“Your Arms Too Short to Box With God: A Soaring Celebration in Song and Dance” is a Broadway musical based on the Book of Matthew and inspired by Black writer and poet James Weldon Johnson. In his book of poems, “God’s Trombones” — which I had to read when I was in college at Trinity University — Johnson began one poem about the Prodigal Son by saying, “Young man, young man — your arm’s too short to box with God.” This Scripture reminds the prophet Isaiah emphatically that we are too puny to box with God.
In fact, we’re too small to grasp fully God’s greatness. In Isaiah 45, God reminds us through his prophet this way: “I am the Lord, and there is no other. I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the Lord, do all these things. … Woe to those who quarrel with their Maker.”
Why would a clay pot get upset with its maker? It would never disagree with its maker, saying something ridiculous like, “Stop, that’s not how you do it.”
As Isaiah 45 says, “For this is what the Lord says — he who created the heavens, he is God; he who fashioned and made the earth, he founded it; he did not create it to be empty, but formed it to be inhabited — he says: ‘I am the Lord, and there is no other.’”
Now that’s a powerful Word! Our God is all wise, all-powerful, all knowing and He loves us so dearly, that we can only bow in heartfelt reverence and obedience, which leads me to my point for this column. I’ve been praying for our country, praying with others, encouraging them to pray.
Each of us must pray without ceasing. This Scripture — “I bring prosperity and create disaster”— whether what is happening is good or bad, is true: “I send good times and bad times.” Not to worry, everything will be all right.
We see about five or six states, seemingly burning up. We see floods on the East Coast, hurricanes that have never been so destructive, and a pandemic that has hit the United States worse than anywhere else in the world. Whether one believes in global warming or not, global warming is truly alive and well. Research shows that the snow in the Alps is melting, and the animals who are accustomed to living in a frozen environment are experiencing a meltdown.
God destroyed the world once by a flood, and Scripture says next time it will be destroyed by fire! We must be afraid of God, and we must know that any man in power who believes he is God, will soon find who God really is. Thus the topic, “Your Arms Too Short to Box With God!” None of us can defeat the God I serve. He is all knowing! He made the Heavens and the earth; He made every living creature.
Therefore, be encouraged, continue to trust in God! His word is so true. Remember the Scripture, 2 Chronicles 7:14 (KJV), says, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”
Today, Lord Jesus, we pray that you will heal our land. Please remind our president and any other leader who thinks he is the savior: Your arms too short to box with God!
Lyndia Grant is a speaker/writer living in the D.C. area. Her radio show, “Think on These Things,” airs Fridays at 6 p.m. on 1340 AM (WYCB), a Radio One station. To reach Grant, visit her website, www.lyndiagrant.com, email lyndiagrantshowdc@gmail.com or call 240-602-6295. Follow her on Twitter @LyndiaGrant and on Facebook.
I saw this musical at the Wm.Ebel Theatre in Los Angeles in the seventies.
As a young white woman, I was mezmorized by the entire experience. There we’re few white people in the audience, I did not care, and I left the theatre after being propelled into excellence through the entire experience.
I only hope this delightful musical will re-surface and the theatre will be far more diverse.
What an awesome and memorable experience.
Sandi Ybarra, Retired in Big Bear, Ca.