Back to the Beginning…Almost

Jeremiah 4:9-10, 19-28
The prophet Jeremiah offers a horrifying vision of what God might do in response to the ongoing faithlessness of the people. “I looked on the earth, and lo, it was waste and void; and to the heavens, and they had no light. I looked on the mountains, and lo, they were quaking, and all the hills moved to and fro. I looked, and lo, there was no one at all, and all the birds of the air had fled. I looked, and lo, the fruitful land was a desert, and all its cities were laid in ruins before the Lord, before his fierce anger. For thus says the Lord: The whole land shall be a desolation; yet I will not make a full end” (Jeremiah 4:23-27). Notice the various elements of creation that are mentioned. The earth is “void” and the heavens have “no light.” There is no human presence and even the birds have vanished. There are no plants for “the fruitful land was a desert.” In so many ways this is a mirror image of the creation story of Genesis 1, for here is a virtual undoing of the acts of God at the beginning of time. All that is left is a barren, empty, deserted wasteland, very like the void over which the spirit of God passed before saying, “Let there be light” (Genesis 1:3).

Yet even in the midst of this vision, this threat of total destruction, there is hope, for God has not forgotten the various covenants, the promises made to Noah, and Abraham, and through Moses: “I will not make a full end,” says the Lord to Jeremiah. Indeed, there is a reminder of God’s grace even in the face of human stubbornness and disregard for the divine will. The utter bleakness of Jeremiah’s vision does not overcome the hope that God holds out, that within a restored creation the kingdom will come in its fullness. In the story of Pandora’s box, the girl, Pandora, releases all that is dreadful and evil into the world. But along with the woe there is also the last thing out of the box which is hope. Here, in Jeremiah, we find a veriation of that story rooted in God’s relationship with God’s people, a story that contains both the judgment of a just God, and the grace of a merciful Redeemer.

God’s anger burns hot, but God will not bring an end to creation, says Jeremiah. Indeed, with the arrival of Jesus Christ and his ministry some centuries later, God reaffirmed the divine commitment to humanity. In the end as in the beginning, we are blessed by the care of a loving God.

Prayer: God of all creation, look beyond the darkness of the world and lift up your light on the goodness that you have established here, that all may know your love and repent of their sins. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Finding the Pony

Romans 4:13-25

The old joke goes like this: put a pessimistic child in a room full of toys and he will complain that the one particular item he wants is not there, but put an optimistic child in a room full of horse manure and she’ll happily begin looking for the pony. Paul puts it another way. “[Abraham] did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body,” we read, “which was already as good as dead (for he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah's womb. No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, being fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised” (Romans 4:19-21). In other words Abraham may have seen a room full of manure, but that only meant there was a pony somewhere.

I admit that I am too often like the cynical child, able to find disappointment virtually anywhere. But Paul wants me—and you—to take heart no matter what the circumstances. In Abraham, he says, we find not only one who lived by faith, but in whose faith we find a source of strength for ourselves. Like the father in Mark 9:24 I find myself saying, “I believe, help my unbelief,” and God does, time after time, in countless situations. No, I don’t always find a pony, but by grace I know it must be there somewhere.

Prayer: Lord, help us to live by faith and to trust you at all times. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

The Story Continues

Genesis 26:1-6, 12-33

The covenant first established between God and Abraham (Genesis 12:1-7) was not limited to one generation. “[The Lord said to Isaac], ‘Reside in this land as an alien, and I will be with you, and will bless you; for to you and to your descendants I will give all these lands, and I will fulfill the oath that I swore to your father Abraham. I will make your offspring as numerous as the stars of heaven, and will give to your offspring all these lands; and all the nations of the earth shall gain blessing for themselves through your offspring…’" (Genesis 26:3-4). Indeed the wording of the two covenants is nearly identical and the intent of each is the same.

The God of the parents continues to be the God of the children. The God of the past continues to be the God of the present (with a promise for the future). From the very beginning God has kept the long view, has looked ahead and invited the chosen people to look ahead as well. We cannot outgrow God, nor does God remain locked in a particular historic context. Ultimately, then, our lives should be focused on God and not the institutions or cultural patterns that we hold so dear. They will come and go just as generations of humans slowly march past. Even the church has a limited lifetime. But God keeps abreast of it all, and God remains current no matter what. The story will continue to unfold, and only God knows how and when it will end.

Prayer: Lord, you have blessed us throughout history with the knowledge of your presence. Continue to walk beside us and those who will follow, that your will may be done in our lives. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

A “No-Name” Faith

Genesis 24:1-27

The relationship that Abraham had with God was intended as a blessing to the nations. According to our reading today, there was an aspect of the faith that was much closer to home. When it was time for Isaac marry Abraham sent his servant in search of a wife. Up to now we have seen that Abraham and Sarah have had contact with God and that even Hagar, has heard the voice of God. But these are notable persons, so significant to what is going on that we are told their names and often something about them. Now we see that even an unnamed servant trusts in God, speaks to God, relies on God’s direct guidance. “The man bowed his head and worshiped the Lord and said, ‘Blessed be the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken his steadfast love and his faithfulness toward my master. As for me, the Lord has led me on the way to the house of my master's kin’” (Genesis 24:26-27).

As scripture so often makes clear God’s grace is not reserved for the noteworthy or important people of history. You needed be Jacob, or Rachel, or Miriam, or David, or Hannah, or Isaiah to be used in furtherance of God’s will. Here a man of whom we know virtually nothing plays an essential role, and without him and his trust in God the story might have ended. God has a role for everyone to play.

Prayer: Lord, may our lives be of use to you day in and day out, that others may be blessed. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Pointing Ahead

Genesis 23:1-20

The negotiation between Abraham and the Hittites for the purchase of a burial place may seem almost amusing to us, especially as the man Ephron is able to appear generous while at the same time naming a price for his field. But there is something more significant here. “So the field of Ephron in Machpelah, which was to the east of Mamre, the field with the cave that was in it and all the trees that were in the field, throughout its whole area, passed to Abraham as a possession in the presence of the Hittites, in the presence of all who went in at the gate of his city” (Genesis 23:17-18). Though it is only a field, some trees, and a cave, the people of God now had a legal and binding presence in the “promised land.” Abraham owned property there and the transaction appears to have been well documented.

But it took a death—Sarah’s–to bring about this opportunity. In fact Sarah’s tomb foreshadows that which will happen as the story of God’s people continues. The entire land would one day belong to the chosen people whom God would free from Egypt. And centuries after that the death and burial of Jesus Christ would also point ahead to that which was to come. Jesus’ tomb, like Sarah’s, was merely a point along the way. The story continues to this day and beyond. Death in Christ is not a defeat for the believer any more than Sarah’s death ended God’s covenant with her offspring or Jesus’ death ended his identity as God. Clearly it takes more than a grave to confound God’s will.

Prayer: Lord, help us to trust in your promises, even in the face of death or loss, that we may give glory to your name at all times. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

On Being a Blessing

Jeremiah 29:1 (2-3) 4-14

Romans 11:13-24

Today’s readings include verses from Jeremiah and Romans which remind us what it means to be God’s people. As I’ve point out before, God promised to make Abraham a blessing to the nations (Genesis 12:1-3). Today we catch a glimpse of what that means.

“But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile,” says Jeremiah, “and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare” (Jeremiah 29:7). It does no good for God’s people to remove themselves from the world. Quite the contrary, they are to seek what is good for the world so that the world may be a good place for everyone. This is part of what it means to be a blessing, to challenge others to be their best, demonstrating the mutuality of life in community.

In Romans Paul is writing to Gentiles but speaking about the role of the Hebrew people. “But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, a wild olive shoot, were grafted in their place to share the rich root of the olive tree, do not vaunt yourselves over the branches. If you do vaunt yourselves, remember that it is not you that support the root, but the root that supports you” (Romans 11:17-18). In this case, the ever-widening growth of believers is dependent on a foundation of faith first established in the people of Israel. Abraham’s children are to bless those being added to their number through Christ, not rejecting them but welcoming them into full fellowship.

Christians today stand in this line of faith. It is now our calling to challenge the world to be a place of goodness for all people. We are also to welcome and nurture those being added to our number. In these ways, and others, we demonstrate what it means to bless others even as we are blessed by God.

Prayer: Lord, open our hearts to those around us; help us to care for them and to bless them in your name. Amen.

The Search for Honesty

Jeremiah 5:1-9

Romans 2:25-3:18

In our reading from Jeremiah for today God has a challenge for the prophet. “Run to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem,” says the Lord, “look around and take note! Search its squares and see if you can find one person who acts justly and seeks truth — so that I may pardon Jerusalem” (Jeremiah 5:1).

Perhaps these words remind you of Diogenes, the ancient Greek, who was said to walk the streets of Athens by day, lit lantern in hand, “looking for an honest man.” Or maybe you are reminded of the conversation between God and Abraham in Genesis 18:22-33 where Abraham urges God to spare Sodom and Gomorrah if only ten righteous people can be found there. In either case, the search is in vain. Paul has his thoughts on the matter. Quoting Psalm 14 he tells his readers in Rome that “There is no one who is righteous, not even one; there is no one who has understanding, there is no one who seeks God” (Romans 3:10-11).

Not exactly cheerful stuff. But if we are honest with ourselves we will admit the truth. In all of God’s creation there are no sinless people, none. Not you, not me, not anyone. We all struggle with the will of God. We all fall short of God’s intentions for us. And God knows this and wants us to recognize it, too. After all, it is the season of Lent, a time of self-examination, of coming to terms with who we are and seeking God’s help in overcoming our deficiencies. Even though God loves us and wants what is best for us, God remains our judge, the one who holds us accountable. Only in the act of judgment does God’s grace make any difference to us. Not that we are to wallow in our sin, but when we confess to God—even knowing we will be forgiven—we do not take it lightly, either. All of us need God’s help, and in grace God gives it. Not in a meaningless way, but with the power to save us from ourselves. In all honesty we need God’s forgiveness.

Prayer: Lord, help us to see our sinfulness and to trust your forgiveness, that by your grace we may live as your people. In Jesus' name. Amen.

On Being Blessed

Isaiah 61:1-9 2

Timothy 3:1-17

There is an interesting connection between our reading from Isaiah today and that from 2 Timothy. In discussing what is to become of God’s people in the future the prophet says, “all who see them shall acknowledge that they are a people whom the Lord has blessed” (Isaiah 61:9). This is a statement of promise pointing to a time of restoration and grace. And here’s what the writer of 2 Timothy says: “What persecutions I endured! Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them” (2 Timothy 3:11). What does it mean to be blessed by God? Does it mean peace, with no pain or sorrow? Or does it mean something else altogether? Can it be found in this life, or is it reserved for the life to come?

One answer is to say that God’s blessing is best understood in the life of the one who is blessed. Paul certainly considered himself blessed by God yet he went through times of severe trial and hardship. Elsewhere we read how members of the early church would rejoice at being found worthy to suffer for the name of Jesus Christ. God’s blessing isn’t about a life of ease and luxury, it is about knowing that one is claimed by God and set apart for the work of the kingdom. As early as Abraham God also charged those whom God blessed to be a blessing to others. That understanding continues for us today. To be chosen by God is to be set aside for service as much as salvation, and when we grasp this we can begin to see ourselves for who we are: “people whom the Lord has blessed.”

So here’s a challenge for us all today. Let’s each take a moment to consider our lives, to reflect on what it means to be set apart by God for a task, to be in relationship with our Creator. And let’s thank God, even as we endure the pains of life, that we have this calling. For it is indeed a gift.

Prayer: Lord, help us to see the blessings in our lives and to share them freely with others that all may know your love. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Undeniable?

Habakkuk 2:1-4, 9-20
Luke 16:19-31
“(Abraham) said to (the rich man), ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead’” (Luke 16:31). These words, spoken by Jesus, make clear the connection between his ministry and the words of prophets like Habakkuk. On the one hand the Hebrew Bible—what we commonly refer to as the Old Testament—was the only scripture that Jesus and the early church had. It guided their lives and helped their understanding of God. But listen again to what Jesus says: “If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.” Isn’t Jesus really talking about himself here? Is he not pointing ahead to the resurrection and the fact that afterwards many will remain dubious of the gospel? If this is what Jesus is saying—and I’ve got to believe it is—then the connection between him and the prophets is airtight.

Nothing that Jesus does or says should come as a surprise to anyone who takes the prophetic writings seriously. Jesus may represent God’s will in unexpected ways, but he remains truly faithful to God’s word though out. “(T)he earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea,” writes Habakkuk (2:14). In his ministry Jesus did just that, filling the world with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord. Even the image of the waters is appropriate as Jesus established the sacrament of baptism as a mark of belonging to God. “Look at the proud!” Habakkuk says. “Their spirit is not right in them, but the righteous live by their faith” (v. 4). Over and over again Jesus makes this same statement. How else could the wealthy man be brought low even as a poor beggar like Lazarus resides with Abraham in eternity (Luke 16:19-31)? How else could the tax collector be justified before God instead of the Pharisee (18:9-14)? How else could Mary, the mother of Jesus, rejoice in God lifting up the poor and hungry (1:46-55)?

If we aren’t willing to hear the words of the prophets and take them to heart, if we aren’t willing to live according to their view of a just and righteous society, if we aren’t willing to give up our greed and instead turn to those in need with generous hearts, then what difference will the resurrection really make in our lives? The proud may assume it is within their own power to determine their fate, says Habakkuk, but only those who begin by trusting faithfully in God called righteous.

Prayer: Lord, help us to live as your people, hearing your word and responding in faithful obedience. In Jesus’ name. Amen.