by Allen Jones
Do you see this picture? Do you REALLY see it? That’s a bear. Not a small bear, but a Grizzly, a full grown adult Grizzly!
Now do you see that man in the left corner? That’s a man. Flesh and bone…and I would say he is in quite the pickle.
This is a picture that was taken in Glacier National park about a week before my family and I visited. The bear and the man are on a trail called the Highline Trail, aptly named, because a good portion of the trail juts out from a cliff and that’s all you have to keep you from a far fall! Straight up and straight down, and all you have is your small rocky path.
Now imagine this, you’re walking on the Highline Trail, taking in the absolute beauty that is Glacier National Park. You look down and you can see the cars (that look like toy matchbox cars), and you look up and you see the cliff called the garden wall.
You now come around a corner of the wall, and suddenly straight ahead of you is a grizzly bear going down the trail about 15 yards ahead.
That’s exactly what happened to this man.
Now in case you are unaware of bear etiquette, let me inform you…most bear attacks occur because you surprised the bear. When in bear country you are supposed to make plenty of noise, especially when coming round corners because a startled bear, out of fear, might just attack.
In this scenario, the bear had no idea the man was there. The picture was actually taken by a photographer watching from about 200-300 yards away. He and a group of people watched in fear for the man, as they saw what he did not before rounding the corner.
On most of this section of the Highline,there is no place to go but the trail itself. But miraculously, the man just happened to be at this small section, where he could scramble down just enough to get out of the way of the bear. The bear ran on past and the man was able to climb back up and continue on his way.
I believe God was with this man fully. That he just happened to be at one of the only places where he could get out of the way is truly amazing.
But then again, God often provides a way out of hard and tough scenarios.
When we are tempted, regardless of how strongly we are tempted the Bible says God will always provide a way out. Perhaps miraculously so.
And don’t misjudge, giving into a temptation is just as dangerous as that bear.
But in those moments, God will provide a way out…and GET OUT OF THE WAY! And let the moment pass.
1st Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.