Jerking Your Chain
November 2, 2003
Dear Friends,
Have you ever heard the slang phrase “jerking your chain?” It means that someone is doing something to you or treating you in such a way as to cause you discomfort. Many times it is done to see what the reaction of the individual will be. I do not know the derivation of the phrase, but it reminds me of a dog on a leash getting his chain jerked.
The phrase comes to mind of a few Bible stories. When Abraham was asked to sacrifice his son, Isaac, it seems that God was, in effect, jerking Abraham’s chain. He didn’t make him go through with it, but He asked him to do it. In fact, God allowed Abraham to leave home, trek to the mountain, prepare the altar and even lift the knife to kill his son before He intervened. The net effect was to see just how faithful Abraham was going to be.
In another instance, we seem to have Jesus jerking Mary and Martha’s chain. Mary and Martha send a messenger to tell them that their brother is dying. Jesus tells the messenger, “This sickness is not unto death.” We are not told specifically, but we can easily imagine the messenger hurrying back to Bethany with the joyous news only to find that Lazarus was dead. We can also imagine the thoughts that would have entered the minds of the two sisters. “Was the Master wrong?” Meanwhile, Jesus waits two more days before setting off for Bethany. When he finally arrives, Lazarus is four days dead and in the process of decomposition. In the end, Jesus does raise Lazarus, but why did he have to do it like this?
We could go on and on with account after account where God and Jesus seemingly make things more difficult than they have to be in the lives of their followers. Abraham had to wait until he was an old man and several attempts to produce the promised seed while God could have given him the seed earlier in life (or at least explained how it was going to work out). We are told Abraham was told to leave Ur and “he went out, not knowing whither he went.” Couldn’t God have at least told him where he was going? You can almost imagine his conversation with Sarai. Abram: “Honey, we’re moving?” Sarai (surprised look on her face): “Where are we moving, dear?” Abram: “I’m not sure.” Sarai (smiling): “Seriously, where are we moving?”
The good news is that while our worldly acquaintances might jerk our chain for good, bad or indifferent reasons, we know that God always has our best interests at heart. “We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” (Rom. 8:28) God “jerking our chain” is what a life of faith is all about. We, like Abram, journey out on our life of faith not really sure of anything except the final destination – “a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” God could have made it easier on Abraham, but if He had, would Abram become the father of the faithful? Jesus could have made it easier on Mary and Martha, but in the end, would the faith of so many including the beloved sisters have been so incredibly strengthened without the temporary despair and mourning? They could make things easier on us too, but would we be the better for it?
The bottom line is that God knows what He is doing. We don’t always know what He is doing. Sometimes, in fact, it may look like there is no rhyme or reason whatsoever. In those times, we have to be convicted that God is faithful. He can and will deliver to us the things he has promised to us….if we only believe that He will.
Have a great week!
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