“O our God, will you not execute judgment on them? For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”
2 Chronicles 20:12 (ESV)
I was recently interviewing for a job and part of the process was to take a series of tests to help them identify certain personality traits, core competencies, etc. One set of questions pinpointed if you were a “jump in and take charge or sit back and see what happens” type. It felt like they were looking for a “jump in” person, but I’m definitely a “sit back and get a feel for things” person. I guess you could say that today’s post is in response to my insecurities in this area. Maybe I need to keep praying about why this set of test questions bothered me and why I felt like I should be something I’m not. But that will be a post for another day.
To me, entering a conversation from the outside is like playing double Dutch. For those not familiar, it’s jump rope with two ropes swinging in opposite directions. I used to play as a kid. It was always fun being both on the swinging and jumping end of this game. The swingers (not that kind) had to keep perfect timing and rhythm to prevent the two ropes from getting tangled while the jumper had to enter the double dutch sphere perfectly and then keep time with the swingers. Jump at the wrong time and there was no hope of victory.
Entering a conversation involving multiple people, whether business or personal, requires the same sense of timing. Jump in before you get a feel for the rhythm and the conversations stalls, ideas get tangled up, and you have to call a timeout to get everyone back on track.
You are probably wondering what this has to do with our key verse today. Perhaps this is a stretch because we aren’t asking God to pass judgment on a horde of invaders. But the phrase, “We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on You,” somehow made me think of double Dutch and how I like to watch before jumping in.
At this point in history, the Israelites were facing an enemy they had no chance of defeating on their own. They looked out and saw the horde approaching. The ropes were whirling around with no hope of successfully entering the game. But they understood the enemy wasn’t swinging the ropes—God was. The key to victory was to keep their eyes on God and wait for His timing before they jumped into action.
They could have panicked and jumped in by amassing what army they could and racing out to meet the enemy. They could have closed the gates and waited for a lengthy siege, but they looked to God. Because their eyes were on God, they would win the game and the enemy would become entangled in the ropes.
And so it is with us. When things are whirling around and we don’t know what to do, we look to God and find His rhythm. We wait for Him and enter the double Dutch jump off when we sense His encouragement to go for it.
Double Dutch rules can apply to conversations, moving forward with difficult decisions, or deciding whether to wait or act upon an idea. It’s all about timing and keeping your eyes on the One in control of the jump ropes.
Ultimately, being a “jump in” or “wait and see” person is irrelevant because no matter our natural inclination, we all need to keep our eyes on God so we know what we should do. When God says jump, we need to obey quickly and when He says wait, we need to wait patiently for His timing. Don’t get tangled up by trying to create your own rhythm, match your moves to God’s and you’ll be hopping along in sync with the Creator of the universe.
Father, help us keep our eyes on You. Show us how to live in rhythm with Your timing so we can enter into Your purpose and plan effectively. Thank You for letting us play double Dutch with You and for your grace and mercy when we trip up. We love You and seek to honor You with our lives. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Spread the spark of hope everywhere you go,
Michelle
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I want to follow Jesus! How do I get started?
“This is how we know that we live in Him and He in us: He has given us of His Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent His Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God.
1 John 4:13-15
If you are ready to join the family of God, simply believe and ask. You can choose your own words or pray the prayer below. God hears your heart, simply confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and let the Spirit lead you.
“Father, I want to be yours. Forgive me of my sins. I believe that you sent Your Son, Jesus Christ, to die in my place. I accept Jesus as my Lord and Savior and thank you for the gift of salvation through Him. I invite the Holy Spirit into my heart and surrender my life to You. In Jesus name, Amen.”
Feel free to spend time just talking to God and sharing your heart with Him. Let Him speak to you and listen as He leads you forward into new life. Welcome to the family.
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