There are three things which are too wonderful for me, Four which I do not understand: The way of an eagle in the sky, The way of a serpent on a rock, The way of a ship in the middle of the sea, And the way of a man with a maid.
Proverbs 30:18-19
Agur here did not fully grasp these things - and to be honest with you, there are some of these same things which amaze me. Unfortunately for us, the man of science today would respond with an air of superiority and quickly describe for us the scientific reason for these things. Our culture has lost that sense of wonder that once existed as we look at things - and personally, I think it is at a great loss to us.
When I look at an eagle in the sky as it soars ever higher with what seems to be no effort whatsoever, I too consider it wonderful. The eagle is riding on thermals which lift it up into the sky. Another awesome picture is how an eagle flies directly into a storm - allowing those same wind currents to lift it above the storm. Even though I know these things - I still like to look in wonder at an eagle rising in on the horizon.
The way of a serpent on a rock is not so wonderful to me. That is because one thing comes between me and snakes - distance. But it is interesting to see how a snake warms himself on a rock - and keeps his cold blooded body warm. He can look so peaceful as he is coiled on the rock - yet if we were to agitate him - we could wind up facing a very terrifying foe as he readies himself to strike.
The next on our list is the way of a man with a maid. If you have ever watched a guy when a girl comes around you fully grasp what Agur is saying. I work with young men a lot. One of the most interesting things I deal with is helping them with determining when they need to begin pursuing a young lady as a bride. When they are not within God's will, this situation can be a complete disaster. It is astounding how a focused young man can just about lose his mind when this happens. By this I am not referring to true insanity - but rather the kind of goofiness that we attribute to love - or at least someone who thinks they are in love. Anyway . . . in the end we understand why Agur said what he said - and we agree with him.
Why is this put in Proverbs though? It is because I believe a wise man knows that not everything can be explained in life. There are some things we should just enjoy being amazed about in life. Not that we should lose our curiosity or desire to learn, but honestly - there are just some things that will never cease to amaze us. These are the things that keep wonder alive in our hearts. A wise man knows that a little wonder goes a long way as we move through life. Try it some time . . . you'll like it.
Proverbs 30:18-19
Agur here did not fully grasp these things - and to be honest with you, there are some of these same things which amaze me. Unfortunately for us, the man of science today would respond with an air of superiority and quickly describe for us the scientific reason for these things. Our culture has lost that sense of wonder that once existed as we look at things - and personally, I think it is at a great loss to us.
When I look at an eagle in the sky as it soars ever higher with what seems to be no effort whatsoever, I too consider it wonderful. The eagle is riding on thermals which lift it up into the sky. Another awesome picture is how an eagle flies directly into a storm - allowing those same wind currents to lift it above the storm. Even though I know these things - I still like to look in wonder at an eagle rising in on the horizon.
The way of a serpent on a rock is not so wonderful to me. That is because one thing comes between me and snakes - distance. But it is interesting to see how a snake warms himself on a rock - and keeps his cold blooded body warm. He can look so peaceful as he is coiled on the rock - yet if we were to agitate him - we could wind up facing a very terrifying foe as he readies himself to strike.
The next on our list is the way of a man with a maid. If you have ever watched a guy when a girl comes around you fully grasp what Agur is saying. I work with young men a lot. One of the most interesting things I deal with is helping them with determining when they need to begin pursuing a young lady as a bride. When they are not within God's will, this situation can be a complete disaster. It is astounding how a focused young man can just about lose his mind when this happens. By this I am not referring to true insanity - but rather the kind of goofiness that we attribute to love - or at least someone who thinks they are in love. Anyway . . . in the end we understand why Agur said what he said - and we agree with him.
Why is this put in Proverbs though? It is because I believe a wise man knows that not everything can be explained in life. There are some things we should just enjoy being amazed about in life. Not that we should lose our curiosity or desire to learn, but honestly - there are just some things that will never cease to amaze us. These are the things that keep wonder alive in our hearts. A wise man knows that a little wonder goes a long way as we move through life. Try it some time . . . you'll like it.
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