Do you enjoy surprises?  Some love them, others not so much.  For example, those of us who are married realized, at some point, we married our opposite.  During courtship, engagement, and the honeymoon we are interested in the same activities and respond alike.  This “opposite-discovery” is not fully revealed until after a few years of living together.  Right?  That’s called a “surprise.”

Those who enjoy being surprised prefer the fresh unpredictability surprises brings to life.  Surprises remind them that someone was thinking specifically of them in order to pull off the surprise.  On the other hand, those who dislike being surprised enjoy the routine of knowing what’s coming.  Predictability gives them a feeling of security because the world is ever changing.  Receiving a gift tells them the giver had their best interest in mind because the gift was exactly what they asked for.

From Genesis through the New Testament the “God-surprises” are everywhere:  The great flood of Noah; Sarah’s birthing her baby boy Isaac in her advanced age; Joseph’s journey from brat-brother to slave to prisoner to second-in-command of Egypt; young Mary’s virgin pregnancy.  The list goes on…

As surprising as God’s activities were throughout scripture, He always chose to drop clues as to what He would be up to.  Those who were watching and listening were ready for the surprise when it came.  Those who chose not to hear or heed the clues were taken completely by surprise.

The biggest surprise in human history is annually celebrated during the season of Advent and Christmas.   All the clues for this surprise were given centuries prior through Israel’s prophets.  But to those who were not ready and those who are still not ready, this story is the grandest surprise of all time: A baby boy is the Son of God.  Surprise!  Born in obscurity and poverty. Surprise!  A half Jewish monarch threatened by this surprise kills all baby boys two years and under, mimicking the Egyptian Pharaoh at the birth of Moses.  Surprise!  The gifts left by the Magi would possibly provide sustenance for the holy family as they flee to Egypt to save the boy’s life.  Surprise!  The boy grows up, becomes the most quoted carpenter-turned-rabbi of all time.  Surprise!  He willingly offers His life to redeem the world’s sins and invite both Jews and Gentiles of all races, locations and religions to join themselves to God the Father through Him.  Surprise!  He becomes the only person in history to be seen walking, talking, eating broiled fish, appearing and disappearing in a full fleshly body after he dies.  Surprise!

Whether we enjoy surprises or not, the Bible assures its readers God’s surprises will continue.  The Old Testament Jews called them prophecies.  The Apostle Paul called them “birth pains of what is to come.” (Romans 8:18-25)

Will God’s surprises rock your life?  If we are ready, listening and aware, we may not be as surprised as we think.

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Photo by Ben White on Unsplash