Hercules! Hercules! - Devotion for 6/20/07

Hercules! Hercules! – Devotion for 6/20/07

I remember learning and being intrigued by some of the Greek mythology back when I was in school. Some of the stories that are a part of the classical tradition really are neat stories. One of the stories that I was fond of was the story of Hercules and Antaeus. Hercules was the immortal son of the all-powerful Zeus; Antaeus was the son of Gaia, mother earth. You may be readily familiar with the notoriety of the strength of Hercules, but Antaeus was a giant known as a vicious conquerer whose strength made him appear invincible. Antaeus had a routine of challenging all travelers who came his way to a wrestling match, and upon defeating them he would slaughter them. One day Hercules passed his way, and Hercules accepted Antaeus’ challenge to wrestle. Time and time again Hercules threw Antaeus down on the ground, and time and time again Antaeus would get right back up, almost stronger than before he had been thrown to the ground. Eventually Hercules came to realize that each time Antaeus was thrown onto the ground he was being rejuvenated by his mother, Gaia, the earth. So Hercules devised a new tactic – he held Antaeus high above the ground until all of his power drained away, and then he killed him.

I think in life we find ourselves in a similar battle every day. Although we do not gain strength from the earth, we do gain our strength from being contact/communion with our God. Many times in our life we get knocked down from our struggles, but through God we are truly made stronger through them. And there are many enemies that try to keep us from our strength – work, play, schedules, money, etc. My devotion reading today was in Isaiah 40:12-31, and I particularly love verses 28-31:

Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tied. His understanding is inscrutable. He gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might He increases power. Though youths grow weary and tired, and vigorous young men stumble badly, Yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, the will walk and not become weary.

Today if you find yourself knocked down, trust and pray that your strength will be renewed. As your enemy trying to take you away from your source of strength, come back down to earth and gain new strength through time with God.