My husband and I had just changed drivers, and I was sitting comfortably behind the wheel as we headed down the highway, eager to be home after a cross-country trip. Suddenly, seemingly out of nowhere, a full-size semitruck barreled into my peripheral vision, its orange blinker flashing ominously as it moved straight into my lane as if I were invisible. It was too late to brake.
Instinctively I swerved, panicked, and jerked the steering wheel a little too hard. Now the center guardrail was looming menacingly ahead of me. Desperate to recover, I overcorrected, and we careened back toward the encroaching truck. The passenger side of our Toyota Camry sedan where my husband was sitting crashed into the steel side of the truck’s metal trailer. Out of control, we spun helplessly across the road yet again, finally coming to a dead stop as we collided with that same middle guardrail.
All this happened in about the time it takes to read it. Shards of glass littered the car, and the passenger side and the right rear edge of the car were smashed and dented, but we were alive! As we sat there in shock, my husband turned to look into the back seat for our two teens. Amazingly, we were all uninjured, and the police officer who helped us agreed that we were “lucky” to be unscathed. We knew without a doubt that God’s angels had shielded us. Despite the shock, we spontaneously thanked God. For us it was a moment of worship.
Quite a few Bible characters, being human like us, had similar experiences to ours, which evoked an attitude of worship in various circumstances. Let’s peer in on a few of these.
Biblical Worship Moments
Abraham had commissioned his trusted servant Eliezer to fulfill an important mission: to find a wife for Isaac. Eliezer could not help wondering if the Lord would make his journey to Nahor successful. As he waited near the well, he plotted and prayed. The sign that she was Miss Right? She would draw water for him and would offer to get water for his camels as well.
Soon he saw a young woman who impressed him, and he asked her for a drink. Rebekah immediately fulfilled the sign and also invited him to her father’s house. Eliezer’s reaction? “And the man bowed down his head, and worshipped the Lord” (Gen. 24:26, KJV). Before he agreed, before he went to the house, before he ate, before did anything else, he took a minute to focus on God, who had undeniably answered his prayer.
When I drive by the site of our car accident, I remember that crucial moment that God protected us.
Pious Job was having an incredibly rough day. An unexpected messenger burst in, saying that the Sabeans had taken Job’s oxen and donkeys and killed his servants. Before that servant was done speaking, another panting servant came and said that fire from heaven had burned up the sheep and servants. Another servant arrived right then and announced that his camels had been raided by Chaldeans. Job was in shock, but the biggest blow came last.
All Job’s children were at the oldest brother’s home having a party when wind (possibly a tornado) demolished the house, leaving no survivors. This was devastating news, but interestingly, the Bible records Job’s incredible reaction as this: “Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped” (Job 1:20, KJV). Reeling from more disasters than one can imagine in one day, including losing all his children, Job tore his clothes, shaved his head, and, even though grieving, naturally turned to His God and worshipped Him.
When fearful Gideon overheard a man relating a dream about Gideon winning the battle, he realized God had a solution and would win the battle he dreaded. He saw how faithful God is, and his cowardice turned to awe and worship (Judges 7:15).
While visiting Egypt, Moses showed the Israelite slaves how his rod would become a snake, and they were amazed and thankful. Realizing now that their God had remembered them and actually seen their afflicted lives, they bowed their heads in worship (Ex. 4:31).
Then there was Eli. Hannah had come to drop off little Samuel at the tabernacle. High Priest Eli stood amazed at this devoted mother’s considerable sacrifice in parting with her son. Comparing her attitude to his own selfish parenting gave him a feeling of humiliation and reverence, and he bowed before the Lord and worshipped.*
While they were out on a boat on the stormy Sea of Galilee, surrounded by the morning blackness, the disciples saw a ghostlike form on the water and started to be scared. But then they heard the familiar voice of Jesus and saw His form, and they knew help was on the way. Peter got excited about stepping out of the heaving boat and getting to Jesus.
As long as Peter looked at Jesus, the miracle happened—he walked on water! But as soon as he took his eyes off Jesus and looked at the waves, he began to sink. Desperate, he cried out, “Save me!” Jesus unhesitatingly reached out and lifted him up. Soon they were in the boat together.
Watching the miracle erased the gripping fear that had harassed even the seasoned fishermen-turned-disciples. After Peter had walked on water to meet Jesus, and the wind had died down, those who had watched could only exclaim, “Truly You are the Son of God” (Matt. 14:33). God had their attention, and now they worshipped Him.
Crucial Moments
These were all crucial moments that led to worship. The Israelites saw God, through Moses, turn a rod into a snake. The disciples saw Jesus walk on water. Eli saw Hannah’s faithfulness to God. Eliezer saw a miraculous answer to his prayers. And Job walked in faith because He knew and trusted God even though he was laid in the dust with sickness, mourning, and stress.
When I drive by the site of our car accident, I remember that crucial moment that God protected us. And, when unexpected elating or trying circumstances arise, and they will, as no one is exempt from these, the stories of these Bible figures inspire me to also embrace these crucial moments that bring God into sharp focus for me.
* See Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets (Mountain View, Calif.: Pacific Press Pub. Assn., 1890, 1908), p. 571.
