Between a Rock and a Hard Place

Temptation will always do something for you that opportunity will not likely do. It will give you a second chance and a third or fourth if you think you need it.

One man was wise enough to understand this and found a solution that worked favorably for him when he found himself between a rock and a hard place. He loved water melons and knew that temptation was going to come on strong when he was walking by his neighbor’s water melon patch. This is the way he faced it. “When I see a water melon patch,” he said, “I can’t keep my mouth from ‘watering’, but I can run.”

Good strategy. Paul reinforced the importance of this strategy to Timothy when he said, “FLEE these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience and meekness.” (I Timothy 6:11)

Grab your running shoes. We all face “water melon patches” in the journey of life and need to know what to do next when we find ourselves between a rock and a hard place. Up to this point, we are free to control our choice, but after we make the choice, the choice controls us.

George Bernard Shaw may be stretching reality a bit, but his words are profound and make a lot of sense. “The people who get on in this world,” he wrote, “are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and, if they can’t find them, make them.”

Noah was stuck between a rock and a hard place. He was facing a ferocious flood, but he didn’t have a schooner so he built one. David was between a rock and a hard place with a monster of a man staring him down, and he didn’t have a rock to load into his sling shot so he dug up 5 to even the odds.

I know you have heard it, but it is true. If life serves you a lemon, by the help of God make some lemonade. Hard places are ideal places to discover the best of God.

Moses discovered this time and again. At one point, he stood with his migrating multitude at waters edge in front of them and Pharaoh’s mighty marching army breathing down their necks from the rear. They were between a rock and a hard place, but God opened a hole in the water big enough for Moses and his migrants to walk right through. A hard place became a good place for God to show off for His children.

God, please do it again. As I pray that prayer, I am reflecting on Balaam as he stood squarely between a rock and a hard place. (Numbers 24) It was a tug of war, and winner would take all. Let’s examine the dilemma that he faced and see if it sounds familiar to us.

First of all, it was a tug of war between riches or doing right.

Money out talks reason, ethical behavior and the voice of the conscience far too often. The love of money is the root of all evil. (I Timothy 6:10) Money is neither moral or immoral. It is the love or obsession with money that corrupts. Balaam found himself in the uncomfortable position of having to choose between riches and right. In this case, it was one or the other.

The pressure is always on. It’s a tough choice. Money must not dictate our message, muddle our morals and corrode our convictions.

I firmly believe that God is looking for men and women who will refuse to gain riches at the expense of doing right so that they can use riches to do that which is right. Who knows but what you have come to the Kingdom for such an hour as this? Be a money maker for the Master by doing it the right way and for the right reason.

Secondly, it was a tug of war between being obedient or being obstinate.

Balaam was standing between a rock and a hard place when he had to decide whether to be obedient to God or be obstinate. God gives each of us a choice. Adam and Eve chose to be obstinate and generations have followed them down that slippery pathway. In a sense they played Russian Roulette with God and lost.

Disobedience is not simply a bad decision. It is a fatal character flaw which questions God’s authority and calls His bluff.

Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commandments.” Obedience is in fact a true test of my love for God and is much easier demonstrated than defined.

Finally, it was a tug of war between popularity or principle.

What’s popular isn’t always right, and what’s right isn’t always popular. We must choose between the two.

When you find yourself between a rock and a hard place, be fervent in prayer, fearless in following Biblical principles, firm in purpose and faithful in promises. Popularity will fade. Principles won’t.

Choosing Rightly,

Pastor Jimmy & Bob