A pilot guiding a steamer down the Cumberland saw a light, apparently from a small craft, in the middle of the narrow channel. His impulse was to disregard the signal and run down the boat. As he came near, a voice shouted: “Keep off, Keep off!”

In great anger, he cursed what he supposed to be a boatman in his way. On arriving at his next landing, he learned that a huge rock had fallen from the mountain into the bed of the stream, and that a signal was placed there to warn the coming boats of the unknown danger. Alas! Many regard God’s warnings in the same way, and are angry with any who tell them of the rocks in their course. They will understand better at the end.

The children of Israel (the ones who were rebellious against God) had no truer friend than Moses. They never went astray but he warned them; and trouble never came upon them except when his warnings were unheeded.

–D.L. Moody, Sowing and Reaping

So many times we go through life and get mad at the very things or the ones that are there to protect us and keep us safe. Why did God give us His Law (The Ten Commandments)? Because He hates us? No, because He loves us. That Law is there for our safety, protection, and good.

Why do you have rules and set guidelines for your children? Why do you correct them when they are wrong and warn them when they are in danger? Because you hate them? No, because you love them. If you, being carnal, love your own children that much, what do you think is your Heavenly Father’s heart for you?

We can kick and scream and get mad at others and the Lord when we don’t get our way. We can whine and cry when things don’t work out how we want them to or say to ourselves, “The Lord didn’t answer my prayers,” but have you ever stopped to consider why?

Could it possibly be that God may know better than you? Could it be conceivable in your mind that He who knows all things might have a better path in mind, not your way, but his way?

I can think right now of opportunities lost in my life, and things that didn’t happen that I did not fully understand at the time, that I now see was the Lord’s divine hand in my life. We need to trust the Lord that He knows best and not get mad at the warnings in His word or the way He directs us to keep us from danger.

So, before you get angry and curse the One who is protecting you from the rocks in your path, remember this:

The Bible says in Isaiah 55:8-9:

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.”

He knows best…we do not.