Jael

 March 11, 2024

Hints of grace and mercy often pop up when we least expect it. I’ve experienced a few personal setbacks in the last few years. When I retired, I planned to focus on ministry in Cuba. I had been working with my friend Joel Taylor who was an excellent visionary and administrator. He had plans for seminarios in Cuba, where he, along with educators and pastors he knew, would teach graduate level courses for the many young pastors who couldn’t afford to go to the state-accredited seminary in Matanzas. I was planning to work with him in this venture.

Then Joel got sick…cancer. Barely six months after he started feeling ill, he was taken from us. I didn’t know what direction to go; I’m not a systematic theologian nor a historian. Even teaching courses in Biblical studies would be a challenge for me. I’m a preacher and pastor; that’s it. So I was floundering.

Then our principal contact person for the Cuban ministry decided that he needed to come to the states for awhile. Cuba is a Communist/socialist country, and were keeping a close eye on our friend; so close that he thought he should come here and let things cool down a bit. What was supposed to be perhaps a six month hiatus turned into nearly two years.

And then, Covid. Another two years before we could even seriously think about going back to Cuba. But last November, things began to fall into place. Talented people here were excited about the ministry, and it finally looked like things were going to take off. That trip however, turned out to be another knock in the head. Serious issues surfaced on the Cuban side, and separate serious issues developed here at home. All those plans made back in November evaporated almost overnight.

So, what do you do when stuff like this happens? Do you conclude that God is shutting the door, or that the Enemy is trying to thwart our efforts? Do we stop, or press on? Those are not easy questions to answer, but let me give you a clue. Back in November when we were in Matanzas, I was asked to dedicate a sweet newborn baby. I had taught her mother and father in a parenting class the year before, and was honored to bless this child. Her mother had been in a Bible study learning Old Testament stories, and learned of Jael, who drove a tent peg into the temple of a sleeping enemy commander, pinning his head to the ground and winning a victory for Israel. Her mother decided that her baby needed to grow up to be bold and strong for Jesus, even in dangerous times, and so named her after this Old Testament woman.

Whenever I write to this woman’s pastors, I tell them to kiss and bless little Jael for me. Yesterday, they sent me the attached photo. Will I keep going to Cuba in spite of the difficulties and uncertainties? What do you think?