Hezekiah's Ingenuity

Twenty years ago I listened to a college professor speak of his trip to Israel.  I vividly remember him describing his hike through the Hezekiah tunnel.  How fascinating it sounded hearing him describe this tunnel, walking through by candle light, and wading in the water.

One evening our guide, Peter asked if there was anything specific we wanted to do.  I asked if the tunnel was still open.  He said it was and we could go.  Wow, after twenty years I would walk through that same passage I heard described. 

That tunnel was constructed 2700 years ago, to provide a secure source of fresh water for Jerusalem.  During the prophet Isaiah, and king Hezekiah, Jewish engineers designed a plan to bore from the Gihon springs, to Soloam pool. With two different crews beginning at the two opposite ends simultaneously they dug till they met in the middle.  Click the wiki link below for more info.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hezekiah%27s_Tunnel

What a task, and the tool marks are still present within the side of the rock! Spring water still flows and the walls look as sound as ever.  Many parallels can be drawn to life, but one that I heard from our group was how busy Israel was preparing their defenses.  Even though they needed God to deliver them, they still did their responsibility, and dug. 

Hence I am reminded that it is my job to be faithful in prayer and watching, but also exercise the ingenuity God grants.  While at the same time relying on the power of God to do only what the Almighty can do.  It is God's job to do His part, my job to do my part, and the Spirit of wisdom to know the difference. 

Kind of a new Serenity Prayer.

God grant me the strength to do what I should do;

The faith to wait for you to do what you should do;

And the wisdom to know the difference.