Westside Church of Christ

The corruption (Mentioned 3 times in 2 verses-Genesis 6:11-12) had not twisted the righteous man, and God spoke directly to him. We know the story. It is one of the most familiar in all of Scripture. A handful of family was saved through His faith and divinely designed carpentry. You and I are here because of him. He built the boat, sounded the warning, grabbed his kin and survived the flood. Oh, yes…and after it was all said and done, he got drunk and naked in his tent (Genesis 9:21-22). Faith doesn’t make us perfect. The Lord’s people never are. If we are expecting perfection, even from ourselves, we will be disappointed.

The search for a reputable leader might lead us to investigate the family. Healthy, respectable roots, right? Surely, a man with an adulterer and murderer for a father would be excluded from our list of potentials. Let’s not be too hasty in rejecting Solomon. Dad had his flaws, but he was also a man after God’s heart. Perfect? Obviously not, but Scripture flowed through his pen and the Lord had placed him on His throne. Solomon followed in those royal steps. He requested and received wisdom. The Lord was so impressed with his request that he also granted him incomparable riches and honor (2 Chronicles 1:7-12).

He reigned and directed the construction of the extraordinary temple that was seven years in the making. His words at its dedication begin and end with recognition of the importance of wholehearted dedication (1 Kings 8:22-61). Oh yes, he knew and even had God-given wisdom but then…Apparently, he inherited his dad’s wandering eyes. He did precisely what the Lord had told the Israelites not to do. The Lord had warned against associations that would ultimately turn hearts away from Him. Solomon violated that order and learned the truth of it. His heart was turned, and he even built high places to honor their gods. The God of Israel was furious and there would be serious consequences for the kingdom because of it (1 Kings 11:1-13). So, the Lord’s plan was ruined? Nope. He carries it out through seriously flawed people.

We see it time-and-time again. The weak. The wobbly. The inept. The sinful. The denying fisherman. The enemy turned evangelist. All are instruments in the hands of a God who accomplishes the impossible through the unlikely. He still does. Even with you and me. Perfection is not required.