Are There Not Enough Graves?

"Camp where I tell you. It will look like we are meandering aimlessly," God told Moses, adding, "I'm going to harden Pharaoh's heart one more time. ...The Egyptians are going to know I am the Lord, " God concluded.

Moses understood God's plans, but the Israelis did not.

Pharaoh gathered his chariots and pursued the Israelis. The Israelis saw the Egyptians were coming.

Wildly they ask, "Were there not enough graves in Egypt? Moses, why have you treat us like this?" 

Why was counting on God so strenuous?

Their irrational behavior, recognized as exaggeration, reflects fear. Fear reveals limited faith. Their 'embellishments' came from weak, inexperienced reasoning. Were these the early signs of a hard hearted people??

Do hard hearted people ignore faith-causing information or events?

Consider these New Testament stories.

• There was hard-packed soil in the parable of the sower. Why was the “seed” ineffective on this soil?
• Lazarus was joyously resurrected. But the Pharisees brushed off his resurrection, plotting to kill Jesus.
• So intent on obedience to their Sabbath laws, they ignored the healings of Jesus.
• 
  Jesus gave sight to a blind man (John 9). The religious leaders interrogated him. They belittled his intelligence. They said, "...but as for this man (referring to Jesus), we do not know where He is from.” Verse 30 adds, "The man answered and said to them,“Well, here is an amazing thing, that you do not know where He is from, and yet He opened my eyes. ...If this man were not from God, He could do nothing.”

What are preventatives to hard-heartedness?

Here are a few answers.

1. Delight over the good luck (or blessings??) of friends.
2. Determine if its God's blessing or the Devil's tool. Not all “blessings” are truly blessed.
3. Thank God for every blessing. “Count your many blessings, name the one by one,” the song echos.
4. Enjoy every event remembering it came from God.
5. Ask God's help frequently.
6. Acknowledge God's justice.
7. Tell your family and friends what great things God has done for you.
8. Study nature, and inspect His knowledge.
9. Accept God-given joy from obedience.
10. Before you decide God is not answering your prayer, look for alternate ways He may have already answered.
11. Be guided by his way, and not your inferior wisdom..
12. Ask him to build your faith.
13. Be aware of God. Watch His doings. Find evidences of His working.

What Did He Tell His Father?

It had been a full day with a boat ride, afternoon teaching, 5000 men fed (plus women and children). Everyone satisfied. He directed exhausted disciples into the boat to go to Bethsaida, “I’ll meet you there,” he says, and sends the super-sized swarm homeward. He is finally alone. What does he do?

He goes up on the mountainside to pray. This appears odd to me. He is divine. He is equal to God. He works miracles like God. So what does He need? He needs time to talk with His Father.

What would He say to his Father on this day? Reading Jesus’ prayers gives us hints.

• When He speaks to His Father, does He use the model prayer of Matt 6? How does He address The Father? Does He speak of His Father's holiness? Does Jesus ask God for the kingdom “to come”? Does He ask for God’s will to be done on earth as it is being done in heaven? Is food requested? Does He plead for his antagonists' forgiveness? Are their requests for temptations to be removed or lessened?
• Was this mountainside prayer parallel to His John 17 prayer? Did He request heavenly glory? Did He pray for His disciples by name, or collectively? Did Jesus pray for you? This day did He pray for unified believers?
• Can we compare this mountainside prayer to Gethsemane's prayer? Was it as intense as in Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-46; Mark 14:32-42; Luke 22:39-46)? Did Jesus request His future to be re-arranged, or removed? Did He struggle with submission on the mountainside, as in the garden? Like Gethsemane, was He gearing up for grueling days? Or, unlike Gethsemane, savoring success?
• Did He ask His Father with tenderness and affection? Did he emphasize his closeness to God (“Abba,” similar to 'daddy.' or 'papa')?

Not knowing the prayer leaves me inquisitive. If Jesus, with divinity and intimacy, dedicated time for prayer, should I, a far-less-than-perfect God-seeking human, dedicate time for prayer?

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Would you take a moment and share with others a brief description of your prayer life in the comments section below?

He Touched A Leper

As you probably know for yourself, real stories from life are often better than anything fictional. So, this posting will not approach the creative factor, but will, instead, look at a real event. 

Mark's gospel records Jesus touching a leper. Why did he touch the leper? Why did Mark think that was important? What is significant about touching a leper? Is there a spiritual lesson to be learned here, or is this an exaggerated detail?

To see the significance we must:

• understand what biblical leprosy is.
• see the social implications of being a leper.
• examine the effect of Jesus' actions.
• note any appropriate spiritual application.

What is biblical leprosy? It is important to note from the start the ancient Hebrew word, in Leviticus 12 and 13, does not refer to the same medical condition that the modern English word does. Easton's Bible Dictionary and four internet web sites agree there is a major difference. Note these facts about this biblical disease.

• Leprosy was a "Terrible skin disease", not like modern leprosy which is primarily a nerve disease.
• The Hebrew word was not intended for medical precision.
• Leprosy is characterized by
• scaliness
• bleaching the hair white
• possible rotting flesh.
• It is a non-contagious disease.

What were the social or religious implications for a leper? Again, consider these facts.

• Leprosy was considered a punishment by God. Three times in the Old Testament God used this condition as strong punishment.
• They were required to live outside the camp or city walls. They could not get to the tabernacle or temple to worship.
• Clothes were tattered or torn as a symbol of remorse, whether deserved or not.
• They could not have anything on their heads to cover the white spots and bleached hair caused by the disease.
• They were required to cover their beard with their mantle.
• When a healthy person approached them, the leper was required by law to warn them by shouting, "Unclean! Unclean!"
• They were not allowed to have a conversation with anyone.
• They could not address another person, mostly because their greetings included a hug.
• Lepers were social rejects.

What are the implications of Jesus touching this leper?

1. It would be well to note this leper was not acting in a 'socially/politically correct' manner. He spoke first to Jesus and gained his attention -- a social 'No-No'. Second, he did not shout "Unclean", but pleaded for Jesus' to make him whole. "You can if you want to," he said.
2. Jesus may not have considered his skin disease a punishment from God.
3. Jesus could have been showing that God is approachable outside of a worship setting.
4. Instead of being cut off from society, Jesus was showing acceptance of his person.
5. Jesus was more interested in communicating his care for this person than in keeping religious or social 'customs'. He was showing his compassion instead of religious condemnation.

What are the appropriate spiritual lessons?

1. There are situations that demand us being counter-cultural. Sometimes it is OK to be socially or politically incorrect. When we are despised or out-casts for Jesus sake, it is good.
2. Some things in life are not a 'punishments' from God' but the consequences of sin or evil desires. Don't blame God for the results of your choices.
3. I am so glad I don't have to be in church to approach God. Didn't he tell some Hebrew Christians they could approach God's throne "in times of need"?
4.  I should accept people as they are, sin and all. This doesn't mean I condone their sin, but it does say 'I care.' Then help them fix their problem like Jesus fixed this man's disease and social condemnation.
5. Some things in Christianity are customs or traditions, and some are unchangeable doctrines. If a custom or tradition needs to be broken to reach out to others, what are we waiting on? Jesus did!

Parts or Production

For the past month I have been a fire-watching night guard at a sawmill. I walk four to eight miles each shift. I patrol the grounds and buildings looking for fires and security breaches.

In the process I see, besides sawdust everywhere, machinery, pneumatic/hydraulic equipment, chains designed to move logs, chains designed to remove waste products, control booths, and industry-specific hand tools. Ready for use are front-end loaders, large unloaders designed to handle tons of logs at a single bite, and forklifts. There are some items I am around that I am not permitted to write about. And it is almost inconceivable the number of piles of hardwood logs mounded 15-20 feet high all under spraying water. 

Up till recently this was what I thought a sawmill was. I could see all the parts, and stacks of product. It felt cold, static, and lifeless. But not now.

What is the difference? The sawmill came to life. I saw what happens when trained people use all that stuff. I saw rough, butt-cut logs go in. I saw useful crossties, planks, 'fuel', and woodchips come out. I saw how each part of the big place works together to make desirable products.

So where is "The Struggle" in all this? 

Each of us should read the Bible daily. We read about all the 'parts' in the church. We note elders, preachers, and members with many different skills. We see how financial contributions should be used. We memorize the 'great commission', 'Be-attitudes', Jesus' example of prayer, the steps of salvation, and various love passages. We might use our imaginations and pretend to be in the crowd on that sadistic Friday, the wondrous day of Pentecost, or agonizingly watch Stephen being stoned. Yes, we know all the parts.

But is that how it is meant to be? Is there something is missing? Could it be Spirit-led disciples? Could it be passionate, prayer-filled preachers proclaiming Jesus, hope, grace, love and duties? Is it elders leading by example instead of 'administrating'? Is life breathed into a dead congregation when ALL members use their skills, whatever they are? What happens when deacons report the results of joyous and generous contributions? What life-producing changes occur when we halt memorizing, and initiate the practice of soul winning, attitude changes, praying, and loving the people Jesus loved?  Is it advisable to quit limiting the gospel to our imaginations and pretentions? 

It just might be that we have a 'log yard' of egocentric people, grasping after the wind, that can be changed into productive, useful individuals if we, the trained disciples, use our Spirit-endowed skills.

Now do you see your personal struggle? I do.