SeniorSeeker
Active member
This morning I read Paul's hesitant "boasting" of being lifted by God to the third heaven to receive unspeakable visions. (II Corinthians 12:1-10) However, he feels more comfortable writing of his weaknesses, which exalt God more than his revelations. In fact he concludes the previous chapter reminding his readers how others helped him shortly after his conversion. "I was lowered in a basket from a window in the wall [of Damascus] and slipped through [the governor's] hands." (II Corinthians 11:33) Lowered before he was lifted. Paul wasn't the only future leader saved by a basket. The three-month old Moses was hidden in a basket, placed on an Egyptian river bank, discovered and subsequently nurtured by Pharaoh's daughter. Lots of baskets in dreams and visions as well. Joseph, another future leader, while in prison interpreted the chief baker's dream of three baskets on his head. (Genesis 40:16-22) The Israelites, including leader Gideon, brought offerings to the Lord in baskets. (Numbers 6:17; Judges 6:19) Old Testament prophets Jeremiah, Amos and Zechariah all saw things in baskets, including a wicked woman, who was flown, basket and all, by two other stork-like women to Babylon. (Zechariah 5:5-11) Isaiah reminds me of God's greatness, for He measures the waters in His hand, weighs the mountains on a scale, and holds the dust of the earth in a basket. (Isaiah 40:12) My favorite basket story? All four gospels record it. After Jesus fed the five thousand "the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over." (Matthew 14:20; Mark 6:43; Luke 9:17) Only John writes that they did so at the command of Jesus. "Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted." (John 6:12) In a short time, Jesus was broken that I might not be wasted. And so today, though I may be little more than a broken leftover, I am in Jesus' basket. Like Paul "I will boast" and "I delight" (II Corinthians 12:9,10) to be such a basket case!
