Turning Weaknesses into Strengths
- Category: Gospel Truth
- Date 22-07-2007
- 679 views
“Therefore, I take pleasure in weakness, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, and difficulties for Christ; for when I might be weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10).
Success does not come from being perfect for no one is perfect. It does not mean that success comes to those who never make mistakes. Other social, physical or economic limitations should not be allowed to curtail one’s pursuit of success. Therefore, it does not matter your age, sex, family background, level of education or marital status.
Moses was born as an unwanted baby and was thrown into the reeds by the river bank as a result (Exodus 2:3). He grew up as a vulnerable child and made blunders later in life, including murdering an Egyptian man in cold blood, which forced him to become a fugitive in Midian (Exodus 2:11-15). While God commissioned him to deliver messages to the Pharaoh and fellow Israelites, Moses had speech defects (Exodus 4:10). Relying on God, however, Moses provided effective leadership during the exodus to the doorsteps of the Promised Land. His background as an abandoned child of a slave woman, and later as a refugee, did not affect his performance.
Aaron was clearly inferior to Moses but he did his best to earn a descent status. He was not only younger in age but God identified and assigned Aaron as a mere interpreter for Moses, “Aaron will speak for you as a prophet speaks for his god” (Exodus 4:16). At one point, Aaron and Miriam questioned the authenticity of Moses but God called them to order, “Yahweh came down in the pillar of the cloud … called Aaron and Miriam... he said, ‘…for my servant Moses, my trusted steward in all my household. To him I speak face-to-face, openly…. Why then did you not fear to speak against my servant, Moses?” (Numbers 12:5-8). Yet both Aaron and Moses died in the same way, “When the Israelites saw that Aaron had died, the whole community wept for him for thirty days” (Numbers 20:29); similarly, “Moses… died…. The children of Israel mourned for him in the plains of Moab for thirty days” (Numbers 34:7-8).
Jacob missed the privilege of being a firstborn because he and Esau were twins, “The first to be born… they called him Esau (Genesis 25:25). Scholars say that being a firstborn son technically meant that Esau would receive a double advantage: the right to inherit his father’s authority as head of the family and also to receive a share of his father’s estate, twice as much as his brother’s. Jacob was not favoured by his father, Isaac, because he was very quiet and reserved unlike Esau who was hard working and adventurous, “…Jacob was a quiet man, living in tents. Isaac who had a liking for game loved Esau…” (Genesis 25:27-28). All this did not prevent Jacob from obtaining the fatherly blessing ahead of his favoured brother Esau, “When Isaac had finished blessing him and Jacob had just left Isaac’s room, Esau came in from hunting” (Genesis 27:30). In spite of his obvious shortcomings, Jacob emerged with greater honour, having attained both the birth-right and ultimate parental blessings.
The prodigal son asked his father to give him a share of the family wealth because he was too greedy. Being unruly, he abandoned his home and travelled to another location to live without control. In a short time, he had used up all the resources because he was extravagant. He descended to such a miserable condition that he wished he could eat what the pigs fed on, unpleasant as it might be. This was the turning point: it gave him a chance to reflect on how to turn it around his life. He realised that begging would be more beneficial than demanding, so he had to approach his father in that way. His aggressive method had led him into misery, so he had to be humble to his father. He learnt that free wealth did not bring comfort, so he returned home prepared to work hard, “I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants” (Luke 15:19). In a dramatic reversal of events, the young man received the best robe, ring, sandals and a feast.
St. Peter the apostle was a man of little confidence. He almost drowned on the lake when he became afraid of the storm, “Then Peter … walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid…” and began to sink (Matthew 14:29-30). In a later incident, Peter vehemently denied Jesus when he felt that his life was in danger (Luke 22:54-62). He had witnessed the violence meted on Jesus during his arrest and trial and it was almost evident that he would die, leading most of the apostles to flee. Peter may have displayed scandalous conduct on several occasions but he eventually was ordained by Jesus Christ as the first Pope, “Blessed are you… I tell you that you are Peter and on this rock, I will build my Church… I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven…” (Matthew 16:17-19).
When Jesus Christ was condemned to death, he seemed extremely vulnerable. At that time, he was not popular with the authorities. He remained submissive during his arrest, sentencing and crucifixion. He did not protest when a heavy cross was loaded onto him. Instead of sympathising, many people laughed at him, challenging him to prevent his own death, “…come down from the cross and save yourself... ‘He saved others but he cannot even save himself! Let the Christ, the King of Israel, descend from the cross…” (Mark 15:30-32). On his right and left sides, two robbers were also crucified, possibly to humiliate Jesus further. But all this did not diminish the capacity of Jesus Christ to attain his glory as the Saviour.
Venansio Ahabwe is a lay Christian from the Archdiocese of Mbarara
By Venansio Ahabwe
Source: Gospel Truth, Leadership Magazine