have heard it said: ‘Who can stand up against the Anakites?'” (Deuteronomy 9:1-2, NIV).
Blood thirsty giants living in large cities with towering walls…that’s your Promised Land, Israel.
Is it just me or does that sound more like a problem than a God-given promise? Why couldn’t God just give the Israelites some undeveloped, unoccupied land that they could stroll into with their tools out rather than their weapons out? Why did God promise them a land that was full of battle-tested giants with fortified walls rather than giving them a land that is full of fluffy, harmless bunny rabbits? Why did God give the Israelites a pickle jar that seemed impossible to open?
Because He knew that what was difficult for His people in the short run would actually benefit them in the long run. While it would have been a whole lot easier for the Lord to just give the Israelites some undeveloped piece of property for them to build on, He had a better plan. Instead of taking the long, laborious process of constructing infrastructure, God wanted all of that work to be done for them. So that’s exactly what He did-He brought them into,”…a land with large, flourishing cities [they] did not build, houses filled with all kinds of good things [they] did not provide, wells [they] did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves [they] did not plant…” (Deuteronomy 6:10-11, NIV).
The whole purpose of entering a land that was filled with giants was so that the Anakites could do all the hard work while God’s people could enjoy the fruit of that labor. The Israelites inherited cities, vineyards, and houses that they had no part in building. The finest riches of the Anakites were handed over to them in wrapping paper with a nice, neat bow. All the Israelites had to do was persevere to obtain the promise. All they had to do was trust that God would, “…cross over ahead of [them] like a devouring fire to destroy [the Anakites]…” (Deuteronomy 9:3, NLT) for them. Essentially, all they had to put up with the momentary struggle of opening the tightly sealed pickle jar so they could enjoy the crisp, crunchy pickle for a lifetime.
What’s your “pickle jar?” Where do you feel that the Lord is taking you through a tough situation right now? Whenever you find yourself caught in a pickle, remember these three promises:
- “You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised” -Hebrews 10:36 (NIV)
- “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all”-2 Corinthians 4:17 (NIV)
- “Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory [God] will reveal to us later”-Romans 8:18 (NLT)
Underline them in your Bible, write them on a notecard, and memorize them. These promises are your golden ticket to cracking open whatever “pickle jar” you may find yourself in.
Where do you need to persevere today?
Comments? Questions? Suggestions?
©Grant Gaines 2013
