The Rescue

1-19-22 The Rescue   Glenda Simpkins Hoffman

Over the Christmas break, my husband Stuart and I watched The Rescue, a National Geographic documentary about the rescue of a junior soccer team trapped in a flooded cave in Thailand. Many probably remember the rescue efforts made in the summer of 2018 because international news coverage flooded the airways. For two weeks the world watched, waited, and prayed for the rescue of the twelve boys and their coach.  

I confess I probably wouldn’t have watched this if someone hadn’t recommended it, but I am glad I did. It was riveting. I was in awe as I saw in greater detail all the people involved and all the steps that were taken to save lives, to restore these precious children to their families. 

Thai and American military worked together in coordinating efforts. Navy Seals diving experts were a part of the effort, but it became clear early on that a different kind of diver was needed. Expert British cave divers John Volanthen and Richard Stanton were flown in to assess the situation and aid in planning the way forward. They asked other expert cave divers to join them in executing the rescue mission. 

How truly inspiring to watch the process of brave, courageous, smart, resourceful, persevering people figure out what to do and then actually do what was needed to rescue precious humans from death. The documentary reveals the best of humans working together for good. But the power of prayer and the providence and sovereign grace of God were also clearly at work as well. The timing was miraculous as the cave became completely submerged a few days after the rescue, and the cave became completely inaccessible for eight months.  

This story had greater significance for me as I had been reading and preparing for the Women’s Bible Studies as we follow the sermon series on Nehemiah. When he hears news of the ruins of Jerusalem, Nehemiah is compelled to leave his privileged position as the cupbearer to the king to do something to restore the ruined walls. There are lessons we can learn from both Nehemiah and the story of the cave rescue. I see several invitations: keep the mission in focus, pray, participate in the effort, and believe that anything is possible with God.  

Keep the Mission in Focus: The first and most important consideration is to remember what is at stake. The cave rescue was about saving lives—13 lives of people who had families and were deeply loved. The mission was to save lives.  

Nehemiah’s vision and mission was to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, but we must be careful not to reduce this to only restoring physical structures. The broken-down walls and gates of Jerusalem indicated the spiritual condition of the people of God. Nehemiah is also on a mission to restore what has been ruined through rebellion. Not only the walls but the people of God need to be rescued. They need renewal so they can live the life they are created and redeemed to live as they love, worship, and serve the living God.  

Nehemiah knows that the abundant life God has promised and makes possible was not happening in Jerusalem and never would unless the walls provided the safety and security for people to be willing to build houses and begin businesses. And the way they faithfully live their lives in surrender to God is what will serve as a witness to the nations.  

We as the people of God here at VPC also need to keep the mission in mind. Jesus said, “The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:9). “God has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:13-14). We were lost without Christ, and he rescued us. God is on a rescue mission, and now he calls us to be a part of what he is doing as we “Go and make disciples of all nations…” (Matthew 28:20). God is building his kingdom on earth, and he wants us to be a part of it. 

Pray: Knowing the mission is the first step, but it’s not something we can accomplish on our own. We need God’s intervention. That was true for the cave rescue and for Nehemiah, and it’s true for us. That is why prayer is always the first and best option. While our best human efforts are vital, we recognize our need for resources beyond ourselves. In prayer, we turn to the one who can help us, empower us, intervene on our behalf, and give us the wisdom we need for our life, relationships, and ministry.  

As Pastor Hope mentioned on Sunday, we can all join in praying for our congregation at this critical juncture in our corporate life. I plan to give regular updates on prayer requests, but let’s begin by praying for our elders, deacons, and staff, and for the transformation teams and their leaders—Hope Lee (Transparency/Conflict-Avoidance), Ted Davies (Mission/Vision), Robin Portman (High Barriers to Engagement), and R.J. Clarke (NextGen), and for ourselves and others to be bold to come to each of the teams to give needed input.  Pray too that individually and collectively we will be open to self-examination and confession and be willing to receive the word God wants to speak to each of us as we study Nehemiah.  

Participate in the Effort: For the cave rescue, the mission was clear, but the question was how to do it given so many obstacles and the time pressure, given that monsoon rains were predicted earlier than expected and would then make it impossible. Thousands of people participated in the rescue effort, hundreds from other countries from around the world. So many people came together to bring their best—their time, energy, creativity, and determination to help save lives.  

After assessing the broken-down walls, Nehemiah knows the task of rebuilding is enormous and needs to involve many others. This restoration project would be a corporate effort. So he invites others to join him. They respond positively: “Let us arise and build.”  

We are not cave rescuers, and we are not the nation of Israel in the time of Nehemiah. But we are God’s people here at VPC at this time in history. Nehemiah is relevant to us as a congregation as we have welcomed our new lead pastor Hope Lee and as we come out of two years of dealing with a pandemic. Though VPC has a long history of fruitful ministry and a strong foundation, this is a new season with new challenges and opportunities for us a congregation and for each of us as individuals.  

God has been working out his redemptive plan since the creation of the world. That is as true today as it ever has been. Jesus invites us to participate with him in his ongoing rescue efforts in the world, to be a part of building his kingdom. As followers of Jesus, we have been given the privilege of sharing the good news of salvation and inviting others to join us on the journey. Each of us has been given gifts to serve for the glory of God and the good of his church and the world.   

The conclusion of The Rescue was very powerful as each of the divers shared what they gleaned from their experience of participating in this mission. They realized their passion and abilities had been used for good purposes, to save lives. In the process, their own lives and their perspectives were changed.  

Each of us can be intentional in assessing our lives—who we are with our particular gifts, passions, abilities, and experiences. How is God inviting us to participate in his kingdom work here and now—right where we are in our families, friendships, neighborhoods, workplaces? We are God’s agents of love and grace in all the places we live and work. There are opportunities to love, serve, and participate in building the kingdom of God all around us. 

Believe That Anything Is Possible with God: At one point early on in the rescue effort, the expert cave divers concluded it was impossible and prepared to go home. But the American military commander says, “What if it’s not impossible? What then?” So the cave diver team came at it again and laid out a plan—a seemingly ridiculous plan in which everything would have to go just right for it to work. And it did work.  

Nehemiah encounters opposition and ridicule from the very start of executing the mission God has given him. But he tells those who oppose the plan, “The God of heaven is the one who will give us success, and we his servants are going to start building.”  

As followers of Christ, we are called to believe, to trust in God and his promises to fulfill his rescue mission. Challenges and opposition will come, but nothing and no one can thwart God’s plan. We are to believe that “with God, nothing is impossible” (Luke 1:37). “With God, all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26). 

The theme song “Believe” that concludes the The Rescue is inspiring. It’s not an explicitly Christian song, but it encourages me to look to God, trust in Christ, and rely on the fire of the Spirit to not give up or give in as we engage together in his ongoing work in the world. Listen here.  

They said, “It can’t be done.” 

That this one’s a challenge you won’t overcome.
I know your dreams are bold. Keep going, you’ll find that you’re not on your own.

 

Chorus: So don’t give up and don’t give in.
You’ve gotta believe, believe, believe that anything is possible (2x).  

 

You’ve gotta keep on and see it through, no matter how hard that is to do.
You’ve gotta believe to find the firе that’s inside you. You’ve gotta beliеve.

So here we are with billions of prayers out there floating like stars. I know it seems hard.  

Just hold onto hope ’cause you’ve made it this far. Soon, you’ll be out of the dark.  

(Chorus repeats)