5.15.24

Last week I watched the movie Fury, about an American tank crew behind the German enemy lines in World War II. The Fury crew was led by Brad Pitt’s character, Don “Wardaddy” Collier. Fury was charged with going from town to town, clearing the area of Nazi soldiers. During one of their treks, the tank hit a landmine at a crossroads. Instead of abandoning the Fury, as three hundred “SS” (Nazi party combat soldiers) approached their tank, the five crew members decided to stay and fight against impossible odds.

The crew was sitting in their tank before the final stand, and their gunner Boyd Swan, played by Shia LeBeouf, had tears welling up in his eyes. With a trembling voice he broke the groups silence, “There’s this bible verse I think about sometimes… many times… Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”

He paused, cleared his throat, and with added conviction he finished the verse, “And I said, here am I. Send me” (Isaiah 6:8).

I finished the movie feeling challenged. I thought about being the one to answer God’s call when he asks, “Whom shall I send?” I thought about how I need to step up and have more courage as God’s soldier here on earth. Trying to put myself in Shia LeBeouf’s shoes inspired some courageous desires, but I realized I was making the wrong comparison.

I can’t imagine having the bravery it took to do what those Fury soldiers did. Where I better fit into the movie is as one of the Americans back on U.S. soil who Fury was fighting for. Shia LeBeouf, behind enemy lines, saying “Here am I. Send me” is not meant to inspire a call to action but rather serve as a a reminder of the soldiers who fought so I wouldn’t have to.

I think we tend to view the story of David and Goliath the same way. We put ourselves in David’s shoes and think about going into battle against a mighty opponent with our sling shot and five smooth stones. But the reality is we relate more to the Israelite soldiers who stood behind David as he went to fight for them.

These stories of brave warriors strike a chord in my heart because they’re illustrations of what Jesus did for me and for you on the cross.

The truth is when I couldn’t go because I was broken, or wouldn’t go because I was afraid, Jesus did.

Jesus looked at me, then looked at the cross, then looked up to say, “Here am I. Send me.”

What a wonderful savior.