Hello? Are You There?

One day at my 8-to-whenever job, I needed to speak to my manager. Going to his office, I saw he was not available, so I left a note that I needed to see him. Back at my desk, my phone rang about 45 minutes later. I answered and heard my boss say, “I’m not free, but I’m reasonable.”

Old Testament prophet Samuel was tasked by God to anoint a new king-to-be, who would replace Saul. God instructed Samuel to go to the house of Jesse in the hill country of Bethlehem. The first candidate was Eliab, the oldest son. God said, “Keep looking.” So Samuel said, “Next.” Then came Abinadab, the next oldest. God passed on him, too. This was repeated five more times. (See 1 Samuel 16:1-10.)

A couple of hundred years later, God told Jonah to go preach to the people in the megacity of Nineveh. Jonah’s response? “Nope. Not happening. No way, José.” Jonah contacted his travel agent and caught the next caravan to the coast. (See Jonah 1:1-3.)

These interactions reveal an interesting contrast: Jesse’s seven oldest sons were available. But God was not calling them. Jonah was clearly, commandingly called by God. But Jonah decided he was not available.

Back to the home of Jesse . . . Samuel asked, “Got any other sons?” Jesse somewhat hesitantly responded, “Just my youngest. He’s out in the field, taking care of our sheep and goats.” Responding to the summons, the hot, dirty, sweaty, and probably smelly lad came into the house. God told Samuel, “He’s the one.” So David was anointed, accepting God’s call. (See 1 Samuel 16:11-13a.)

And that was not the only time David was available when God called . . .

He picked up five smooth stones from a stream
and put them into his shepherd’s bag.

As Goliath moved closer to attack, David quickly ran out to meet him.
Reaching into his shepherd’s bag and taking out a stone,
he hurled it with his sling and hit the Philistine in the forehead.
The stone sank in, and Goliath stumbled and fell face down on the ground.

– 1 Samuel 17:40a, 48-49 (New Living Translation)

These and other examples in Scripture make it clear that, in my faith journey, I need to strive to stay as close as I can to the intersection of Available Avenue and Called Causeway.