Daily Jewel

by Pastor Carnell, McAlester, OK
Mar. 5, 2012

“Stubbed Toes and Skinned Knees”
”… the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble.” – Proverbs 4:19

Many will remember the old comedy TV show, Hee Haw. It had to be the corniest show ever—but it aired for over 20 years (1969-1990) so obviously enough people liked it to keep it running. One of the early characters on that show was Grady Nutt, who was an ordained minister. He usually was given one segment per episode where he would tell a joke—usually having to do with the ministry or church members. He was a funny, funny man and was taken from this life much too early when he was killed in plane crash in 1973. I remember one story in particular where he was talking about creating swear words for ministers. He said, “When you have to get up in the middle of the night and stub your toe, for some reason saying ‘verily, verily,’ or ‘glory to God,’ just does not make things better.” I have to agree. As with a number of so many other instances the Word of God works in some incredible ways and it always seems to work together for the good. Allow me to illustrate this. First from the Gospel of John and then the First Epistle of John:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.” – John 1:1-5

This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. – 1st John 1:5-7

There is an interesting note here that Solomon’s reference to “deep darkness” is the same Hebrew root as that used to describe the plague of darkness from the book of Exodus.
“Then the LORD said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand toward the sky so that darkness will spread over Egypt—darkness that can be felt." So Moses stretched out his hand toward the sky, and total darkness covered all Egypt for three days. No one could see anyone else or leave his place for three days. Yet all the Israelites had light in the places where they lived.” – Exodus 10:21-23

That is a deep darkness. I know there are times in the middle of the night I will wake up and be “blinded by the lack of light,” but then after a few minutes my eyes will adjust enough that I am able see some of my surroundings and maneuver from room to room. I have stubbed a few toes and skinned my knees a few times as well so I have learned to walk very deliberately during those times.
Go back to the reference to Exodus where it describes not just darkness but an “oppressive” darkness. It was so dark that no light could penetrate it. No one left their homes for three days nor could even see each other. But consider for a moment the purpose for the darkness—it was a plague. A consequence of the Pharoah’s refusal to accept the authority of God and because of that an entire nation suffered. It is easy to stumble, stub your toe, skin your knee, etc. if you cannot see where you are going or what is in front of you. Most of us can testify to that. Imagine going through your entire life walking blindly and not realizing you are really not going anywhere. That is why when you are walking “in the light” you are living with purpose. Your steps are sure—your gait is light—your hope is certain. So stay in the light as He is in the light and you won’t have to worry about stubbed toes or skinned knees!
Pastor J. T. Carnell