THE CUCUMBER THAT ENCUMBERED…
Just last Friday, my wife went to the market to pick up a couple of items. It wasn't a proper market day so the visit was borne out of need and was supposed to be short and brief. I was privy to her list and there was no provision for fruits on it.
The day was quite busy for me, as we were trying to do some renovation work at the Studio, and get it ready for a session booked for 4pm in the evening. I ate my first meal of the day in the evening, and it did little to quell my hunger. I was happy to see some fruits: oranges and cucumbers. That was already around 9pm, so oranges were not an option, especially since they could do little to deal with hunger, as opposed to thirst.
Also, I am about the only one in the house that eats cucumber. As a matter of fact, if you see the way and manner with which I devoured it, you would think it's my best fruit, not knowing that I barely started taking it about a year ago, and only developed an appetite or knack for it as a child of necessity, out of strong recommendations for its health benefits. Now, it was about a month since I last took any, so one for the night looked like a win-win.
However, when I checked the cucumbers, 4 in all, I couldn't get myself to eat any of them. One was too soft at the center, as if ready to burst. The other had brown scars all through the body, though they were skin deep. Another, though very strong and clean, had a tiny rotten part at the end. Once that part was cut off, the rest would have been fine. The last one had a strange shape, some yellow part, and a couple of scars here and there.
When I compared the stress of getting it ready, and what I'd endure to eat it, I decided that it was better off without it, and preferred sleep instead. After all, I was the only one still awake in the house.
As a non-natural eater of cucumber, as opposed to a lover of it, it takes considerable time for me to prepare it. I literally had to wash it with soap and rinse thoroughly before eating. When buying, I take my time to choose. I get very picky because I can't eat just anyhow cucumber. It must be green, hard and not big. I prefer it straight, short and more importantly, with a clean skin. I guess she bought them on a bargain, unlike me, for whom cost is secondary to my metrics.
The next morning, my wife was proud to announce that fruits were available, immediately after the family devotion. The enthusiasm suddenly waned and turned to soliloquy when I attempted to point out the flaws in the cucumber. She was damn right defensive, and particularly disappointed that I didn't commend the initiative, but chose rather to criticize. I may be wrong, but I was just trying to be sincere, innocent but not blameless.
This was even more damaging because the ones she brought a few weeks ago were all wasted because I didn't touch them. Well, I travelled for a couple of days, but the primary challenge was that they were too big, like tubers of yam, though very fresh, green and strong. But for a lone raw eater, eating by instructions rather than admiration, that was a tall order. I simply let it pass.
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To justify her decision, my wife cut off the rotten part at the end of one, and ate the remainder with gusto and delight to prove her stand, but that made me more determined not to touch the cucumbers. I only wanted to pass a simple message, and I believe it was unmistakably communicated, that I can only eat raw cucumbers that meet my specifications. I tried to explain and describe it, even though she was understandably uninterested. Which brought me to the main reason for this write up:
How many times do we offer up sacrifices to God, without trying to truly know what He desired? From the beginning of time, God has been intentional in communicating His preferences to man. By faith, Abel offered a more excellent offering, but Cain's effort was rejected. However, God didn't leave him guessing for too long. He opened the lines of communication in a swift move to save the relationship from collapse, and avert the impending murder motivated by envy.
But Cain was too irked to consider the wonderful opportunity for learning, and the open window to know God more. Fast forward to King Saul and we get the famous declaration that obedience is better than sacrifice. But by then, Saul had already taken a wrong initiative and spared Agag. The order to utterly destroy didn't sound like music so Saul improvised. Unfortunately, God was not impressed.
When God and His Kingdom are involved, innovation can only be done within the confines of instructions and initiative is a product of divine intimacy. We cannot please God in disobedience. It takes a childlike faith to know, believe and do the simple things that God requires, and consider them sufficient, in the face of seeming sophistication.
David experienced both sides of the sword. He saw the innovation of the carrying of the Ark of the Covenant backfire, and witnessed the eventual success when things were done God's way. No wonder he danced like no other. Later on in his reign, after he missed God again with the census, the plague was ended when he sacrificed what cost him something. But the real cost and sacrifice there was not just money or the plot of land purchased at Araunah, but the clear knowledge of what God wanted, and the desire not to stop short of offering anything that will give Him honor and glory, which is often expensive for the flesh.
I believe David eventually got it when he said in Psalm 51:16-17 that sacrifice and burnt offerings were not what God wanted, but a broken and contrite heart He would not refuse, prioritizing our persons above our presents, and esteeming the heart posture of the giver above the abundance of his gifts.
Maybe the cucumbers were worth more than their value in Naira, considering the spiritual lessons that were drawn from them, that even the right intentions don't qualify or guarantee an acceptable offering. It is impossible to please the God you do not know, not just in His mere existence, but through diligent search. I believe that's Hebrews 11:6.
I hope my wife doesn't give up on buying the cucumbers that I crave, and that she pays more attention and is more intentional about the kind I prefer, stopping at nothing short. But even more importantly, I pray we don't give up in our quest to know God, especially when it seems what we get in response to our efforts to please Him is rejected, and what we offer seems abhorrent in His sight.
Instead of giving up or getting offended, may we humbly learn to know where we falter and be ready to learn and make amends. That, my dear, is how you know God, and grow in faith, unto all pleasing.
Cover image from Magnific.com
