The Fable of the Frog

By Helen Jesze, 12^th February 2021

Jesus said: “Whoever has ears, let them hear,”

Matt. 11,15

“You have seen many things, but you pay no attention; your ears are open, but you do not listen,”

Isaiah 42, 20

There was once a competition among the frogs. The goal was to reach the top of a high tower, and many other frogs gathered to watch the fun.

The small group of competitors started to climb but time and again, they would fall down. In reality, nobody believed that any of the frogs would reach the top, and the spectators began to croak loudly that it was impossible.

Soon all of the frogs dropped out of the race except for one which stubbornly persisted. Higher and higher he went while they all watched with bated breath. At last, he had reached the top of the tower and with a triumphant croak, looked down at them all!

When he came down again, all the frogs rushed to congratulate him and ask how he had managed it. But he took no notice of them and then they realised that he was DEAF, so couldn’t hear them anyway!!

We have all heard the phrase: “There are none so deaf as those who won’t hear!” Or an elderly person who insists that they can’t hear, yet they seem to pick up other conversations very easily! Yes, we have all ‘cherry-picked’ at some time or another, hearing or conveniently passing over things we don’t want to hear. God speaks often in the Bible about hearing and listening, and how hardness of heart or disobedience cause us to not hear or heed his voice.

The frog in the fable was physically deaf but that was actually an advantage in this instance, meaning he could not hear all the voices saying he would never do it, that it was impossible, he might as well give up straight away. So he just kept trying and achieved his goal in the end!

In Life, people, circumstances and satan so often tell us that we will never make it, that we might as well give up now, that God has no time for losers, we have fallen so many times at the same place – we are a failure! But I want to encourage you today that we have a God of mercy who does not cast us aside. I would not wish anyone to be physically deaf, but mentally and spiritually we need to turn a deaf ear to all the lies and discouragements which are often hurled at us, and believe that through our God we shall make it.

David, who later became King of Israel, was hunted by King Saul for years and came into many physical dangers. Armies and troops of enemies had stood against him but God delivered him time and again. In 2 Samuel 22, we read his psalm of praise, and in verse 30 he says:

“For by thee I have run through a troop; by my God have I leaped over a wall!”

The frog believed in his own ability and perseverance, but as Christians we know that those alone will never give us the answers we need.. It is “our God” who will take us through circumstantial, spiritual and mental troops, and cause us to leap over walls which stand in our way, for:

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,” Philippians 4, 13.

So be encouraged today to make a new start, to go on again in our Saviour’s strength, and to ‘cherry-pick’, choosing to hear only the faith-filled, positive statements and promises that our Father has given us in his Word, and turn a deaf ear to those things which would hold us back.

Let’s jump over some walls – TODAY!