Humpback Whales and a Limited God

 

Ps 78:41  Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel.  KJV

Whales are born with an innate sense of direction – genetically programmed to recognize their waters and migration routes;  genetically programmed to know the way.   They are genetically programmed to travel the same routes to and from their feeding and breeding grounds each year of their lives.  They are created by a God who made a safe haven for them and gave them the innate sense of survival.  How then does such a genetically designed creature become so lost and disoriented as to leave the waters where they were born - salty, open ocean waters  - and travel into a small bay, then into a river delta and up the river.   How is it they leave the salt water they need for their health and the food chain they depend on for nourishment and travel into foreign places that offer them no benefits?  And yet it happens, a mystery that has stumped marine biologist.  

As in the life of the whales so it is in that we humans are born with an innate sense of survival.  We know where safety lies, we can read the warning labels and the road signs and yet we become distracted, taking wrong turns along the highway of life.  We venture into dangerous foreign territory in spite of all the warning signs.  We think we can pick our way safely through the pits and cliffs that fill the way.

Our Creator watches from His throne and ponders our predicament but He is limited in His response.  You might say our God has no limits, is all powerful, and omnipotent but you would be incorrect.  God is merciful and compassionate; He is all powerful and omnipotent but he is also a gentleman.  He is wounded by our self-will; but He will not force His will on His creation.  If we have left the paths of His Mercy and Grace,  turning around and coming home to His safe haven must be voluntary, our choice.  He is God but He is limited by our will, by our choices.  He will nudge us in the right direction sometimes gently and sometimes not so gently, but the choice to turn around and follow is ours.

If you have ever seen the lost whale you know that any number of people rush in to rescue the whale and help him find his way back to safe waters.  You will also know that despite the best efforts of man the whale must cooperate by turning around and swimming back to safety.   If man has wandered into unsafe places, left the purposed path God has designed for His child then like the whale he must cooperate with the rescuers.  Family and friends may pray for them and with them but only they can make the turn that takes them back to safety.