Looking Stupid - Tuesday Praise & Pray (for others) April 5, 2022

Nobody wants to look stupid, right? This is why we spend a lot of time trying to learn how to speak intelligently. We spend copious amounts of money to look like people of superior intellect. We even seek to create a network around us that reinforces our desire to be considered anything but stupid.

Still, what if I told you there's nothing wrong in looking stupid? I can see the frown lines forming between your brows right now. Just give me a few more sentences to convince you.

There's nothing wrong in looking stupid as long as you're not stupid and believe in God. This is because, if you believe in God, and obey His instructions, others might find the things you do and say "stupid" but God will steer you wisely. Consider 1 Corinthians 1:25 - For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength. This means that God's instructions may appear foolish to the people of the world but they are wiser than anything the wisest human could conjure up. Therefore, when you do as instructed by the Lord, you can never actually be stupid.

God has allowed His own people to look "stupid" for their own good. He did this when the Israelites initially left Egypt. The Lord had them walk around in circles for a while before they eventually crossed the Red Sea. He gave Moses the following directive in Exodus 14:2-3 - “Tell the Israelites to turn back and encamp near Pi Hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea. They are to encamp by the sea, directly opposite Baal Zephon. Pharaoh will think, ‘The Israelites are wandering around the land in confusion, hemmed in by the desert.’ Notice what the goal was? To make Pharaoh think the Israelites were confused.

And God explained why He did this in Exodus 14:4 - And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will pursue them. But I will gain glory for myself through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD.” So the Israelites did this. The end result of obedience was the complete destruction of Pharaoh and his army, thereby freeing God's people from their enemy. Imagine a faith act in obedience to the Lord - which the opponent thought was stupid - ended up creating true freedom from Pharaoh's slavery system and gave God the glory!

This is why 'looking stupid' by man's standard is irrelevant. We have to be ready to do what God tells us to do no matter how people will perceive it. We have to realize that there are times God will call on us to do something that others will label crazy, foolish, lame or worse. It likely won't make sense but remember God knows best. It also won't be easy to do, but thanks be to God! His grace gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:57). His grace empowers us to do what we never thought we would. And in the end, we would have pleased Him. That's all we need to worry about.

See you at Noon EST today. God bless!