“But do you remember Gandalf’s
words: Even Gollum may have something yet to?”
–
Frodo to Sam – Book VI,
Chapter 3
The quest was achieved! Sam and Frodo, sitting atop the dark mountain, were overcome with wearied joy. The Ring had been destroyed, consumed in the flames of the Cracks of Doom. Starving and thirsty, with little hope of their own rescue, both delighted in a triumphant end to their adventure.
Neither hobbit could have imagined the events that would have to transpire to bring success. Only a few days earlier they had stood at the foot of Mount Doom, its foreboding trail demanding more strength that either possessed. But there had been no choice in the matter; they knew they simply must reach the peak. Weakened by the burden of the Ring, Frodo had to be carried part of the way. But Sam was willing, resolute in his task to stay with his master to the end, even if it meant his own demise. “So that was the job I felt I had to do when I started…to help Mr. Frodo to the last step and then die with him? Well, if that is the job then I must do it.” Sam’s resolve had been tested with times of deep despair. Its hope spent, his spirit longed to give up the journey; “It’s all quite useless,” he thought, “He said so himself. You are the fool, going on hoping and toiling.” But he resisted the temptation to quit, determined to serve Mr. Frodo to the end.
As it turned out, Sam did not have to die. Moments before they reached the fire, calamity was averted through the mysterious convergence of two wicked purposes. First, placing the Ring on his finger, Frodo vanished before Sam’s eyes. Possessing its bearer, the Ring seemed to be defending itself. “I will not do this deed,” Frodo proclaimed, “The Ring is mine!” Evil had taken control of the Ring-bearer in hopes of preventing its own ruin. Suddenly, the eye of Dark Lord was aware, placing the hobbits’ quest and lives in mortal danger.
Second, a pursuing Gollum violently attacked Sam, causing his head to strike the stony floor. Helpless against the advance, Sam could only watch from afar as Gollum overtook Mr. Frodo. Inflamed by the lust for unending life offered by his “Precious,” the miserable fiend determined to regain custody of it. In maddened rage, he bit the bearing finger from Frodo’s hand, releasing the golden prize. But as Gollum danced about in jubilant conquest, he stepped too far. As if summoned by its rising flames, the creature and the Ring fell together over the chasm’s edge. Gollum clung tightly to his Precious as both fell into the depths of destruction.
In order to protect itself from the flames, the Ring overtook Frodo’s will. But already enslaved to its powers, Gollum served an unintended aim. And so, the one willing to die was delivered through the doom of one chasing immortality.
It was not at all as Sam had pictured. He saw himself a hero, possibly dying alongside his master, nobly sacrificing life and limb to free the Shire from the eye of the Dark Lord, Sauron. He never anticipated that smelly, treacherous Gollum would play such a part. In fact, Sam had almost killed the wretched creature. But something had restrained him, as if Gollum’s fate were wed to his own. As it turned out, the two fates were tied more than he could have known.
“But for him, Sam, I could not have destroyed the Ring,” came Frodo’s haunting words. “The Quest would have been in vain, even at the bitter end.” Just as Gandalf had prophesied, Gollum had a part to play, the part of unwitting instrument.
As ancient lore foretold, the counter melody of Melkor’s rebellion was used as an unwitting instrument in the hands of a great composer. “For he that attempteth this,” the words of Iluvatar echo, “shall prove but mine instrument in devising of things more wonderful, which he himself hath not imagined.” Gollum had no intention of destroying the Ring, but as fate would have it, he alone was able to assure its demise. Frodo, though willing, was unable to overcome its power. And so, what evil intended, good used.
**************
Nothing occurs in life that does not ultimately align with God’s purposes. Even the distorted schemes of evil can become tools in the hands of providence.
Oh, the depth
of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his
judgments, and his parts beyond tracing out! Who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has been his counselor? Who has ever given to God, that God should repay
him? For from him and through him, and to him are all things. To him be the
glory forever! Amen.
-Romans 11:33-36
If it is all from Him, through Him, and to Him, there is no room for the plans of others. In what is the greatest mystery in all of life, God is able to draw all things together to fulfill His great purpose. And one of those purposes is the ultimate good of those whom he has called to sing His song.
We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to his purpose. -Romans 8:28
Those purposes also include using the intentions of the wicked to undermine their own goals and, at the same time, fulfill His.
The wicked plot against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them; but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he knows their day is coming. The wicked draw the sword and bend the bow to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those whose ways are upright. But their swords will pierce their own hearts, and their bows will be broken. -Psalm 37:12-15
Pharoah hardened his heart, refusing to let God’s people go. So God used his stubborn pride to tell a story of deliverance.
The Midianites, Amalekites, and other eastern nations joined forces, assembling a mighty army to crush and dominate Israel. So God placed fear and confusion in their heart and had them all kill one another, to the surprise of Gideon and his three hundred men.
Goliath cursed the Jews and their God, trying to shame them into a battle they were sure to lose. So God used the death of a giant to exalt a boy defeat the Philistines.
Satan leads a chorus of rebellion against the good song of God. So God calls you and me to sing a righteous melody and fulfill a grand quest.
Be it the lust of Gollum, the plans of Sauron, or the deceptions of Satan, everything that opposes God’s story will ultimately serve it’s plot. And someday, flames similar that destroyed the Ring of Doom will consume another rebellion.
The devil,
who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast
and the false prophet had been thrown.
-Revelation 20:10
Reflection:
Even evil must ultimately serve God’s purposes
Return to Brave Little Hobbits - Main
Finding God in the Lord of the Rings - Kurt Bruner & Jim Ware. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2001.