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.