Morning Devotional

January 14, 2004

"The Indy Pace Car" 

by Don Emmitte

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Now the snake was more able to fool others than any animal of the field, which the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God say that you should not eat from any tree in the garden?” Then the woman said to the snake, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden. But from the tree, which is in the center of the garden, God has said, “Do not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.” (Genesis 3:1-3 NLT).

Probably the most exciting American auto race of the year is the Indianapolis 500. To commemorate that event, GM has developed a special edition car, an “Indy Pace Car Edition.” I have ordered one for our dealership. On the days before the race, anticipation grows as the drivers compete in the time trials and qualifying events that lead up to the big race. Then on the day itself, those powerful engines start revving, the fans and promoters are cheering, and the cars make their first drive around that legendary track. But there's no race that first lap. In fact, all the cars are going the same speed, led by some guy with flags flying out his window. Who is this guy? Well, he's the driver of the pace car, and everyone starts the race at the pace he sets!

As I thought about the real pace car, I began to think about God’s instructions to Adam and Eve. You know the reason for the pace car. Our reading today goes back to that experience and it reveals whom God considers the pace car in life's races.  The Bible goes on to say, "Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as He was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord called to the man, 'Where are you?'" (Genesis 3:8, 9) Now that's interesting. Eve sinned first, but God comes looking for the man. Why? Because God designed Adam to be the pace car for Eve. God gave the instructions about the tree of life to the man, not the woman, obviously expecting him to set that pace for his wife.

God seems to be saying here, "If Eve is having a problem, I'm looking to Adam for the reason." If Adam isn't right, then Eve isn't right. The climate, the pace is meant to be set by the man. If you're a man who's wondering, let's say-- why your wife nags so much, maybe it's because of you. Maybe it's because you're not listening. If she's bossy, maybe it's because you won't take charge - she's just stepping into the vacuum left by her man. If the woman in your life seems detached, maybe it's because you haven't had much time for her. If the pace car isn't setting the right pace, then Eve's car starts veering and sliding, going too fast, or going too slow. If Adam isn't right, then Cain and Abel, the children, won't be right either. Children act out due to either not enough love or not enough discipline if Dad neglects his leadership in their lives. He is meant to be their pace car. And if Adam isn't right, the Garden isn't right either. There's stress, conflict and confusion all around if the man who's supposed to be leading isn't. If you're in Adam's half of the human race, could some of your frustrations be because you're neglecting God, you're forfeiting your God-given responsibility to your wife or children to be a spiritual leader? In God's eyes, the buck stops with the man. So if the cars around you are speeding or swerving or crashing, look at the pace car. Don’t misunderstand. This principle is not about whom the boss is… it’s about whom the leader is!