God Grants Wisdom in Times of Need

by Rolaant McKenzie

"Improvise, Adapt, and Overcome" has for many decades been an unofficial motto of the U.S. Marine Corps. Fundamentally, it means that Marines are trained to improvise solutions spontaneously when plans fail or available resources are limited and adapt to new or changing conditions to overcome obstacles and ensure mission success. This phrase has also come to be used outside the military to symbolize resilience, quickly applied wisdom, and the ability to succeed despite unexpected conditions or adversity.

An example of this was seen in the 1999 American space opera film Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace. Jedis Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi had rescued Queen Amidala from captivity on the planet Naboo, but while narrowly escaping, their starship's hyperdrive generator was damaged. Qui-Gon decided to land the ship on the nearby desert planet Tatooine for repairs. While searching for a replacement hyperdrive generator, they befriended a slave boy named Anakin Skywalker, whose master, Watto, was a junk dealer.

Watto had the needed parts, but Qui-Gon could not pay for them. The Republic currency he had was worthless on Tatooine. Anakin, who had exceptional mechanical and piloting abilities, had built a podracer, a small single-seat craft propelled by two large engines. He planned to participate in the upcoming Boonta Eve Classic Podrace, the largest one of its kind in the galaxy and the most dangerous. Betting on such races was a popular pastime with many spectators on Tatooine, including Watto. So a wager was made between Qui-Gon and Watto. If Anakin won the race, not only would Watto keep all the prize money and provide the parts Qui-Gon needed to repair his ship, but Anakin would be set free. But if he lost the race, then Qui-Gon would give Watto his ship.

Anakin arrived at the Mos Espa Grand Arena and moved his podracer to the starting line. Unknown to him, a rival favored to win the race, Sebulba, surreptitiously walked by and loosened a small power coupling on the left engine. During the race Anakin saw the other participants crash due mostly to the ruthless tactics of Sebulba. In the last stretch before the finish line, the loose power coupling fell off the left engine of Anakin's podracer, causing it to catch fire and trail black smoke. Anakin quickly shut down the engine to put out the fire. He attached an energy coil to transfer power from the right engine, then kept flicking the restart switch until the left engine roared back to life. Anakin accelerated and caught up to Sebulba, who crashed his podracer after trying to use it to knock Anakin into the rocks, allowing Anakin to cross the finish line in victory. When faced with an unexpected crisis, he was able to improvise, adapt to the situation, and overcome it to win not only the race but also his freedom.

Jacob also faced adversity that needed quick thinking and wisdom. He had worked for Laban 14 years in order to marry his daughter Rachel, and he wanted to return to his country, the land that God had promised to him in Canaan, and provide for his own household. But Laban, realizing that God had blessed him and greatly increased his wealth through the work of Jacob, wanted to keep him as an employee (Genesis 30:25-43).

An agreement was made between Jacob and Laban that Jacob's "pay" would be the spotted and speckled sheep of Laban's flock. Now this favored Laban since such sheep and goats were the exception and not the rule, so there were far fewer of them compared to the solid-colored ones. But Jacob accepted this unfair arrangement, deciding in his own mind to trust God to sustain and provide for him.

To prevent the mixing of the flocks, Jacob put a three days' journey between them and personally oversaw the care of both of them. Even though Laban had the upper hand in this arrangement, he wanted to continue growing wealthier through Jacob's excellent care of his flocks but hold Jacob in a weaker, subservient position indefinitely to keep him from leaving. So he cheated Jacob by altering his wages ten times (Genesis 31:6-7).

In spite of this, Jacob continued to work with integrity and did his best to maintain Laban's flocks. However, he cut fresh branches of poplar, almond, and plane trees and peeled the bark to expose white stripes in them. These he placed in front of the stronger of the sheep and goats (not the weaker ones) when they came to drink at the watering troughs, and they mated there, producing more spotted and speckled ones, which Jacob separated into his own flock.

As a result, Jacob prospered greatly and became very wealthy, while much of Laban's wealth in livestock became Jacob's. Laban was most displeased at this turn of events, seeing that his schemes against Jacob failed and caused loss to himself. But God revealed to Jacob in a dream that He saw the dishonesty of Laban. He intervened on Jacob's behalf to help him improvise in his animal husbandry methods, adapt to the situation with Laban, and overcome it by protecting him from harm and prospering the work of his hands to increase his wealth and diminish Laban's. God further told Jacob that it was time for him to return to the Promised Land and assured him that He would be with him (Genesis 31:1-21).

We all at one time or another are confronted with challenging situations that sometimes come upon us unexpectantly, and we can be at a loss regarding the right thing to do. It may be a solution needed to solve a work-related problem, a sudden financial trial, an unexpected diagnosis, or some other challenge. God promises in His word that we can trust in Him and ask for the wisdom needed to improvise a needed solution, adapt to changing conditions, and overcome the challenges we face.

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and turn away from evil." (Proverbs 3:5-7)

But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind." (James 1:5-6)

Whatever obstacles we face in this life, those who trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, who is "wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption," will never be abandoned by Him (1 Corinthians 1:30; Hebrews 13:5). He who knows all things and who knows and loves you far better than you know and love yourself will grant you wisdom not only in times of need for the asking but also guide you through the race of life and get you over the finish line into the Promised Land (John 14:1-6).