Weird World

Day 22: Leviticus 16-19; Psalms 85-90; Luke 16-18

I belong to a tradition that focuses on the love of God, not the wrath of God.  We celebrate life in the grace of God, The Father's love poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.  We enjoy peace, joy and love in our relationship with God through Jesus Christ.  We tend not to make threats about hell.  We encourage obedience to Christ through uplifting its benefits in a life giving relationship with God.  We don't use scare tactics to manipulate people into submission to God's order.

But today's readings are wrought with WARNING!

Leviticus 16 tells about the Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur.  It is a high and holy day for Jews.  They celebrate God's mercy through forgiveness for their sins over the past year.  In the days when tabernacle and temple stood, blood sacrifices were made.  A scapegoat was forced out into the wilderness to carry their sins away from the presence of God and His new cleansed community.

The LORD said to Moses: "Tell your brother Aaron that he may not come whenever he wants into the holy place behind the veil in front of the mercy seat on the ark or else he will die, because I appear in the cloud above the mercy seat." (Lev. 16:2)


The warning about God's holiness is meant to protect Aaron and the Israelites from profaning the holy dwelling of God.  God is the God of fire and dense cloud on the mountain. He will be acknowledged and revered as holy. He will not be treated with contempt as if He were just another common thing at our disposal.  God is holy (totally other) and the Israelites (and we Christians) are called to be holy (set apart as a people all together different).

Azazel - Goat Demon - Banished One

This is a weird world that the desert people lived in.  It was a world of desolate places with desolate spirit-beings or demons who had fallen from heaven's graces and ruled the earth bringing all manner of sin, violence, lust and discord.  The original Hebrew says one of two goats is for "azazel." (Lev. 16:10).  Azazel literally means "sent away or departed from God."  According to later Jewish writings (1 and 3 Enoch and Talmudic texts), Azazel was the chief angel who lead a rebellion of 200 angels against God in heaven.  They were cast out and banished to the earth where they carry on their rebellious ways and teach men to do the same. Azazel taught war and weapons making, gold and fine jewelry making and cosmetic to beautify the feminine body and arouse lust and vanity.

The language almost sounds like the goat is a gift to Azazel as if the offering of the scapegoat is to a goat-demon (Lev. 17:7). Apparently it was the practice of desert peoples to sacrifice to goat-headed or goat-like deities, something not alien to pagan and satanic art even of today.  While images here are more akin to the goat-like way in which this demon was understood, brutish and selfish as goats can be amongst themselves, other imagery of Azazel (or the cult of Azazel) are more feminine and pornographic in nature celebrating sexual lust as the mark of this cult and its spiritual worship.

What a weird world we live in!  Perhaps we are not as far removed from the pagan practices and aspirations as the desert people of the ancient Middle East.  We live in a different kind of wasteland, a moral desert.

It is exactly this kind of thing that God calls His people out of and to become separate.  I saw a brief documentary on HBO while flipping channels in which a comment was made that pornography has become mainstream in America. It is no longer taboo. They estimate over 50 percent of households consume at one level or another some kind of pornographic imagery.  Appealing to our baser senses, we worship at the altar of an old goat calling us to all manner of filth.

The holiness code of the book of Leviticus forbids drinking blood (vampirism in underground clubs in major cities in the US and Europe), incest (sex with family and close relatives), homosexuality (same gender sex), bestiality (sex with animals).  These were the practices of the Egyptians and the people inhabiting Canaan.  The Israelites were called to be separate and not follow these practices as a sign that they belong to Yahweh who is holy, righteous and true.

A beautiful prayer is written in Psalm 85:8-12:

I will listen to what God will say;
    surely the LORD will declare peace
    to His people, His godly ones,
    and not let them go back to foolish ways. 

His salvation is very near those who fear Him,
    so that glory may dwell in our land.

Faithful love and truth will join together;
    righteousness and peace will embrace. 

Truth will spring up from the earth,
    and righteousness will look down from heaven. 

Also, the LORD will provide what is good,
    and our land will yield its crops.

It is a prayer for God's goodness to restore a wayward nation.  There is also an acknowledgement in Psalm 89 and 90 that God does not bless a nation that has broken covenant and served other gods (or passions).  Ultimately the land cries out for relief from the people who are defiling it.  The land vomits out the inhabitants because of their sins. The land of milk and honey, the promised land of God's blessing and inheritance, has become a desolate place because God gave them over to their passions and to their false gods. Their enemies overtook them and the great city of Zion was destroyed.

We celebrate the "Big Apple," the city that never sleeps; Las Vegas or LA or New Orleans as cities where things are happening.  But the people of God hope in a city where God is its light (Rev. 21:23-24).

Jesus warned that the Day of the Son of Man (traditionally called the Day of the Lord or Judgement Day), will come on those who are too busy with eating, drinking and marrying and sex (the pleasures of mortal life) to honor God.  They will be taken unaware.  And that Day will come on everyone. Nobody will be exempt. Everyone will suddenly realize what is going down.  The party is over and the reality of begin "sent away from God" into the utter darkness with Azazel is realized.   Jesus warned that those who are rich now will suffer hunger as they cry out in torment (Lk 16:16:23-24).

But those who hunger now will be fed.  Justice will finally come to those who never knew justice in this life.  I wonder if a man rose from the dead if it would draw the attention of our wayward weird world long enough to awaken them to see the destructive path they are on (Lk. 16:31).

Lord, thank You for awakening my soul to honor the Holy One. Help me to become more and more Yours, to be set apart 100% for Your purposes.  And I pray for mercy on the weird world so fallen from Your goodness.  Save us from ourselves.  In Jesus' name, Amen.

What's on the Menu?

Day 21: Leviticus 11–15; Psalms 79–84; Luke 13–15

I am a meat eater.  When it comes to dining choices the big decision centers on the meat choice. Vegetables, salads, potatoes, and desserts are supplementary.  I was raised in a German-American family. I am the fifth generation since my ancestors immigrated to America from Bavaria in the 1840's. 

Germans have an interesting history.  Barbarian is one word used to describe my folk by the Roman Empire. Scythian is a Greek word used to describe West German people. Germans ate like most farmer and hunter/gatherer cultures...everything they could keep down.  I remember hearing my father's uncles talking about eating blood sausage, even drinking warm blood straight from a dish or cup after catching it from a pig's recently slit throat.  Disgusting, right?

The book of Leviticus explicitly forbids the drinking of blood and the eating of animals not properly slaughtered and drained of blood.  For instance a strangled animal could not be eaten by a Jew. It is forbidden because the blood is still in the animal.

What's all the fuss?  The New Testament authors also debated about food.  Paul found the freedom in Christ apart from the law, but through faith in what God is doing Christ to make such debates mute.  But the church in Jerusalem told the Gentile Christians to avoid blood, meant from strangled animals and food sacrificed to idols (Acts 15:19-21).

The Levitical laws have also been called the "holiness code."   God calls His people to be holy as He is holy, set apart from the common for divine purposes (Lev. 11:44, 45). 

I have a Boy Scout uniform I only wear to Boy Scout functions.  I have a minister's robe, I only wear in the context of worship.  These objects are for one purpose.  I have a toothbrush I only use for brushing teeth.  If it gets used to clean the bottom of my shoes, I never put it in my mouth again. I get a new toothbrush.

God feels the same way about His people.  He wants them to be clean and set apart for His service and example.  It they become defiled, he doesn't thrown them out like a dirty toothbrush, but provides ways for them to become clean and holy again.  There are however some deadly exceptions, what we might call "mortal sins."  Certain offenses require being cut off from God's people or even death.

In Christ all offenses are forgiven, even the mortal ones deserving death, because God has chosen to forgive through Christ all people.  His holy project with Israel created one perfect man, Jesus Christ of Nazareth.  He was tempted in every way, but did not behave sinfully.  He remained holy and unblemished.  He is therefore the once for all sacrifice for all of humanity's failings.  This sacrificial meal is true food and drink, on the menu of every Christian.

Such is the great mercy of God.  He still calls us to be holy and places His spirit of holiness in us who trust in Christ.  There is more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than 99 righteous who don’t need repenting (Lk. 15:7).  The righteous religious leaders could not grasp why Jesus’ ministry was focused on sinners.  He told them, “we have to celebrate for this brother of yours was dead, but is alive again (Lk. 15:32).

Repent or perish Jesus taught.  It is a narrow gate into the kingdom of heaven and few find it, but the invitation is open to anyone…no matter what they’ve eaten or what is eating them.  The blood of God’s Son, Jesus Christ, makes the impossibility of heaven possible for a sinner like.

“Amazing Grace that saved a wretch like me.” Hallelujah!

My Portion Forever

Day 20: Leviticus 6–10; Psalms 73–78; Luke 10–12

Aaron and his sons learn of their duties and begin to carry them out.  The tabernacle and all of it's holy furnishings are consecrated.  The priests are consecrated and the people are also made holy through the sacrifices performed before the Lord at the tabernacle.

In some of the sacrifices a portion of the food offered to God is shared with the priests and their families.  It is their portion, a gift from God through His people (Lev. 7:34).

Psalm 73 begins with a worshipper he has envied the wealthy and wicked.  But he sees clearly through worship of the eternal God that their days are short.  He repents and realizes the Lord is his portion forever.

"Whom do I have in heaven but You?
    And I desire nothing on earth but You.
    My flesh and my heart may fail,
    but God is the strength  of my heart,
    my portion forever...

But as for me, God's presence is my good." (Psa. 73:25-26, 28a)

John Wesley used the very words from Psalm 73:25 to describe the heart of a Methodist.  She knows that that only God is the real prize, not husbands or wives, children or grandchildren, friends or family can compare to the joy of the Lord.  All the wonderful blessings of this mortal life are nothing compared to God.  The prophet wrote " no eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind can conceive what God has prepared for those who love Him" (Isa. 64:4; 1 Cor. 2:9).

God gave portions to Israel of the promised land, but there are many mansions (dwelling places) for the saved (John 14:2) in the kingdom of heaven.  Could there be anything on earth that compares to the eternal bliss of God's presence?

Don't get me wrong.  I deeply love my wife, Michele and my children.  I love my friends and am so grateful for them.  I greatly enjoy a juicy steak, a cold beer, and lively rock music.  I think Hollywood has created memorable films that move me and excite me.  I watch them frequently.  But even still my heart tells me there's something more, something amazingly wonderful coming beyond the curtain of my mortal life.  And I feel deep in my bones an anticipation that makes me shudder with joy.  Like a kid who can't wait for Christmas morning to arrive, I long for my heavenly home, my portion forever.

Jesus told his 70 disciples who rejoiced at the fact that they had power to drive out demons in His name to rejoice rather in the knowledge that their names are written in heaven (Lk. 10:20).  He told Martha to calm down and stop fussing over playing the hostess. Her sister Mary had chosen the better portion, to sit at His feet and listen.

Jesus encouraged His followers to work for treasure in heaven and not to spend so much time and energy worrying about this life and its cares and concerns.  "Make for yourselves purses that don't wear out (Lk. 12:33)."  The heavenly reward goes to the faithful and wise servant who does as His Master expects...take care of the the others, to care for the poor and destitute and to reconcile with those who have a case against him.

My Lord, thank You for the promise of a portion with You that never fades.  Help me to be wise and serve You well as I wait for You to bring me home to Yourself.  Amen

The Spirit You Belong To

Day 19: Leviticus 1–5; Psalms 67–72; Luke 7–9

The priests are instructed on how to make offerings for their unintentional sins and the unintentional and rebellion of the people of Israel through a variety of sacrificial offerings.  Some offerings are simply to return thanks to God for blessings from the field and flock, but some are for covering over sin.  The blood of a sacrificial animal covers over the sinfulness and guilt of the sinner.  It's life is given to cleanse the stain between the sinner and the holy God who will not look upon sin.

There are levels of offense based on position in the community.  If a priest sins he must bring the blood of a bull into the tent of meeting and drop the blood seven times before the veil that covers the Holy of Holies and applied to the horns for the altar of incense. For a leader the blood of a male goat is used and applied to the horns of the altar for burnt offering in the courtyard.  Unintentional sins of the people are carried out in the courtyard before the tent of meeting using the blood of a female goat or lamb.  The greater one's responsibilities to the community, the greater the cost of sacrifice to cover over their sin.

All this is designed to clear away the guilt that stands between God and His people.  Sacrifice restores the broken relationship.   As the people lay hands on the animal their guilt it transferred to the animal and dies with the animal in a sacrifice acceptable to the Lord.

The people come to the tabernacle and the priests trusting in God's mercy.

"God, You know my foolishness,
    and my guilty acts are not hidden from You.  
    Do not let those who put their hope in You"  (Psa. 69:5-6a)

Jesus teaches us about mercy in His interactions with others in Luke 7-9.  In Luke 7:36-50 Jesus is a guest int he home of Simon the Pharisee.  While there a woman of ill repute weeps at His feet, washing them with her tears and dries His feet with her hair.  She also anoints Jesus' feet with costly perfumed oil.  The pharisee doubts Jesus as a man of God because He allows this conduct.  But Jesus points out that those who are forgiven much, love much.  And judgemental folks, like Jesus' host Simon the Pharisee, love little because they have not recognized the depths of their own sinfulness and sought forgiveness.  They love little.

Sadly Jesus' closest disciples are no better.  In Luke 9:51-55 Samaritans are unwelcoming toward Jesus and His party because they were headed to Jerusalem to worship.  There is a long feud between Samaritans and Judeans.  The Samaritans do not recognize Jerusalem as the place to worship, but rather Mt. Gerazim in Shechem.  James and John, the Galilean fisherman who along with Peter were part of Jesus' inner circle of friends, suggested they might use the authority Jesus had entrusted to them to call down fire from heaven to consume them.  This was the kind of thing Elijah the prophet did (2 Kg. 1:9-16).  But Jesus rebuked them saying (in some ancient manuscripts), "You do not know what kind of spirit you belong to."

The fine print of the translator's footnote is what grabbed me in this reading.  There is a something new happening in Jesus.  This is not a God who is ready to burst out against the unholy as He is in Exodus and Leviticus.  The holy fire of God rests upon Jesus like a dove.  God is not interested in retribution, but restoration.  An age of grace is now open to the world, not through the blood of bulls, goats and lambs, but through God's choice to love us even when we behave as enemies (Rom. 5:8-10).

"Mercy triumphs over judgment." (Jame 2:13)

Lord Jesus, help me always to recognize I am a forgiven sinner unworthy of Your great mercy. Help me to remember the kind of spirit I belong to...Mercy.  Amen!

The New Moses

Day 18: Exodus 36–40; Psalms 61–66; Luke 4–6

"I will live in Your tent forever and take refuge under the shelter of Your wings," the psalmist prays (Psa 61:4) and points to the place where God dwelt among the Israelites in the desert, the Tent of the Tabernacle.

As I wrap up Exodus and continue my journey through Psalms and the Gospel of Luke, I am struck by the ministry of Jesus beginning with a 40 day experience in the desert where he was tested just as Moses and the Israelites were tested.  Jesus passed the test.  He emerged from the wilderness and faced a variety of conflicts with religious leaders, the old wine skins who cannot be filled with the new wine of Jesus' faith.  Satisfied with the old, they are not even interested in trying the new (Lk. 5:37-39).  They criticise the liberty Jesus and disciples enjoy during Sabbath.  Jesus chooses liberating those oppressed by illness and spiritual bondage rather than attend to every law restriction.  Jesus tells them the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.  Sabbath keeping should not be a burden, but a renewing time of joy in the community that loves God.

Moses taught to kill anyone who works on the Sabbath because it is a holy day to be observed in obedience to God. Serious stuff!  Jesus was a Sabbath observing Jew and went to synagogue each week.  It is sad that the place where He should find joy in the Lord, He finds resistence to His ministry.  The men in the synagogues resent that He heals on the Sabbath or that He, a Nazarene, teaches with a profound authority.

Moses faced similar conflicts and challenges to his leadership, but Jesus is more than Moses. This is the visitation of God in the flesh. 

12 tribes gather to construct the Tabernacle "just as the Lord had commanded Moses." (Ex. 39:42) and Jesus chose 12 apostles to go and continue His ministry of teaching, healing and liberation (Lk. 6:18).   He taught the blessings and curses of the new covenant community (Beatitudes - Lk. 6:20-26) just as Moses set before the Israelites life and death and encouraged them to choose life (Deut. 30:19-20). 

God's glory filled the holy place He commanded Moses to construct.  Whenever the cloud of His presence covered the tabernacle with His glory, the Israelites stayed encamped with God in their midst.  When the cloud lifted and moved onward through the wilderness, they broke camp and followed the pillar of cloud.

If only I had a cloud to follow, then I would always know where to go.  But would I always follow? Or would I like Peter say to the Holy One, "go away from me, Lord. I am a sinful man."

If I am going to follow Jesus, I have to let go of my fears and my feelings of unworthiness and accept that He called me regardless of my weaknesses.  He encourages saying, "I will make you fish for people."  For Christ came for the sick, not those who don't need a doctor.

Lord, help me to put into practice what you teach and join you in teaching, healing and liberating people. Help me to become the good tree that bears good fruit. Amen.

Broken

Day 17 Exodus 31–35; Psalms 55–60; Luke 1–3

John the Baptizer, dressed in camel's hair and on a diet of locusts and honey stands int he tradition of Israel's ascetic prophet Elijah.  It was prophecied that Elijah would return to announce the coming of the great day of the Lord (Ma. 4:5-6).  It is a warning to all who are watching.  They will not be caught unaware.  They will have a herald to tell them to prepare.  John, a son of a priest, calls out in the words of Isaiah, "Prepare the way for the Lord; make His paths straight!"

And the Messiah comes through a son of King David, Joseph of Nazareth, betrothed to Mary of Nazareth. The Holy Spirit is active in the birth of Jesus and in the unborn life of John, His cousin. The Spirit fills Mary, Elizabeth and Zechariah (John's parents).  Angels announce the coming Christ Jesus and His herald John. Shepherds are told to the good news and they go to see Jesus lying in a food trough.  Such a lowly birth for the King of Kings.

Zechariah  celebrates what God is doing...

"He has dealt mercifully with our fathers  
    and remembered His holy covenant  —
    the oath that He swore to our father Abraham. 
    He has given us the privilege,
    since we have been rescued
    from our enemies' clutches,
    to serve Him without fear
    in holiness and righteousness
    in His presence all our days." (Luke 1:72-75)

Mary, too celebrates...

"His mercy is from generation to generation  
    on those who fear Him.
    He has done a mighty deed with His arm; 
    He has scattered the proud
    because of the thoughts of their hearts;
    He has toppled the mighty from their thrones
    and exalted the lowly." (Luke 1:50-52)

Those who are watching are not caught unaware.  Anna and Simeon see the Redeemer of Israel (Lk. 2:25-38)

But there are those who do not keep their hearts tuned to God, nor diligent in keeping His covenant.  They are quick to turn away from God and turn toward lesser gods.  The terrible tragedy of Mt. Sinai tells of how the people grew wrestless while Moses was on the mountain of God for 40 days and nights.  They built a golden calf from the plundered treasures the Egyptians gave them on the night of Passover.  They celebrated in pagan revelry drinking wine to excess and other despised frivolity.  In the garden of Eden, God had one rule.  Adam and Eve did not keep it.  In the newly formed covenant community the Israelites heard rule # 1: "Do not have other gods besides me (Ex. 20:3)."  They could not keep even the first rule and their worship degraded into self-gratification and falsity saying, "these are your gods who brought you out of Egypt (Ex. 32:4b)!"

God was angered and His wrath burned against them.  Moses interceded and God "turned away" from His fierce anger.  The multitude was spared.  But when Moses came down and saw what the wayward people were doing, he threw down the stone tablets on which God had written all the words of the covenant and shattered them.  The covenant was broken.  Their promises to God were a lie when they all said, "We will do everything the Lord has commanded (Ex. 24:3b)."

Moses did not "turn away" from his rage.  Instead he called for blood and the Levites slaughtered 3000 disobedient men, women and children. Soon after God struck the people with a plague as He had warned them at the waters of Marah (bitterness) (Ex. 15:26), for they had not carefully obeyed Him , nor paid attention to His commands and statutes.

The Holy God could not dwell among these unholy people.  The brokenness is painfully portrayed as Moses moves the tent of meeting outside the camp rather than among them.  They longingly watch from the entrance to their tents as Moses goes to meet with the Lord.  In time the brokenness is healed.  God renews the covenant with Moses and the Israelites and continues with them into the land of promise.  God is pleased with Moses and even though Aaron failed and the rest of the people fell into unfaithfulness, God forgives and shows Moses His glory. 

Moses saw all God's goodness as He passed by in the rock cleft.  And God pronounced His name, Yahweh, compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, faithful love and truth for 1000 generations, forgiving them. But the guilty do not go unpunished.  Their sinful lives carry curse into their succeeding generations...just like alcoholism and other unhealthy and neurotic cycles that enslave families until someone finds the courage to stop.

We have a prayer in the United Methodist Book of Worship that begins, "O God, who gave us birth, You are ever more ready to hear than we are to pray."  It seems that God is far more ready to heal brokenness than we are ready to pursue holiness and health in a right relationship with God, neighbor and self.  I thank God that He came to us in Jesus and overcame our bend to sinning by placing the Holy Spirit within us to give us hearts that want to obey and the ability to carry out His will (Ezek. 36:26-27; Phil 2:13).  Our salvation is never based on our ability, on our righteousness. If it were we would always be in peril.  Rather our salvation is based on God's ability, His faithfulness to us who trust in His love through Jesus Christ.

And so I join the psalmist in crying out for wayward nations and peoples all over the world, including my own heart which "prone to wander; prone to leave the God I love."

God, You have rejected us;
    You have broken out against us;
    You have been angry. Restore us!  
    You have shaken the land and split it open.
    Heal its fissures, for it shudders.

Save with Your right hand, and answer me,
    so that those You love may be rescued  (Psa. 60:1-2, 5)

Details! Details!

Day 16: Exodus 26–30; Psalms 49–54; Mark 15–16

I am trudging through the instructions to Moses on how to construct the tabernacle and all it's untensils and furnishings, the priestly garments and the means by which they are to be consecrated and ordained. It's so boring!!!

But is it just me?  My personality is one that urges, "don't bother me with the details."  I fully recognize that the human species includes persons who glory in details.  So when big picture visionaries and detail people get together, they can make wonderful things happen.

Moses enters the cloud and deep mystery of God's holy presence and emerges with the details.

There is a certain beauty in the symmetry and ornate design of the tabernacle. Commentators have said the design communicates a picture of the cosmos. God is at the center in the Holy of Holies where He meets Israel's high priest seated above the mercy seat which adorns the ark of the covenant. There is an outer court representing the distinction between the common place and the holy place. The outer courtyard is marked by curtains. In the courtyard the sacrifices are offered by the priests. Placed at the far end of the courtyard is a tent for meeting God, which only Moses and the priests may enter. There showbread and incense and lamplight is kept before the Lord. Deeper still within the tent of meeting is a curtained off place where only the high priest and Moses may enter. The ark of the covenant is placed there behind the curtain to the Holy of Holies.

That which is common or unholy is outside of the holy place. Those who are called to holiness must consecrate and cleanse themselves for service in the holy place as they have come from the common. Prayers and offerings must be given by those appointed for this purpose before coming before the Holy One. Does this not communicate the separation between what is common and what is holy? It is a safe place for holiness in the midst of chaos and disorder.

St. Theresa of Avila spoke of prayer as an interior castle. Most of us never get past the moat and cross the drawbridge. Those who do and enter the castle tend to forget to close the door behind them, allowing rats of conscious concerns to run amuck. Only the patient and disciplined prayer will find entry to the throne room in the interior castle where God awaits.

The psalmist recognizes the sinfulness of humanity before God.

God looks down from heaven on the human race
    to see if there is one who is wise
    and who seeks God.
Everyone has turned aside;
    they have all become corrupt.
    There is no one who does good,
    not even one. (Psa. 53:2-3)

And yet God wants to be among the people called by His name.  So the tabernalce and later temple are places where He dwells among them.  And so the the people have confidence...

God is my helper;
    the Lord is the sustainer of my life.
He will repay my adversaries for [their] evil.
    Because of Your faithfulness, annihilate them.
I will sacrifice a freewill offering to You.
    I will praise Your name, LORD,
    because it is good. (Psa. 54:4-6)

Jesus is betrayed by Judas one of His twelve chosen apostles.  He is beaten, mocked, flogged and nailed to a cross.  Though He is the Christ, the Judge of all the earth, Jesus is judged and executed by cruel men...by frightened men.  His blood flows and sprinkles from the Holy One washing away the sins of the whole world.  He is laid in a tomb and covered in linen.  And three days later, early on Sunday morning, He is risen! Death is defeated.  The curse is broken.

God moved from heaven to the fiery cloud upon the mountaintop, to the tabernacle in the wilderness, to the temple in Jerusalem, to prophets in exile, into Jesus and walked amoung us and now through the Holy Spirit, God dwells in us who believe!

Don't ever spare me these details!

Holy Smoke!!!

Day 15: Exodus 26–30; Psalms 49–54; Mark 15–16

It is easy to draw parallels between the selection from Old Testament History, Psalms and Gospel today.  These are not a matter of interpretation either.  The text means for us to make these connections. 

Moses is given the Law on a mountain top wreathed in holy fire and dense smoke (Ex. 24:15-18).  This law from God defines for Israel ways to be with the Holy God on the mountain whose holy presence strikes fear in them (Ex. 20:20).  The laws give Israel a sense of how God views right relationships between them.  They are to respect one another's property, wives, daughters, slaves, livestock, and fields. If there is theft, violence, damages, the right thing to do is to restore and make reparations to the offended party.  And the Israelites are to treat God as holy.  This seems to carry with it the respect and awe deserving of a creator far beyond our comprehension.  The One in the fiery cloud and dense smoke who descended from the heavens to visit with Moses on the mountain top is transcendent, utterly surpassing His creatures. 

And yet He wants to be known.  There is an immanent quality.  The mind blowing mystery of the smoke and fire on the mountain is entered and clear communion/communication occurs.  The Israelites get a clear understanding through the law of how to please God by treating Him with reverent regard and each other with justice and righteousness.

The law set boundaries on behavior, describing rights, responsibilities and roles in the covenant community.  Through law observance The Holy One of Israel will dwell among them (Ex. 25:8).  This is risky business and must be attended to with careful attention to keep all God commands and ordinances, elsewise the holy wrath of the divine One may strike down the disobedient and casual who show contempt through carelessness. The covenant keeping people will be blessed by God's abiding presence and cursed by His anger when they are disobedient. 

Two psalms come to mind: one celebrates Israel's established and blessed position on Mt. Zion...

The LORD is great and is highly praised
    in the city of our God.
    His holy mountain, rising splendidly,
    is the joy of the whole earth.
    Mount Zion on the slopes of the north
    is the city of the great King. (Psa. 47:1-2)

The other laments their exile in Babylon...

You are my King, my God,
    who ordains victories for Jacob.
    Through You we drive back our foes;
    through Your name we trample our enemies...

But You have rejected and humiliated us;
    You do not march out with our armies.
    You make us retreat from the foe,
    and those who hate us
    have taken plunder for themselves.
   You hand us over to be eaten like sheep
    and scatter us among the nations. (Psa. 44:4-5, 9-11)

Israel has endured both sides of the Holy One, blessing and curse, pleasure and pain, comfort and confrontation. 

Jesus warned the disciples that the temple where God promised to dwell for all eternity would be torn down.  There would not be one stone left standing because Israel had failed to recognize the visitation of their God in Jesus Christ.  Just as Moses established the covenant with the sprinkling of blood, Jesus established the new covenant.  Repeating Moses' words Jesus passed a cup of wine during the Passover meal and said, "this is the blood of the covenant (Ex. 24:8; Mk. 14:24)."

Knowing that Jesus is the holy creator in pascal lamb's clothing, it seems to be a continuation of what God has been doing from the beginning, giving a means by which He can be known by His wayward children and dwell among them.  In the Mosaic covenant it was strict adherence to law and religious practices.  And in the new covenant it is strict adherence to Christ, loving as He loves us, serving as He serves, trusting as He is trustworthy.

May the Lord teach us to obey that we might continue to abide in Him and He in us. Amen

Wilderness Grumbling, Christ Humbling

Day 14: Exodus 16–20; Psalms 37–42; Mark 10–12

You know it's interesting to be in the same place as the Hebrews wandering in the wilderness and feeling hungry and thirsty and angry and frustrated and afraid.  They grumble against their leadership.  They cry out against Moses even though they are free for the first time in their lives!  Truth is they don't know how to live free.  Slavery feels familiar and comfortable.

My readings yesterday were rushed, something I don't like to do.  But even then there were moments of miraculous bread to feed my soul in the midst of the desert of my day.  I love the Psalms.  I almost always find words for my heart in them.  There is always something that the psalmist writes that speaks for my heart, giving my heart freedom in finding expression that otherwise it would struggle to share. And almost always there is something for my heart in the Psalms answering deep needs I didn't even know I had.

The sons of Korah (Ex. 6:21) wrote:

As the deer pants for streams of water,
   so my soul pants for you, my God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. (Psa. 42:1-2a)

Bits of truth and wisdom satisfy my heart.  When I grumble against life's challenges as it comes, I am like the transgressor in Psalm 36:2, "in his own eyes he flatters himself [too much] to discover and hate his sin."  I repent of my complaint and find myself wanting to be right in my heart before the God of all creation, learning to be happy with my many blessings. Psa. 37:16, "Better the little that the righteous man has than the abundance of many wicked people."

I even find in this succession of prayers of God's people the appropriate words to confess my grumbling heart's sin and seek restoration through the mercies of my God.

LORD, do not withhold Your compassion from me;
    Your constant love and truth will always guard me.
For troubles without number have surrounded me;
    my sins have overtaken me; I am unable to see.
    They are more than the hairs of my head,
    and my courage leaves me.
LORD, be pleased to deliver me;
    hurry to help me, LORD.  (Psa. 40:11-13)


The grumblers are fed and watered and lead to the mountain of God and given the Law.  Indeed words that mediated through Moses feeds the hungry and thirsty soul and gives an identity to a people who don't know how to live in the freedom God gives.

And we still need teaching...Jesus met a rich young Hebrew ruler who kept the Law from his youth.  But it is the outward law he has kept.  There is an inward dimension to God's commands. It is about our worship and honor of created things rather than the creator (Rom. 1:25).  God says have no other gods before me.  The rich man loved his wealth more than God.  Jesus' challenge to him was to sell all his possessions, give them to the poor, and follow Jesus.  He could not do it.  And he was saddened as he walked away.

Do I thirst for God and hunger for Him more than these things?

O Lord, preserve me and keep me coming to the fount of every blessing, Jesus Christ, my Lord! Amen.

Speak, But Not Now

Day 13: Exodus 11–15; Psalms 31–36; Mark 7–9

When my children were young, they would sometimes ask those embarrassing questions that I knew I could not answer in a way they could understand without disturbing their innocence.  There is a time when information is appropriate and times when it is better to remain silent.

The gospel readings today have Jesus teaching and refuting opponents.  He helps those who are deaf and mute to hear and speak, but quickly tells them not to speak to anyone about His healing of their infirmities.  The Pharisees would love for Jesus to be silent.  Jesus charges that they are "people who honor me with their lips, but their heart is far from me (Mk 7:6b)."  So their speaking is inauthentic, not truthful.

The Pharisees aren't the only ones who come under Jesus' criticism.  His own disciples are also slow to understand.  Jesus charges them, "Is your heart hardened? Do you have eyes and not see, and do yo have ears and not hear? (Mk 8:17b-18a)" 

Jesus heals a blind man in Bethsaida a fishing village in Galilee where some of his disciples lived (John 1:44).  It is the only miracle that did not completely heal the person the first try.  Jesus had to lay hands on the man a second time to totally restore his sight.  This almost certain points to the incomplete sight (understanding) the disciples have of Jesus.  They know He is of God.  They know He is a prophet and teacher of amazing ability.  Peter is the first to have his eyes opened, in part to who Jesus really is.  Peter confesses "You are the Messiah!"  And Jesus tells His disciples not to tell anyone!

Could it be that the partial understanding of His disciples warranted waiting before they were ready to share the whole truth?  Like a parent decides when a child is or is not ready for certain information, Jesus knows his followers are not ready to tell others about His messianic identity. 

Peter proves he is not fully understanding Jesus and His ministry when he rebukes Jesus fro predicting His crucifixion.  Jesus sharply rebukes Peter telling him, "You're not thinking about God's concerns, but man's (Mk. 8:33b)!" 

Our attachments to this world cloud our vision of God and heaven's view on matters.  Like the blind man at Bethsaida, we only see with blurred vision until we are completely healed of our dependency on the "things of man."

The demons know Jesus and He silences them.  The disciples know Jesus, but they are not ready to speak about Him either.  They bicker about who will be the greatest in the Kingdom of God, showing they don't really have a purified heart.  They remain childish. 

What is interesting is that a child is who they must welcome if they are to welcome the reign of Christ.  There is a humility the disciples miss.  They are not as arrogant as the religious leadership has proven to be, but they still carrying selfish egos.  They are not ready.

They fail to drive out some of the tougher demons. They are not ready.  They haven't humbled themselves before God enough to have the authority (Mk. 9:28-29).

And they run the risk of causing the downfall of "little ones," whether it be actual children or infants in the faith.  They are not yet ready to speak. There is more healing needed before they can speak with authority about Jesus the Messiah.

In Mark's Gospel, the disciples never get to the point where they are ready.  The earliest manuscripts have no resurrection accounts with His twelve.  Only the women see the empty tomb and are frightened by an angel.  They leave the tomb and say nothing to no one because they are so afraid.

If I were an early listener to the gospel of Mark and suffered the bleak ending, I would be compelled to tell what I know about Jesus...even if I am not fully healed, fully seeing, hearing or understanding.  I know enough.  My savior is alive and He lives in me.

War of Wills

Day 12: Exodus 6–10; Psalms 25–30; Mark 4–6

Right now the USA and the UK are joined in air strikes against Libyan forces under Gaddafi's dictatorship.  Gaddafi has been bombing and killing his own people who demonstrate aggression against him.  The oppressed rise up together against the oppressor.

In Sunday's readings the Israelites have no power of their own to deliver themselves from the strength of Pharaoh, king of Egypt.  But Yahweh, their God, has all the power and He has entered into a battle of wills with the gods of Egypt (Ex. 12:12) and their representative son on earth, Pharaoh.  In this war Pharaoh loses in every confrontation.  His resolve to maintain control over his slave force is undiminished to the very end when he loses his first born son to the angel of death sent to take all the firstborn of Egypt.

The overwhelming message for me is that God (Yahweh) is in complete control.  God commands Moses and Aaron and they obey.  God commands the waters that they turn to blood.  God commands the frogs, gnats, flies and locusts and they unleash destruction and suffering.  God commands the storm clouds and they produce rain, hail and fire.  God even commands skin disease and this microscopic plague from furnace dust wreaks havoc on the hard hearted Pharaoh and his kingdom. 

Yahweh is none other than creator of all the heavens and the earth! Psalm 24 and 29 sing of His might.

Who is this King of glory?
    The LORD, strong and mighty,
    the LORD, mighty in battle. (Psa. 24:8)

The voice of the LORD is above the waters.
    The God of glory thunders—
    the LORD, above vast waters (Psa. 29:3)

God's voice breaks huge cedar trees, makes land masses move like a young calf skips for joy (The island country Japan moved 8 feet after the 8.9 Richter scale earthquake on March 8, 2011)!  His voice give birth and strips fruitful lands bare.

The King of glory cannot be resisted.  Only His patient and long-suffering, merciful nature gives the illusion that God is powerless.  God endured His people's suffering in Egypt until He could no longer.  He blessed them to multiply greatly even under affliction (Ex. 1:12).  And He formed freed slaves, over a long period of 430 years, into a great nation in order to fulfill His promises to Abraham that his descendants would inherit the land of Canaan.

God's purposes will be carried out to the fullest at His command, His sense of the fullness of time (kairos = God's time). And no other king or kingdom can stand against Him. 

So the psalmist wonders,
"Why do the nations rebel and the peoples plot in vain?    
The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers conspire together
    against the LORD and His Anointed One. (Psa 2:1-2)

and sadly recognizes,
The fool says in his heart, "God does not exist."
Will evildoers never understand? (Psa. 14:1a, 4a).

Herod is the New Testament version of Pharaoh, another fool who chose to resist the dominion of God through His representative Son, Jesus, the true King of the Jews.  Like his father before him, Herod Antipas makes decisions out of fear to keep some kind of hold on his people.  We see how fragile is his political grip.  Herod fears his honor will suffer if he doesn't give Herodias' daughter the head of John the Baptist.  He doesn't want to, but because he rashly promised the seductive dancer anything he finds himself afraid of appearing weak before his birthday party guests.

Herod seems to have the upper hand as he kills the King's herald (John the Baptist) and participates in the rejection and ridicule of King Jesus.  But all this is part of God's doing.  It only seems like King Herod and Pontinus Pilate, the Roman Governor are in control.  In the end it is not Caesar's will that wins the day.  It is the will of God. 

For just as God provided a passover to save the Israelites from the angel of death during the last plague on Egypt by the shedding of an unblemished lamb's blood, He now offers the blood of His sinless Son as a Paschal Lamb once for all. 

Powers much greater than Pharaoh, Herod, Pilate or Caesar are now subdued and conquered in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  For this Jesus is none other than God incarnate, the King of Glory!

He commands the winds and waves and they obey him on the boat crossing the sea of Galilee.  He commands the hungry multitude to be seated and serves them miraculous bread. He teaches the simple deep truths that only those inside the kingdom can see and understand through His coaching, while those outside are blinded in an utter darkness that can be felt (Ex. 10:21).

The creator who separates darkness from light, separates the His chosen from the Egyptians.  He hardens Pharaoh's heart and exalts the name of the Lord above all who would choose to war against Him.

If is were not for His patience and great love, we would all perish.  Therefore people of faith can come to Him in complete trust saying,

LORD, I turn my hope to You.  
    My God, I trust in You.
Do not remember the sins of my youth
    or my acts of rebellion;
    in keeping with Your faithful love, remember me
    because of Your goodness, LORD.  (Psa. 25:1-2a, 7)
 

Irony

Day 11: Exodus 1–5; Psalms 19–24; Mark 1–3


I love a good laugh. Irony is especially the joy of those with a sharp wit.  Ironic humor is delivered with a pause waiting for the audience to "get it."

One of my favorite quotes about irony comes from the film ConAir in which a psychotic serial killer muses while watching the newly liberated criminals drinking and dancing in celebration to Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Sweet Home Alabama."  He says, "Define irony. Bunch of idiots dancing on a plane to a song made famous by a band that died in a plane crash."

This is how I understand irony: what is said is something more than what is literally conveyed.  Just a few Sundays ago my wife, Michele, was commissioned as a Stephen Ministry Leader (www.stephenministries.org).  The senior pastor asked me as one of the other pastors if I would love her. And he interjected "as I know you do."   The ironic comedic pause was just too much for me to pass up.  I turned my gaze ever so slowly outward to the congregation and the laughter erupted.  Something more was being implied than what the liturgy had said. 

As I began Exodus and the gospel of Mark today, irony is what I see all over the page.  Joseph saved all of Egypt, but a new Pharaoh didn't know about him?  How can that happen?  Of course, I know how short our memory is.  There are many people who do not know the Beatles.  How can that be possible?  It's the music of "yesterday."  (smirk)  Let the reader understand (Mat. 24:15).

More irony: Moses is raised by his own mother and paid to do so by the daughter of the king who would have had him killed just because he was a Hebrew baby boy. 

More irony: Moses' mother placed Moses in a basket to float above the river of death, the Nile, where Hebrew boys were being drown by the Egyptians.  I see an echo of God placing Noah and his family in the ark to float above the great flood in which all living creatures and wicked humanity perished.  But the deliverance is not simply from Moses' mother hope.  His saving is through the river's current, the watchful eye of his sister and her courageous choice to approach the Egyptian Princess, and of course the princess' compassion for the baby.  Clearly more is going on here than meets the eye.  God is at work.

Moses grows up in the palace of the king of Egypt as an adopted grandchild. And as a young man Moses confronts two Hebrews fighting one another and calls them to account.  They ask him, "who made you ruler and judge over us?"  How ironic indeed!  God is doing just that. 

In every synagogue that Jesus entered there is the seat of Moses (Matthew 23:2).  The ruler of the synagogue represents the authority of the law as given through Moses.  God speaks to Moses and Moses is as god to Aaron (Ex. 4:16) who carries out the priestly duties and teaches the law of Moses to Israel.

Moses runs from Pharaoh because he murdered an Egyptian taskmaster in a rage over the injustice he witnessed against Hebrew slaves.  He runs to Midian to take refuge.  Again more irony!  The Midianites, future enemies of Israel (Judges 6:1-6), are the very ones who sold Joseph as a slave in the markets of Egypt.  The Midianites are descendants of Abraham through his wife Keturah.  By the time they carry Joseph away they are known also by the name Ishmaelites (Gen. 39:1), the first born of Abraham through the Egyptian slave Hagar!  Isn't that ironic? 

Now the prince of Egypt, a Hebrew born to slaves, descendant from Levi (future tribe of priests), one of the 70 Hebrews who traveled to Egypt during the 7 year famine, takes refuge among the people who had a hand in his people's oppression!

Moses lives in the household of the priest of Midian, Jethro/Reuel, and takes his daughter as his wife.  He become a shepherd and is called by God to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. Like a shepherd leads a flock of sheep into the wilderness to find pasture, Moses is empowered to lead the people of Israel out of slavery and into a land flowing with milk and honey (Ex. 3:8b).

Even Moses' name is ironic.  Pharaoh's daughter names him Moses, because she drew him out of the water (Ex. 2:10).  Moses sounds like the Hebrew word for "drawing out."  Now God will draw the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt through His servant Moses.

Moses sees a bush burning in flames of fire, but it does not burn up.  It is the holy fire of God.  That same fire burns in Jesus, but for Him it is a gentle dove that lights on Him at his rising up out of the waters of the Jordon River.  Moses, the deliverer who leads the people of Israel out of slavery, prefigures, Jesus, the deliverer of all humanity out of slavery to sin and death.

Jesus' early ministry experiences are like a little exodus story.  Moses is drawn out of the river, a prince of Egypt.  Jesus is baptised in a river, the king of Israel.  Moses flees the ire of Pharaoh into the desert for a time of 40 years, then is sent as deliverer for the slaves.  Jesus is driven into the wilderness by the gentle dove-like Spirit to fast, pray, prepare and endure the temptations of Satan before he begins His ministry of deliverance.  Both are servants of God and claims His reign and authority in the midst of cruel oppression (Egypt and Rome). 

Even though he feared, Moses grabs the serpent by the tail because God was with him.  Jesus resisted the devil, that serpent from old (Rev. 12:9).  And Jesus, the new Adam, fairs better than Adam.  His self control and obedience to God is rewarded with help from angels.  Adam was driven from paradise and angels guarded the way back to the Tree of Life with flaming swords.  Now Jesus, "the Way" to eternal life faces down the old serpent in the wilderness and opens for us the opportunity to taste of the Tree of Life (Rev. 2:7).

God is the owner of all the earth and its inhabitants (Psa. 24:1) and the one to whom kingship belongs (Psa. 22:28).  So it I celebrate the greatest irony!  God is ruler and judge over us all whether we recognize that something more is going on or not.  He appoints obedient servants like Moses to share in His work to deliver and save us from every oppression. Ultimately God comes to us in Jesus to deliver us from our greatest enemy...Death.

Doubt

Day 10: Genesis 46–50; Psalms 13–18: Matthew 27–28

I remember once getting chosen for a great honor in a Scouting program.  It was a leadership training weekend and one Scout is chosen among all the others as the best leader.  It comes as a result of the combined opinions of peers and the leaders of the program.  When I was chosen, I was completely speechless. I was not expecting this honor.  And the ceremony for this honor seemed to move in a slow motion, rich with meaning.  I could not believe it.

As Matthew closes his gospel account he brings us to a mountain in Galilee where the risen Jesus tells His disciples, "there you will see me."  And Matthew notes as the once dead and now resurrected Lord stood before them, some doubted.  They could not believe it.

There has always been blessings too good to be true in the life of Christians.  And there has always been a struggle to accept God's unconditional love. We feel we have to have to earn it somehow or find a way to become worthy of it.

Joseph's brothers feared for their lives after the death of Jacob their father.  They were sure Joseph held a grudge because they had treated him so badly by selling him into slavery. Like Esau vowed to kill Jacob after their father Isaac died,  they expected Joseph to exact revenge.  But Joseph had realized that God had turned this evil thing into salvation for the nation of Egypt and for his family.  He had let go of his bitterness and forgiven his brothers.  They could not believe it.  So Joseph had to encourage them until their fear subsided.

We serve a God who reaches beyond every barrier and crushes every enemy for His people's sake. But do I trust this God to do for me what He did for Joseph and his family?  For King David who in psalm  cries, "He reached down from on high and took hold of me...He rescued me from my powerful enemy (Psa. 18:16-17)?"  Do I trust God to rescue me even from death as He did Jesus?  Or will I when faced with the darkness shudder with fearful doubts?  For the good news is too good! It is hard to believe.  It always has been and always will be for the reasoning man.

Lord I believe! Save me from my unbelief (Mark 9:24)!  Amen

Deliverance and Vindication

Day 9: Genesis 41–45; Psalms 7–12; Matthew 25–26

I love being vindicated,  being affirmed in my right standing.  This is especially true when I suffer self doubt.  I think I know what is right, but around the edges there is the fear that maybe I am wrong.  I've been depicting God often here in these posts as creating "safe places" to nurture life.  Imagine my feeling of joy and vindication as I read Psalm 12:5.  The Holman Christian Standard Bible is the translation I have chosen for this reading through the Bible.

 ⁵ "Because of the oppression of the afflicted
    and the groaning of the poor,
    I will now rise up," says the LORD.
    "I will put in a safe place the one who longs for it."

The vindication isn't me patting myself on the back.  Rather it is feeling joy in the affirmation of my experience as I encounter the word of God. 

Joseph is delivered from his affliction and made the number 2 ruler in all of Egypt. He is Pharaoh's most trusted advisor and administrator.  Pharaoh blesses Joseph with a wife from the the daughter of the priest of On.  He named his first son Manasseh, meaning, "God has made me forget all my hardship in my father's house." And the second son he named Ephraim, meaning, "God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction." (Gen. 41:51-52)

And famine comes to Egypt, but because of Joseph, the nation is saved from destruction because God warns the king of Egypt in a dream for which only Joseph has the insight to interpret.  Joseph is quick to humbly point out that it is God who is giving the interpretation, not Joseph.  Joseph understands himself merely as a servant of the Lord passing along the message of his master.  By the blessing of God's covenant with Abraham and his descendants, Egypt is indeed blessed.  Egypt is delivered.

And the sons of Jacob (Israel) also are delivered from the famine.  But it is only after Joseph works through his very human grief and hostility toward those who had betrayed him and caused him years of suffering.  Joseph had the power and authority to take vengeance on his brothers.  He tests them with riddles and cruel games, but in the end softens his heart.  He weeps over his reconciliation.  So Joseph is restored to his father Jacob and his brother Benjamin and his half brothers.  He too is delivered from his bitterness of soul and healing occurs within.  He is able to affirm his brothers saying, "God sent me ahead of you to establish you as a remnant within the land and to keep you alive by a great deliverance. Therefore it was not you who sent me here, but God (Gen 45:7-8a)."

God is with us in times of great difficulty, even as we face death, but even death does not oppress us forever.  The oppressed cry out and ultimately God delivers them.  He delivers them from hopelessness with His mighty promises in Christ for victory over the grave.  And He delivers them from enemies. 

Psalm 10:14b pleas to the Lord,

"The helpless entrusts himself to You;
    You are a helper of the fatherless.
    Break the arm of the wicked and evil person;
    call his wickedness into account
    until nothing remains of it."

Jesus teaches that in the end He will judge humanity and separate the brutish selfish goat-like souls from the gentle and generous lamb-like souls (Mat. 25:31-46).  Those who do unto the "least of these" some kindness do it also unto Christ the King and Judge of all the earth.

But until then brutes will oppress the weak and good-natured.  They will do to them just as they did to Jesus who suffered greatly at the hands of wicked men. (Mat. 26:67-68; 27:27-31)

Even Jesus seems to experience a sense of abandonment as he cries, "my God, why have you forsaken me (Mat. 27:46)."  But vindication is coming.  Joseph of Arimethia honors Jesus' remains by placing Him in a brand new tomb, a tomb which will be the very place God delivers His Holy One from the grip of Death.

O Lord, You are amazing!  You are the One who breathes life into us and keeps breathing into us the Life abundant through Christ.  May we always keep our hearts hoping in Your deliverance!  Amen

A Wise and Faithful Servant

Day 8: Genesis 36–40; Psalms 1–6; Matthew 22–24

I finished Job and began the Psalms today and continued readings in Genesis and Matthew.

Psalm 1 tells that there are two ways to go through life; the way of the wicked and the way of the righteous.  The wicked do not last, but the righteous are like trees planted by streams of water, continually refreshed by the goodness of God.

Joseph was Jacob's favorite son, the first born of his favorite wife, Rachel.  Joseph was a dreamer and an interpreter of dreams.  His brothers were jealous of him and hated him.  They attacked Joseph and sold him into slavery.  But the Lord was with Joseph.  It says so 4 times in the 39 chapter of Genesis. (Gen. 39:2, 3, 21, 23)

God's faithfulness to Joseph was reflected in Joseph's abilities at managing affairs in the household of his master and later in the prison where he was kept for a number of years on false charges.  Joseph was faithful to God and served his masters diligently. 

I am reminded that even though the Lord is with Joseph, it doesn't mean Joseph will not suffer.  Joseph is mistreated, taken advantage of and imprisoned unjustly.  This all happened to poor Joseph...AND the scripture makes the point again and again that the Lord was with Joseph.

Too often I do not think of God begin with me when things are difficult for me.  I feel abandoned and frustrated.  Joseph's experience encourages me to know that the Lord is with me even if I do not feel like He is near and blessing me with grace.  Might my suffering be lighter and my countenance brighter if I remember this truth that the Lord is with me?

Paul taught the church to "rejoice in the Lord always. The Lord is near (Phil. 4:4)."  Think how different life would be if we each rejoiced in the knowledge that the Lord is with us... as near as a breath and a prayer.  When I fall to frustration and focus on my problems and my difficulties, perhaps I am walking in the paths of the wicked, because I am not drinking up the refreshment of the stream of living water running near the roots of my soul.  Perhaps I suffer needlessly in spiritual thirst because I am not choosing to rejoice in the Lord because He is near.

Jesus taught his disciples about the end of this world.  He said that none will know the day or hour when the Master will return.  Not even Jesus knew the exact date or time of His return. 

So who then is the wise and faithful servant? (Mat. 24:45)   He is the one who, entrusted with his master's household, does what he is supposed to do.  He cares for everyone in the master's house, giving them food at the proper time.  Such a servant will be greatly rewarded and entrusted with everything. Just like Joseph was entrusted with all of his master's affairs because he was faithful and effective in managing them, we too will be entrusted with all of God treasures.

Dear God, help me to be faithful in the small things you entrust to me, like my emotions, my family, your church.  Let me be faithful in these so that I can serve you in even greater things.  By your grace in the name of Jesus, I pray.  Amen.

Justify Yourself?

Day 7: Genesis 31–35; Job 37–42; Matthew 19–21

There is a lot of covenant making, covenant renewing, covenant keeping and breaking going on in these readings today.  But there is one verse that really helped me understand Job's grief stricken struggle with God.

Job 40:8   Would you really challenge My justice? Would you declare Me guilty to justify yourself?

To justify oneself is to try and clear one's name of any charge against that name of wrong-doing.  It is to maintain one's righteousness.  Job maintained that he was righteous, had kept God's commands without fail.  But his friends said that surely since Job was under such terrible suffering, it must be that he had angered God in some way by sin.  Certainly they felt his complaining to God was sinful.

Elihu, a young man who out of respect kept silent in respectful deference to the older men present, finally speaks out.  He says that men are never as righteous as God.  We are simply mere creatures of a grand creator we cannot possibly understand.  So how can we call God to account when we have no real sense of what is just and fair in every situation?  Elihu argues (Job 34:12b, 17a) "the Almighty does not pervert justice." and "Could one who hates justice govern the world?"  Ultimately we must trust the God who creates us and the world we live in, whether or not it meets our expectations.

Still God has called a people to be His own.  He promises Jacob protection and providing for him and his descendants. "Look, I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go (Gen 28:15a)."  Is this promise not also for us who listen to His calling and follow His direction?  But suffering comes all the same.

From our perspective God is not keeping His promise to protect and provide when we are harmed or fall on bad times. A soldier falls in battle.  A father weeps over a child who died from cancer.  We cry out in anguish like Job.  It is totally natural and understandable.  But in the end what can we do?  Shun God?  Sadly many of us do just that.  They would cry, "a man gains nothing when he becomes God's friend (Job 34:9)." They would "declare God guilty to justify themselves (Job 40:8b)."

Covenants are agreements between parties who belong to the agreed to rights and responsibilities of the arrangement.  Laban and Jacob covenant not to to harm one another.  It is sort of a peace treaty.  Abimelech covenants with Isaac for the same sort of arrangement.  When Abimelech's men fill in Isaac's well which he had covenanted with Abraham to not molest, he feigns ignorance and responsibility.  In doing so he tries to justify himself before the son of Abraham.  He asks Isaac to leave his region, but when news gets to Abimelech that the Lord God is blessing Isaac too as God did Abraham, he wants a peace treaty with Isaac, too.

God is no Abimelech.  He is no Laban or Jacob who uses trickery and deceit.  God is always just and fair, even when life causes suffering, God is working in the midst to redeem, heal and make new (Rom 8:28).  And how can we justify ourselves before God, a mere mortal?

Jesus, the son of the living God, was asked by a rich young ruler, "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus responded, "Why do you call me good?  There is only one who is good!" Then Jesus told him to keep God's commands, but helped the man to see that he loved his wealth more than God.

None of us keep the commands faultlessly. None of us walk before God blamelessly. All sin and fall short of the glory of God (Rom 3:23).  So how do we justify ourselves in the court of the King of the Universe? 

The good news I live by is that justification is a gift to those who receive the gift of eternal life through the love of God shown to us in the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Paul tells us "the wages of sin are death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ (Rom. 6:23)."


Thank you, Father for Your great mercy in Jesus Christ! I glady receive the gift of Life through faith in Him. Help me to live this eternal life each day and with every breath I draw by Your goodwill.  Amen.

Do You Still Not Understand?

Day 6:  Genesis 26-30; Job 31-36; Matthew 16-18

Jesus warns his disciples against the yeast of the Pharisees.  They think He is upset because they didn't bring enough bread for the boat trip across the Sea of Galilee.  He asks why are they still not understanding Him?


We might reasonably ask, "why not speak plainly instead of in riddles and parables?"  That puts me on the same level as Job who calls God into court.  Jesus speaks in parables to sift the earnest from those who really do not want to know.  They are already "full of themselves," confident in their own righteousness.


Elihu, a young man, confronts Job and tells him, "who are you to question the Almighty?"  Why you can't even look at the sun without averting your gaze.  Do you think you can lay your eyes on God?  And you complain that God will not answer?  "God is speaking all the time, but a person may not notice it." (Job 33:14)


It is especially true that we may not notice God's still small voice when our hearts are filled with fear and anguish or bitterness and contempt or even arrogance and self-sufficiency.  But even honest people trying to follow Christ can miss God's voice.  The disciples are slow to understand, but they do eventually get it.


Today's readings have God speaking and appearing in amazing ways.  In Genesis, God speaks to Isaac and confirms His covenant with him.  But rather than trust in God's promise, he fears the Philistines' lust and lies, just as his father before him, that his wife is his sister. God spoke to Jacob after he fled for his life from Esau.  Jacob had a vision of God in a dream.  God renewed his covenant with Jacob.  


God speaks at crucial moments in the story of the people of Israel.  And then there are times of silence.  Elihu says that God uses affliction to rescue and torment to give understanding (Job 36:15).  The rescue through affliction is not freedom from suffering, but a deeper wisdom.  God is well beyond our comprehension.  We should humble ourselves and keep a healthy reverence.  We should accept life on life's terms (as they teach in Alcoholics Anonymous).  We should try to keep our sense of importance and self-entitlement at a minimum when facing the Almighty.  For slave or king, we all come from the same place and return to dust.


Of course we still do not understand! We are mortal and slow in comparison to the greatness of God. Wasn't Paul eloquently correct when he wrote that God's foolishness is greater than man's wisdom (1 Cor. 1:25)?  

But there are those moments when God break through our weak frames and makes a clear connection.  Jesus took his closest frineds up on the mountain that there they got a foretaste of heaven.  Jesus was transfigured before their eyes.  Moses and Elijah, long since dead for centuries, appear with Jesus.  God the Father speaks from a brilliant cloud that envelops them and says, "this is my beloved son. Listen to Him."


Listening to Jesus gives us wisdom and insight.  Jesus taught that serious students of scripture bring out the old and add the new. They have new insights into the Old Testament because of the revelation about the Kingdom of Heaven through Jesus Christ.  (Mat. 13:51-53)


If we spend enough time listening to Him in prayer, study, Christian conversation and meditation, we may arrive at the same ability to understand what his apostles came to understand, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God,"


Lord, gives us ears to hear You, eyes to see and comprehend Your truth and hearts to love, trust and obey You. Enable us to bring glory to Your name by being guided by Your wisdom and loving mercies.  Amen

Laughter and Mourning, Plenty and Poverty, Hope in Despair

Day 5:  Genesis 21–25; Job 25–30; Matthew 13–15

Sundays will prove to be challenging for me.  I left the house at 7:45 a.m. and did not return home until 9:15 p.m.  The only break in the work of the day at church was a lunch visit with my family.  It was a great day with lots of joyful and meaningful encounters, but time to sit and read and reflect did not occur.  At 9:30 p.m. Sunday night I sat to read Day 5 readings.  I made it through Genesis, but fell asleep sitting up at the dining room table trying to get through Job. "The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."

When reading the scriptures becomes a task I am just trying to get through, I know it's time to rest.  I don't want my time in the word to be task driven.  Rather I wish it to be driven by love, my desire for God. 

This morning (Day 6) I finished my day 5 readings. My plan is to do my day 6 readings tonight.

I was immediately struck by the very first line in Genesis 21:1 "The LORD came to Sarah as He had said, and the LORD did for Sarah what He had promised."  Sarah became pregnant.  He fulfilled a deep desire in her that she waited until she was 90 years old to enjoy.  She had lost hope in ever having a child of her own, so she gave Hagar her maid to Abraham to have a child through her.  But the desire never left her.

I have a tendency to despair when things are not going to plan.  I can be like Sarah and give up on God and try to make things happen according to my desires, my way and on my schedule.  This sort of thing puts me at odds with others frequently as I drive and push against the unwilling and complacent tides.  And fairly early on I lose hope.  I feel like giving up.  Compromise feels like failure to me.  Waiting feels like loss.

But what a joy it would have been to join in laughter with Sarah when Isaac, her own son from her own body, was born!  His name means "laughter" because the impossible was made possible through the Lord's promise.

The Lord's return was not as the three strangers from Gen. 18, but in the form of a pregnancy.  And this child is the one through whom God's covenant promise will be fulfilled.  His descendants will become the multitude of God's chosen.  Abraham's righteousness, his belief in God's ability to do as God promises, is rewarded in Isaac.

Soon however God tests Abraham by commanding him to sacrifice his only son Isaac.  As Christians we know this story for it prefigures what God does in Jesus.  Abraham obeys, but the Lord stops him from actually harming the boy.  The test is over.  Abraham's heart is clearly obedient.  The Lord's command will be carried out no matter what personal sacrifice is required.

Such a man is a blessing to every community he lives in.  Hagar and Ishmael are blessed, through separated from Abraham's household because of jealousy between Sarah and Hagar and her son.  God cares for them, protects them and promises prosperity in a great future.  Ishmael, too, will father a great nation of 12 tribes just as the descendant of Isaac (Jacob).

Abimelech is blessed by Abraham's presence recognizing that the Lord is with Abraham.  They covenant peace between one another and their men.  The Hittites are blessed because of Abraham and call him a prince among them.  They offer him land freely because of the obvious blessing of God upon this faithful man.  Abraham buys the field with a cave at Machpelah and now fulfills (at least in part) the promise to possess the land.  In his grief at Sarah's death the Hittites honor this righteous man and allow this wandering nomad to own property in their land.

The conventional wisdom that those who fear the Lord and keep His commands will find prosperity and blessing is confirmed in Abraham, but for Job it is confounded.  Job's testing is too great for him.  He maintains his righteousness and that the testing he has had to face is far beyond just.  His complaint is before the Almighty who remains silent.  Job seeks an answer for his suffering, a wise response that would make sense of all he has lost and has to endure.  But only wisdom is understood by the creator who sees all from His lofty place. 

Job's grief is classic.  He longs for the days when blessing was upon him and not this curse.  He wants to go back.  His hope in the future is to hear from God a word of wisdom.  He is not crying out for death as he was earlier, but he may again.  Grief and despair come in waves, with rise and fall, ebb and flow.  Yet there is always the glimmer of hope as the tidal storm exposes hidden treasures.  Hope is there even in the midst of terrible suffering.

Today Japanese watch in horror as a 1000 bodies wash up on the shore line in the wake of a massive earthquake and tsunami.  And many are in fear of a meltdown of a nuclear reactor which could radiate and destroy more life.  Such grief and despair!  Lives taken in an instant.  Survivors in peril and agony.
Yet there hidden in the midst is hope.

Matthew reveals hope that a day will come when evil and all evildoers will be separated finally and completely from the safe place God is building in the kingdom of heaven (Mat. 13:41-43).  That hope makes suffering in this life seem like a "short time." (1 Peter 5:10)  To Paul our sufferings in this life are not worth comparing to our bright glorious future (Rom. 8:18).  The light of this hope drives away darkness and despair when we remember.

Jesus shows us that life in poverty can know plenty when we give thanks for what we have and share with others.  Impossible things become possible when we orient our lives with God's will and hope in Him always.

In the face of terrible suffering, these words of hope can restore a failing heart.  But like Job, that heart needs to express it's pain, utter contempt, disbelief, all the steps through the valley of grief, before it can have ears to hear.

Lord of the Universe, Shaper of worlds, have pity on the people of Japan.  Nurse the wounds this tragedy has inflicted and restore them to hope.  Revival has come to survivors in Haiti.  Bring the gospel to Japan and overwhelm them with a tsunami of Christian love.  Help us to trust You in all circumstances. Teach us Your wisdom and Your patience.  Never let us lose sight of hope.  And deliver us when we look at the wind and waves in the midst of the storm.  Let us look always upon the face of Jesus.  Amen

Adulterous Generation

Day 4: Genesis 16–20; Job 19–24; Matthew 10–12

The concept of faithfulness in covenant relationships where people pledge to one another loyalty, care, love and support is called "righteousness" in the faith relationship between God and His people.  When unfaithfulness occurs God often refers to it as adultery.  The biblical writers compare Israel's chosen status like unto a husband who chooses a wife.  The man leaves his mother and father and the two become one flesh.  Imagine the pain caused by adultery when fused flesh is ripped apart.  Siamese Twins can be surgically cut apart.  Sometimes they live.  Sometimes they cannot survive separated.

Can humanity survive when we, like Job's wicked men, say, "Leave us alone! We don't want to know His ways! Who is the Almighty that I should serve Him?" (Job 21:14-15)

God chooses Abraham to be blessed by Him and for the nation he fathers to be a blessing to the world (Gen 18:18-19).  God trusts Abraham to "command his children" and household servants and all future generations "to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just."  

In the same way Jesus chooses 12 apostles to share His divine authority by increasing His kingdom ministry.  Freely given this authority, the 12 are to proclaim the good news about the kingdom of heaven, heal and liberate the demon-possessed.   They are to trust God completely in this work by traveling light and expecting the Lord to provide their daily bread through the hospitality of homes open to the gospel.

But Jesus warns some will deny them.  Some will drag them into court, before judges and rulers. Even children will have their parents executed for religious heresy because of resistance to the message of God through Jesus Christ. 

Jesus faces resistance and ridicule from the Pharisees and from some of the Galileans where he ministers.  He healed and drove out demons and even raised the dead, but the cities of Capernaum, (where he lived in Peter's mother-in-law's house) Chorazim and Bethsaida would not turn toward Him and His message.  They did not repent of sinful attitudes and behavior.  Jesus compared them to Sodom and Gomorrah which God destroyed with fire because of their utter corruption.  And Jesus said it will be easier on the people of Sodom than for these Galileans on the day of Judgement at the end of this age. 

Can you imagine?  What a slap in the face!  He goes on to call them an adulterous generation, meaning their hearts don't really belong to God.  They are the children of Abraham, but they are not following the way of the Lord, doing with is right and just.  Israel is failing to keep the covenant as God intended.  Instead there is corruption and abuse of power.  Their hearts are not truly faithful to loving God and His people.  They love control and respect and taking advantage by the nature of their positions in Israel's religious life (See Mat 23:1-35).

But Jesus finds in the disciples that follow Him a childlike quality that the learned clergy and scholars of the temple and synagogue do not possess.  As a result the disciples can see the reality of the kingdom (God with us).  The Pharisees and teachers of the law cannot see Jesus for who He is.  Jesus is just a scam artist in their minds.  Someone who says he is something when he is nothing.

Adultery destroys marriages and families.  Entire communities are hurt by unfaithfulness.  Trust is part of what holds communities and relationships together.  The angles warned Lot to flee Sodom or he and his family would be consumed by the consequences for the perversity of the city (Gen. 19:15).  When trust is broken, health is at risk.  Abimelech was spared the plague on Pharaoh (Gen. 20:6; 12:17) because he had enough reverence for God to hear His voice in a dream warning him that the beautiful Sarah was Abraham's wife and not to touch her.  And Job recognizes along with his friends the fallout from a selfish, sinful life.  Often it's the next generation that suffers. 

When we give our hearts to something or someone other than God we are adulterous and we are not whole or healthy.  We were meant to be in love with God and loved by Him.  But we often look elsewhere for cheap substitutes.  We worship created things rather than the creator and all manner of evil comes from this break in trust.

God save me from my worldly loves that keep me from coming to you and keeping your way.  Make me whole by the washing of the waters of baptism in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Author, Authority

Day 3 Readings: Genesis 11–15; Job 13–18; Matthew 7–9

I always enjoy looking at the history behind words.  For instance the etymological dictionary at www.etymonline.com says that authority and author come from the same beginnings.  A 13th century word "autor" means "father" and was used in English, French and Latin languages as meaning, "master, leader, founder" or "one who causes to grow."  It is of little wonder that Jesus refers to God as Father. And the New Testament even refers to Jesus as the "author and perfecter of our faith." (Hebrews 12:2)

As I read today's selections the authority of Jesus is what grabbed me.  He exhibits an authority in teaching that amazes the people. He commands wind and waves, demons and diseases and all heed His authority as the "Son of Man." (Mat. 8:6)  He even has the authority to give life to the dead as he commanded a dead girl to awaken.  He took her hand and she got up!

In Genesis and Job we also see the authority of God, not as a healer, but as an inflicter.  Jesus heals a leper with skin disease. God the Father inflicts skin sores on Pharaoh and through His agreement to give Job over to Satan's torture, Job too is inflicted with painful boils.

Like Job said, "The Lord gives and takes away." (Job 1:21)

Of course this troubles me.  Can this be the same God who loves the world and gave Himself up for us through Jesus His son?  An early heresy in the church was Marcionism which held that the God of the Old Testament was not the same God revealed to us in Jesus.  Jesus was seen as a superior deity, not the Messiah of the God known to the Jews.  Marcion rejected the Hebrew scriptures, considering the wrathful God depicted in them as a lesser god, but not the father of Jesus Christ. The church reacted to this thinking by announcing Marcion's teachings as heretical.  The church reaffirmed it's understanding that the God of the Old Testament is one with Jesus the Son.

But when I consider that God as creator is the author of life, I realize that He works to establish safe places in the midst of chaos.  By His authority to create, God pushes Chaos back and holds destructive forces at bay as He nurtures life.  The great flood was His effort to wash away utter moral corruption by unleashing this chaos in the form of flood waters.  And soon after Noah and his sons repopulate the earth, we are back to moral corruption in the arrogant heart of humanity.  The people of Babel build a great fortified city with a tower to the heavens in order to "make a name for themselves."  They take security not in the promises of God, but in the work of their hands.  God scatters them by confusing their speech so that they could no longer communicate with each other.  And then in the midst of communication breakdown and social disruption, God calls Abram to leave his family in Haran to "a place I will show you."  God promises Abram "I will make your name great."

God is now calling a people through Abram who will rely on Him alone. God provides for Abram and his household, protects him and empowers him with victory against enemies. When Abram is faced with a life threatening situation in Egypt, God delivers Sarai and Abram from the hand of Pharaoh by inflicting a plague (a foreshadowing of the Exodus).  God uses authority as the "one who causes to grow" according to His purposes.  He is making a safe place amongst a holy people who call on His name, worship, and serve Him, and keep His moral and religious boundaries through covenant.  Agents of Chaos will find God working against them and His authority will at times cause them suffering.  And even His holy people will be at times tested by these same chaotic forces in nature and in nations and the spiritual realm.

God establishes his covenant with Abram promising Abram a multitude of descendants, land and blessing.  In fact through this holy nation all other nations will be blessed.  The great name of Abraham today is known as the father of three major faiths: Judaism, Christianity and Islam. 

Job is helpless under the authority of God's choice to inflict his life with misery. He cries out against this tortuous testing for justice.  He is broken. He no longer wants to live.  Death seems to be a pleasant thought.  Yet Job dreams of the possibility of being called from the grave.  If that were possible, Job would wait through his suffering, knowing the vindication of a new life beyond it (See Job 14:10-17).  He even wishes for a mediator between God and man (Job 16:21). 

Reading this, as a Christian, I feel the irony and the excitement of knowing that God has provided for Job the very things he dreamt of...resurrection from the grave and a mediator through Jesus Christ (1 Tim. 2:5).  The author of life, has authority in all things in His creation.  The Son of God has the words to eternal life.  As I think of the promises of God given to Abram on a starry night, I am moved to trust in the "one who causes to grow." I trust in the one who stretches out His healing hands in compassion and mercy to the leper and says, "I am willing."

Would that all the children of Abraham would trust the healing hands of God and His authority to bring justice and peace between nations and peoples rather than continuing the bloodshed and terror.  May the Lord give us hope in that day.  Until then I choose to trust in the One who causes His safe place (the kingdom of God) with His holy people (His Church) to grow.