Tag: crushed

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

Crushed

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Image by Thomas from Pixabay

Some “through the Bible” thoughts from Isaiah 53.

There’s so much in Isaiah 53. I’ve read it so many times. I could write a whole series of devotions on just this chapter. And some day I will. This time I paused at these words

“It was the will of the Lord to crush him” (Isaiah 53:10).

Did those prophetic words echo in Jesus’s mind in Gethsemane when he prayed, “Not my will, but yours, be done” (Luke 22:42)? Absolutely. He knew his task was to fulfill scripture. He knew the Father’s will. He knew the plan.

Jesus knew he would be crushed for our iniquities (Isaiah 53:5).

I wonder what Isaiah thought about this description of God’s servant? A servant of God should be honored and celebrated. In Jesus’s parables, faithful servants are rewarded. Yet the ultimate servant, the Christ, will be stricken, smitten, afflicted, pierced, and crushed for our sin (Isaiah 53:4,5). For my sin.

I underestimate what Jesus suffered for me. I take it for granted. God forgives me; it’s all good. I just leave out the crushed part. Crushed like those who didn’t make it out of the World Trade Center on September 11. Crushed like someone in a mineshaft that collapsed. Crushed like someone who rolled their car into a ditch. Horrible way to die, right?

Can you imagine what it would be like to be Jesus and read Jeremiah 29:11, “I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord.” Do you think Jesus would want to see those words on a cake, t-shirt, or coffee mug?

Posted in Travel

I’m crushed

Posted on by William Douthwaite

I chuckled when the eBay buyer sent me these pictures yesterday along with the comment, “Should have been packaged better.”

First of all, what did the United States Postal Service put this box through on it’s journey from my town to California? How many heavy boxes would have been stacked on top of this one to crush it like this?

I’ll bet you’re wondering what was inside this box. It was a large ceramic plate for tortilla chips, with a smaller dish for salsa. I wrapped each in three layers of bubble wrap. After placing it in the box, I stuffed more bubble wrap around the sides to keep it from shifting around. I was certain that it would have a nice, comfy ride from my home to theirs.

However, I had no idea that someone would run over it with a forklift. Or close it in the cargo door of the plane. Or stand on it to reach something up on a shelf. Or sit on it for lunch break.

As bad as the box looks, the contents were intact. Well, almost. The small dish had a piece broken off an edge. The larger plate survived the trip with no damage. I would call that a pretty good packing job. Actually, looking at the pictures again, I would call it a miracle.

What could I have done differently? I suppose I could have put the box inside a box, cushioned with a million styrofoam packing peanuts. Do they even sell those any more?

The buyer had paid $25 to ship a $10 tray. I refunded his money. A couple of drops of superglue and he’ll be munching chips and salsa and throwing back margaritas for Cinco de Mayo in no time.