So how did I derive that title for this Reflection.

Well, my last Reflection was on 16 May and I started with the thought that it would be my last Reflection before we would be back in church. How wrong I was and hence the title!

Today we celebrate the 102^nd Birthday of our beloved brother Lionel and he certainly didn’t expect to reach this remarkable age, but how we give thanks to God for Lionel and his ministry over so many years – HAPPY BIRTHDAY LIONEL.

Oscar Wilde wrote “To expect the unexpected shows a thoroughly modern intellect” and     Bob Dylan wrote “Doesn’t expecting the unexpected make the unexpected expected.”

If you Google “Expect the Unexpected” you will see a huge list surrounding this play on words. However, let us explore my title in a Biblical and Spiritual sense.

As Christians we should be “Expecting the Expected” as we contemplate daily the return of our Lord Jesus Christ to come and take us to be with Him. Are we watching and waiting with an eagerness to see what awaits us?

Let us consider the disciples who had been fishing all night on the Sea of Galilee and caught nothing. These were very experienced fisherman and no doubt despite their skills were somewhat dejected. As they returned to the shore the following morning Jesus, who was then raised from the dead, was there on the shore. He instructed them as friends to go and          “Throw you net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul in the unbroken net because it was full with large fish. (John 21:6). Can you imagine their initial reluctance to go back out and cast their net again, especially as that didn’t recognise Jesus at first, but they obeyed this ‘stranger’. I am sure in their hearts and mind they did not expect the unexpected! Not only that, but Jesus prepared breakfast for them as well – again not expected! When they did recognise Jesus none of the disciples dared to ask him as to who he was because they knew it was the Lord and so began a new commission for them.     (See John 21:15-25). As an aside why was the number of large fish 153? Makes for some interesting research!

As a further aside I just got to this point when Jonathan rang me on the 5^th July to say that their son Elliott had tested positive for Covid so 10 days of isolation began. – Expect the Unexpected.

In Exodus 14:21 we read “Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the Lord drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.” Before this occurred, the Israelites were afraid of the Egyptian Army who were marching after them. They complained to Moses stating they had asked to stay in Egypt and serve the Egyptians, which would have been better than dying in the desert. Moses responded with those marvellous and uplifting words “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Well, we know the outcome and no doubt they learnt to expect the unexpected. The same message goes out to us today – do not be afraid, stand firm for the Lord your God is with you. So, expect the unexpected!

In Genesis 17 we read how Sarai became Sarah and that she would be blessed with a son. What was Abraham’s reaction? To laugh and question himself how a man of 100 and a woman of 90 could bear a child but God assured him that it would happen. He hadn’t learnt to expect the unexpected and so Isaac was born and God’s promise was fulfilled! A lesson that Sarah also had to learn as we read in the next chapter. Do we need to learn that God always fulfils His promises without fail or are we rejoicing in that truth?

Also, in the early chapters of Genesis we read about Noah who found grace in the eyes of God and was commissioned to build the ark. As we read through Chapter 6 and onwards the logistics of such a building project are mind blowing. The time frame of some 100 years to build to accommodate Noah and his family together with seven plus mate of every kind of clean animal and two plus mate of every unclean animal is staggering. However, Noah remained faithful and completed the project when he was 600 years old! I am sure that Noah had many trials and adverse comments along the way, learnt to expect the unexpected and in so doing learnt to expect the expected because God was his instructor, director and provider – a lesson maybe for us!

My final choice of example is also in Genesis and Chapter 22 when Abraham and Isaac journey to the land of Moriah. Abraham who was being fully tested was totally obedient to God in preparing to sacrifice his only son as a burnt offering. I am sure Abraham expected the expected but Isaac who didn’t really appreciate what was happening had to learn to expect the unexpected for even at the last moment he said” but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” Abraham faithfully stated that “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering” and there in the thicket was a ram caught by his horns and became the sacrifice, which is why the place was called Jehovah-jireh. I wonder how we would have reacted and if our faith would have stood up to such a test? Of course, this passage of scripture is a wonderful foresight of God sacrificing His only begotten Son at Calvary. May I suggest you just stop for a moment and give thanks to God for His wonderful provision for our salvation and to His Son our Lord Jesus Christ for providing the way of our salvation.

There are of course many other examples that we could reference from Samuel, to David, to Job, to Peter and so the list goes on – all of these people had to learn to expect the unexpected and then to learn to expect the expected in absolute faith and understanding.   I also suggest it would be good just to take some time out and consider who you can think of that can be added to that list.

Now for some scriptures for extra encouragement as we move forward to our heavenly goal together.

John 16:33

“I’ve said these things to you so that in me you may have peace. In this world you have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Matthew 19;26                                                                                                                   

Jesus said, “With man it is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”    

(Our God draws us closer to Him through testing, He gives us comfort, He provides ways to overcome in the most unexpected ways – so expect them).

Psalm 147:3-6

“He heals the broken-hearted and binds up their wounds. He determines the number of stars and calls them each by name. Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit. The Lord sustains the humble.”

1 Corinthians 10:13

“No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.”

James 1:2-4

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

““My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”