God's Coaching #160

God's Coaching #160

Not many horses get a movie made about their lives. Because of the way Secretariat ran, he deserved to have one made about his life. On this day in 1973, Secretariat, a large, three-year-old chestnut colt, set a world record with a history-making victory at the Belmont Stakes. With his first-place finish, he became the first horse in 25 years to win the Triple Crown. That’s the title given to a horse that wins the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont in the same year.

Before entering the Belmont, Secretariat had already enjoyed a fantastic season, with wins in the first two Triple Crown races. But his performance at Belmont Park in New York made him a legend. With Ron Turcotte, the 1972 Belmont-winning jockey aboard him, Secretariat set the world record for a mile-and-a-half race on dirt in two minutes, 24 seconds and finished a whopping 31 lengths ahead of his nearest challenger. Many experts consider Secretariat to be the greatest racehorse of all time.

What’s the Score?

Humans have always been fascinated with horses because of their speed, power, and majesty. In ancient times, horses also served many practical purposes. Any country whose army lacked horses was in danger of being attacked. Before the invention of tanks, fighter planes, and other modern vehicles of warfare, horses were vital for national defense. A horse-drawn chariot, for instance, was one of the most feared weapons in ancient times.

Despite this, we read something very interesting in Deuteronomy 17:16, where God commanded that “the king must not build up a large stable of horses for himself or send his people to Egypt to buy horses.” Why would God command this when horses were crucial for a nation’s survival? The answer is simple: He wanted his people to entrust their lives to him, not to military might. He would fight their battles if they trusted him. He wanted Israel to “boast in the name of the LORD,” as Psalm 20:7 says.

The same is true today. God wants his children to trust him above all else. Nothing can protect and save us besides God. He is stronger than the most powerful king or the mightiest army. Are you trusting something for your safety other than God? Maybe your parents or your country’s military? Neither of these things are bad, but they also can’t ultimately protect you. Only God can. And that’s no horsing around.

On the Ball

Ask God to help you trust in him alone.

Coach’s Comment

Some nations boast of their chariots and horses, but we boast in the name of the LORD our God. Psalm 20:7