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Patriarchs and Matriarchs – Being a Blessing

The Lord had said to (Abraham), “Go from your country, your people, and your father’s household to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.” Genesis 12:1-2      

Yesterday, we talked about God’s first covenant with humans after the flood story. In today’s verse, we are dealing with God’s second covenant, which is specifically between God and Abraham and Sarah. In exchange for faithfully serving God, the couple is promised children. So many children that they will become a great nation. God promises them land on which to build their nation and that they will be a blessing to the whole world because of their faith.

However, before any of this can happen, Abraham and Sarah must leave home. They must leave the comforts of familiarity and protection of their current community. They must literally walk with faith into the unknown.

It is difficult to be a blessing to others when we stay inside our comfort zones. And there are plenty of opportunities in our lives to walk in faith into the unknown. Perhaps the most frightening transition in a young person’s life is changing schools. Maybe that student has moved or is going off to college. In I960, Ruby Bridges was just six years old when she agreed to be the first Black student to attend an all-white elementary school in Louisiana. She walked to school every day, escorted by law enforcement while being threatened by an angry racist mob threatening to kill her. Officers later recalled, “She showed a lot of courage. She never cried. She didn’t whimper. She just marched along like a little soldier, and we’re all very, very proud of her.”

The Bible says Abraham and Sarah were 75 years old when they followed God’s call into the unknown. Ruby Bridges was only six. How is God calling you into the unknown? And how can your faith be a blessing to others?

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Creation – A Covenant

I establish my covenant with you: Never again will all life be destroyed by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth. Genesis 9:11   

Churches have a strange habit of decorating their children’s spaces with images of Noah’s Ark. Sure, the animals are cute, and the boat is a fun idea. But if we were really to examine this story even a little bit closer, then we would realize that the story of Noah’s Ark is a better theme for a haunted house or scary movie. In the story, God sees that nearly every human was doing evil in the world. So, God decided to start over. God called on Noah to build a boat and gather animals so that he could flood all of creation and begin anew with his family. Noah’s Ark is more like an apocalyptic action thriller than a feel-good story about animals, and the 2014 movie entitled Noah, gets its atmosphere about right, even if the story is a bit off.

Today, I want us to focus on the word “covenant.” A covenant is a special type of promise between two people or groups of people. It’s sort of like a holy contract, and there are penalties for violating the covenant. In Genesis 9, God issues his first of several covenants. In the story, this covenant is sealed with a rainbow.

If you think about it, There are very few covenants that you will enter into in your lifetime. One might be marriage. Another might be going into ministry. But the most important covenant that you will enter into is through the profession of faith you make in Jesus Christ. God establishes several different kinds of covenants with the people of Israel, and we will see through the story of Scripture that they break every single covenant. In the same way, we will likely break our covenant with Jesus Christ at some point. But God never will.

God will never break the covenant with us, even when we break our covenant with God. Have you entered into a covenant with God, and if so, what is the state of that covenant today?

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Creation – Life & Death

And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him. Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “I do not know; am I my brother’s keeper? Genesis 4:8-9

The story of Cain and Abel is sometimes called histories first murder mystery. It’s terrible to think that we’re only four chapters into the Bible and humans are already killing one another. And these two guys are not even strangers. It’s not like Abel was threatening Cain or they were in some kind of struggle. This was violent, premeditated, first-degree murder.

However, matters of life and death are not always so straightforward. Many hot-button issues in our churches circle around life and death: capital punishment, war, abortion.  Christians are all over the map on what ‘supporting life’ means with regard to these issues.  The story of Cain and Abel introduces us to the challenges of death and life, grace and judgement.

And just why did Cain decide to kill Abel in the first place? Well, God liked Abel’s sacrifice better than Cain’s sacrifice, and Cain thought that was unfair. The truth is, a lot of things in life are unfair. Other people may go about with more power, prestige, or popularity than you. They may have more money, better clothes, more athletic ability. These “better” people might even be in your own family. The truth is that life is unfair, and the temptation to give into jealousy can be overwhelming.

We are the spiritual children of Adam and Eve, who disobeyed God out of pride. We are also the spiritual children of Cain, bent on causing destruction out of selfishness. We may think of ourselves as above the sins of Cain because we have never resorted to violence. However, Jesus calls his disciples to a higher morality. Anyone who hates a brother or sister has already murdered them in their heart.

There is a hint of life in this story of death. After God confronts Cain about the murder, he does not put Cain to death. There is no capital punishment for the first murderer. Cain is allowed to live in exile. There is so much violence in this world, both in our hearts and in the streets. How can you be an advocate for life in the face of death?

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Creation – The Fall

They heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, and the man and his wife hid from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. Genesis 3:8

If you’re not familiar with the end of the creation story, then I will summarize it for you really quick. God created the whole world and the first humans, named Adam and Eve. God put Adam and Eve in a beautiful garden and gave them everything they could ever want but told them not to eat from one particular tree. Of course, just like an unruly toddler tempted by a cookie jar, the man and the woman ate from the tree.

An interesting part of this story is the moment they sin against God, they felt ashamed. They felt regret. They knew they had messed up, and they didn’t want to face the consequences. Or perhaps, they didn’t want to face the disappointment of God. Today’s verse says they hid from the presence of God. The idea of God’s presence comes up again and again in the Bible. People waver back and forth from wanting to be in God’s presence to being terrified of God’s presence. Maybe you recall a story Jesus told about a young man who was too ashamed of what he has done to come back to his Father’s presence.

The story of Scripture is about humanity’s journey back into the presence of God. Can you remember a time when you were wholly aware of God’s presence? Maybe it was in the middle of the wilderness or in the midst of worship? God’s presence is powerful and transformative, and God offers it freely to those who have faith in Jesus Christ. Be mindful of God’s presence today and take advantage of the abundant life offered by the Holy Spirit.

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Creation – The Image of God

So, God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God, he created them; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:27

What does it mean to be created in the image of God? Theologians have pondered this question for centuries, and they have come up with a few suggestions.

Humans are also thought to be in the image of God because we have the capacity for deep and meaningful relationships. No other animal can build complex communities. The image might also mean that we have free will, and we can make moral decisions and be held accountable. Other animals operate on instinct or training, but humans can make real choices. We can choose to cheat our sibling or tell the truth to a friend. The image of God might also have to do with our role as stewards of creation. A “steward” is someone who rules when a king is away. Humans are supposed to rule the rest of creation with compassion and justice. We are responsible for domesticating animals, farming the land, and building cities.

One interesting thing to note is that in the ancient Near East, a god’s image was thought to be an idol. The image was a physical statue that represented the god or goddess. It was something that was worshipped, and it might sit in a shrine or in a temple. To say that humans are the image of God is to say that we are special representatives of God here on earth. This means when we sin against one another, when we hurt one another, we are actually hurting God. Likewise, when we care for one another, we are caring for God.

I think this last idea is the most exciting and the most terrifying. The way we treat others is literally how we treat God. To put it the way Jesus did, if you want to love God with all your heart, then you must love your neighbor as yourself. Take time today to treat someone as God’s image here on earth.

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Creation – Beginnings

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1

The first few words of the Bible make a powerful statement about the nature of our God. To better understand the creation story in the Bible, it
helps compare it to other creation stories found in ancient society. Israel’s neighbors had their own stories of the world’s creation. They involve gods warring with one another and humans being created as an accident or to serve the gods like slaves. This story shaped the Babylonians’ ideas about the world. They feared their gods and felt the world was a scary place.

But the creation story we find in Scripture presents our God, the one true God, as powerful, intentional, and most of all personal. God created the heavens and the earth and everything in them. He did so with his breath, with his hands, with care and passion. Our world, with all its complexities and intricacies, is not an accident. It was designed by the world’s greatest architect. It is sophisticated and beautiful.

In the course of this series, we will explore the overall narrative of Scripture. We will learn about the ups and downs of God’s relationship with
humanity and God’s desire to live in relationship with creation. As we journey through the overall narrative of the Old Testament, it’s important
to keep our origins in the back of our minds. God has a plan. God is deliberate. God is powerful. And God will stop at nothing to be united with
his beloved creation. With you and with me.

Our world is not an afterthought or an accident. And through the ups and downs of history, God has always been at work. Open your eyes to see God creating in your life today

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Love – Our Superhero

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. –  Isaiah 43:2 (NRSV)

Lately, it seems as if everyone is obsessed with superheroes. There are new superhero movies out several times a year and every streaming platform has their own show following the antics of superhuman crusader. Maybe you follow Agents of Shield, The Boys, or The Umbrella Academy.

This verse from Isaiah reminds me of superheroes. It comes to us as a promise from God. It’s written as a bit of poetry and says that God will be with us in times of trial to prevent us from getting hurt. The way it is written it sounds like whenever we are confronted by a challenge God will allow us to breeze right through it like Wonder Woman or Superman. This verse reminds me of the age old saying that God won’t give you more than you can handle. By the way, that saying isn’t actually in the Bible, and I have to disagree.

The focus of today’s passage is not God’s protection from harm. Rather, we are supposed to pay attention to the five little words, “I will be with you.” Here’s the thing, there will definitely be times in life when you feel like you’ve got more than you can handle.

In the Bible, God gave people more than they could handle all the time, and, this year, everyone feels like they’ve got way more than they can handle. Instead, God promises that he will be with us when challenges come our way. He promised to walk through raging rivers and fierce flames by our side. With God we will survive. More than that, with God we will have salvation.

Despite what we see in TV and movies, there has only ever been one super human to walk the earth. That hero’s origin story includes being born in a barn and sleeping in a manger. He was a lowly peasant who suffered just like us. But the whole world knows and celebrates his story more than any hero in history. Take time today and reflect on how Jesus has been a hero in your life.

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Love – Called by Name

Do not fear, for I have redeemed you, I have summoned you by name; you are mine. –  Isaiah 43:1 (NRSV)

In 2012, an independent film called Beast of the Southern Wild was released. The movie was about a little girl named Hushpuppy trying to survive, mostly on her own, in the bayou of Louisiana. The young actress who played Hushpuppy auditioned for the role at just five years old. In 2013, at age nine, she became the youngest nominee for Best Actress, first African-American child actor to earn an Oscar nomination, and the only person born in the 21st century to be nominated for an Academy Award. Her name is Quvenzhané [Kwa-Vin-Je-Nay] Wallis.

That’s probably not a name you hear a lot. In the middle of her success, Hollywood was having a difficult time making sense of her, and especially, her name. TV Personalities decided to bypass the issue by giving her the nickname “Little Q,” a nickname she did not request.

It may seem harmless, but the message was clear. Despite her enormous success and talent, her name was not worth knowing. She’s not the only actor who’s had a hard time because of their name. Actors James Rodriguez and Ramón Estévez changed their names to sound less Hispanic and be taken more seriously. You may know them by their stage names James Roday and Martin Sheen.

In Isaiah 43:1, God calls out to his people with words of tender love saying “don’t be afraid because I have made everything alright. I am calling you by name, your real name. You are my child and you are worth knowing. The real you, not the mask you put on to make others feel comfortable. I love you as you are.” To call someone by their name seems so ordinary. We do it all the time without thinking. However, when the God of creation stoops down to our level, he takes great care to refer to us by name. Jesus wants us to know that we matter and that we are loved for who we are.

As Christmas draws even closer, you might find your name written on the tags of gifts or in the address line of a greeting card. Whenever you see your name written this week take time to reflect on God’s personal call on your life. You matter. You are loved. You are the recipient of the most wonderful gift, and it’s addressed specifically to you – the gift of salvation wrapped in human skin.

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Love – The Potter’s Hands

O LORD, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand. – Isaiah 64:8 (NRSV)

Pottery was such an indispensable part of life during the time of the Bible. Nearly everything you ate, sold, wore or enjoyed was stored in or served on pottery. Each piece of pottery was entirely unique and handmade. That’s not the case today, but back then every plate, bowl, jug, and cup was formed by a skilled artisan working with clay.

If you have any experience working with clay, you’ll know there are a few things you need to go from a lump of dirt to a lovely work of craftsmanship. The first thing you need is water to make the clay malleable. Dried out clay cannot be formed and will crumble into dust. A proud and difficult heart is like dry clay in the hands of God. It will break apart and never become the beautiful creation God has planned.

If God is the potter of our lives, that means we must present ourselves to God as well watered clay. We must be willing to be lovingly molded by God, to let God lead us and shape us and make us something wonderful.

The other thing you need to make pottery is time. If God is shaping our lives it means we must be patient. God wants us to be perfect before the end, and perfection takes time. We are called to be humble and hopeful while God is working within us.

The final stage of making pottery is the kiln, the place in which the clay is heated and hardens. What’s interesting about pottery is that it can be both beautiful and useful. We use plates to serve bread and cups to drink water.

When the master potter is finished with us we will be beautiful and valuable. We will be equipped to love our neighbor who is hungry or thirsty through humble service. We can serve as tools for the kingdom of God.

Think about your own faith journey today. Have you offered yourself to God as a malleable piece of clay? Are you letting God shape and mold you with humility and love? If not, how can soften your spirit to better accommodate God’s work in your life. Where do you need to yield to God and stop trying to have your own way? And where can you serve as a faithful piece of God’s handmade pottery?

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Love – God With Us

Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son and shall name him Immanuel. – Isaiah 7:14 (NRSV)

Have you ever been to a baby shower? Maybe it was for your own children. Or maybe you have younger siblings and can remember the anticipation of the coming baby? It’s such an exciting time waiting on a new addition to the family.

Perhaps, this season you will receive a Christmas card with a new face in the group. I guarantee wherever you see a new baby everyone is smiling a bit bigger. There’s a tad more joy when we add someone new.

This verse from Isaiah is a piece of prophecy pointing to Jesus. The young woman is of course Mary. But there’s something peculiar about this verse. It says that the new baby will be named Immanuel. Now, Jesus’ name isn’t Immanuel, it’s, well, Jesus. But we even have hymns that seem to refer to Jesus as “Immanuel.” So, what’s the deal?

Well, the name Immanuel in Hebrew translates to “God with us.” This verse should read something like: the child will be God-right-next-to-us. This means Immanuel is more of a title than a person’s name. In Matthew 1:23, this verse from Isaiah is referenced when the angel announces Jesus’ birth to Joseph.

God-with-us is exactly who Jesus is. He is the incarnation of the living God. He is heaven come to Earth. He has made his home among us mortals because of his love for us. He’s not social distancing but right up in our business. The overarching message of the Bible is just that: Immanuel, God is with us. God says, “I will be with you,” to Abraham when he is asked to leave home. God says, “I will be with you,” to Jacob when he fled from his brother to the wilderness. God says, “I will be with you,” to Moses when he brought the Israelites from slavery in Egypt into the promised land. And God says, “I will be with you,” to Mary when she finds out she will have a baby.

So, if Immanuel is a title or more of a description, how have you seen God with you this Advent season? Does it feel like God has been with you lately? Maybe it has felt like God was so far away he was on another planet. Take some time today to reflect on what it means that God is with us no matter what happens.