April 2017 – Eremos

3 Words of Wisdom to Help with Trials

Temptations. Suffering. Persecution. Hardship. Waiting. Sickness. Unemployment. Relational Strife. All of these, and more, may fall into the category of what the Apostle James calls “trials of many kinds.” That’s the topic with which he begins his letter to the early church – a very relevant topic for Christians living in the Roman Empire, and perhaps for you as well. After hearing from the life stories of people at our prayer & sharing time on Thursday, I could see why they chose to read this book of the Bible together!

From the first 18 verses, I’d like to share three words of wisdom that James offers for those experiencing trials:

1. Attitude

1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,
To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings.
²Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. ⁴Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
⁵If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. ⁶But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. ⁷That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. ⁸Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.

One word stood out from the verses, above: “consider.” James acknowledges that “trials of many kinds” will come, but his instruction does not pertain to action. He does not tell his readers to strive to change their circumstances; rather, they should “consider.” James is speaking about their attitude toward their circumstances, not their actions in response. Before they react in frustration, they should “consider it joy.”

Notice the difference?

It’s easy to complain, to get down on life, comparing our circumstances to others, to our past, to our ideals – and to consider ourselves short-changed. But, we are to consider it joy – to recognise the good in the midst of trials. It is actually through these trials that we can persevere and mature in our faith! If faith is “the conviction of things not seen,” (Hebrews 11:1), then our decision to “consider it joy when we face trials” is a great exercise of faith! Our perseverance in trials will actually work toward our maturity; this is a reason for great joy!

Another reason for joy is that we have a God Who generously provides wisdom to those who ask! Whether we are at a crossroads, in a quarrel, or going about our everyday tasks, we desperately need wisdom in order to do the right thing, and do it well. But, similar to how we view trials, our attitude toward prayer can make all the difference. God generously and freely gives, but He does ask for something from us – our faith. We need to consider Him faithful, Who we ask – as it says in Hebrews 11:6: “without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him.”

2. Perspective

⁹Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. ¹⁰But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower. ¹¹For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business.
¹²Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

While approaching our trials with the right attitude gets us on the right track, sometimes we also need to step back and gain perspective. It’s nice to know that our difficulties will result in the maturing of our faith – but is that really what you want to hear in the moment of suffering?

Perspective removes us from the immediate circumstances, and helps us see the bigger picture – closer to how God sees it. In verses 9-12, James reminds the reader that our circumstances are fleeting; in fact, in many ways, they are an opposite indication of the eternal reality.

“Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position” because, as Jesus said so many times and in so many ways (Matthew 5:3-12; Matthew 19-20), “the last will be first.” Jesus promised to raise the humble, esteem the servant, and reward sacrifice. We are to do good things in secret (Matthew 6:1-18), seek places of lesser honor, give to those who can’t repay – and expect a reward at the resurrection (Luke 14:7-14).

James provides us with perspective – a window into the future, to help us in our present trials: while the rich “will pass away like a wild flower,” those who persevere under trial “will receive a crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” The rich have great resources at their disposal – which certainly don’t hurt, at times. But, in the bigger picture, it is a love for God that will carry someone to the end – not wealth, which is fleeting. As David said in Psalm 62:

¹Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from Him.
²Truly he is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will never be shaken.

3. Belief

¹³When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; ¹⁴but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. ¹⁵Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
¹⁶Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. ¹⁷Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. ¹⁸He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.

Finally, while we need the right attitude in the moment and the right perspective toward the future, this all stems from a right belief in God. Trials can lead to all sorts of doubts and questions:

Why did God do this to me? What is His purpose in this?
Why did God allow this? Where is He? Did He abandon me? Does He care?

James reminds us of two things: the source of our temptations, and the Source of all good gifts.

We have already seen that God allows trials to come, which result in our growth when we persevere in faith. He is ready to generously give us the wisdom that we need, when we approach Him in faith. But, He is not the source of our troubles – that would be sin. Though God made everything good, He also made us in His image, with a personality and ability to love. This ability necessarily involves a certain amount of freedom, which we’ve all used in rebellion against Him. We live in a world that is scarred by sin, full of trials and temptations – including our own inner desires.

But the good news is that God is there to help – He “does not change like shifting shadows” of our circumstances; but remains ready and available, with “every good and perfect gift.” He is not the source of our problems, but the Source of our solution. Do we believe that? Do we blame God for our trials, or do we look to Him for help, trusting that He is good?

James tells us the good gift that God gives: “birth through the word of truth.” The good news of Jesus Christ – revealing God in His life, reconciling us in His death, reigning as the resurrected king – gives us birth into a new life. Believing in Him changes us from the inside-out, completely re-orienting our way of thinking. We see that God’s love comes first, which results in our love. We see that we can only give what we receive, and that we must humble ourselves to become great. We see that all the glory belongs to Him. When we believe and receive this and become His child (John 1:12), then we become a sort of “firstfruits,” a sampling of the future renewal of all things (1 Corinthians 15:24-28). God is in the business of reconciling all things to Himself through Christ, and those who are reconciled now are a “new creation” (2 Corinthians 5:17-20) – a small indication of the “New Heaven and New Earth” (Revelation 21:1-5) to come.

I hope that these three words – attitude, perspective, and belief will help you in whatever trials you face. Recognise what God is doing in the moment, what He will do in the future, and how good He is – and it’ll make all the difference!

C. S. Lewis and “The Four Loves”

C.S. Lewis has written many books on many subjects, in many genres. Often, people find his non-fiction writing to be too complex to navigate, or its context too distant to understand. His examples from his contemporary world don’t always relate to today’s reader, and so they require a sort of translation. Many great writers have undertaken this task – of studying and interpreting Lewis’ works, and applying them to the issues of today. In many cases, this proves worthwhile, as Lewis’s writings are often quite applicable to issues that arise in postmodernity.

But, even for those who have not read Lewis or looked into his ideas with any great depth, the name Lewis carries an authority, perhaps unlike any other writer in contemporary Christianity. If one can attach a Lewis quote to any claim, it provides instant validation. Lewis is one of those few people who, after finding success in his given academic field (literature), became an authority in almost any other field – at least in the eyes of his followers. Something similar could be said of Einstein (just look up what the famous physicist says about marriage, philosophy, etc.).

I grew up having the Chronicles of Narnia read to me and my siblings every summer vacation. Their overall narrative allegorised the great meta-narrative of which we are all part; the plot and characters accomplished something similar to what the Bible’s narrative can do. As a young adult, I worked through Mere Christianity, finding well-reasoned treatments of classic philosophical problems – especially concerning the existence of God. Since then, I’ve tried to chip away, little by little, at his other writings. I’m glad to say that, finally, I’ve finished The Four Loves.

Rather than formally reviewing it, and rather than picking out juicy quotes to share, I’d like to share what I got from it: a framework for understanding love. Lewis did not provide a chart, like I have below; he followed his typical essay-format, progressively working through the topics in sequence. Yet, as I worked through it, my systematic mind began noticing relationships between the Four Loves – how they were similar or different in various ways. Below, I’ve attempted to express a few findings that have proved helpful for me:

	Survival, Need Involuntary Feeling Possessive	Civilisation, Enrichment Voluntary Decision Disinterested
Indiscriminate Not Exclusive Giving Unmerited Unconditional	“Affection” = Storge -“Need Love” – Natural sentiment, loyalty, familiarity – Family care “Care for”	“Charity” = Agape -“Gift-Love” – Giving without self-interest; sacrificial without self-protection – Divine source “Love”
Discriminate Exclusive Pleasure Merited Conditional	“Eros” = Eros – Desire to possess – Romantic attraction “Want”	“Friendship” = Philos – Approval, appreciation – Culture, camaraderie “Like”

To me, the advantage of a chart like this is that it doesn’t rank them; like many personality tests, it simply expresses them as a combination of binary choices. The Myers-Briggs test offers four binary choices, resulting in sixteen possible personality types; similarly, Lewis presents us with four possible Love-types, and I have attempted to identify the two binary choices.

Lewis begins with a discussion of Affection, coming from the Greek word, Storge. In many ways, he rehabilitates this word, showing how essential it is for the survival and stability of humanity. It refers to a mother’s care for an infant, and any person’s pity for someone in need. Moreover, it can apply to any sentimental feeling, toward something familiar – a place, a taste, an old friend. The difference between this and Friendship is it’s indiscriminate, involuntary nature; while friendship comes from approval, affection reflects a deeper loyalty. For me, I can think of a few friends who have become like brothers – through our common experience, especially in my younger years, they have become like brothers to me; because of our common past, there is a sense of loyalty. Though I may find others with whom I have more in common, or even for whom I have more respect, no one can share my past. What about for you – what happens when you meet someone new, who has had a similar past, or who is from the same hometown? Perhaps that feeling, that sense of brotherhood, is Storge.

Lewis proceeds to describe Friendship, coming from the Greek word, Philos. Unlike Affection, it is discriminate, or selective. It occurs where there is commonality – of opinions, values, and preferences. A bond forms when people, who have identified themselves with certain interests and characteristics, find the same in each other. Yet, also unlike Affection, it is not needy. Lewis warns of how familial affection can become a “need-love,” when the lover desires to continue being needed. In contrast, Friendship respects the individuality of the other, appreciating and reinforcing his or her unique qualities that make him or her worthy of appreciation. I can think of classmates, teammates, roommates, and co-workers who have stood out from the pack because of their unique qualities. A mutual appreciation formed, where we did not try to change or control the other. Yet, Friendship can also move beyond this to become needy – to become Eros…

Eros, a Greek word referring to romantic, possessive desire, is fairly straightforward. Like Friendship, it is conditional, and discriminate. But, beyond appreciation, Eros involves attraction; like Affection, it is needy and possessive. Family affection can involve an unconditional, but possessive care. Friendship involves appreciation from a healthy distance. Eros combines elements of both – a conditional attraction with a desire to possess. Obviously, this can sound rather negative; indeed, conditional and possessive love can become ugly. But, in light of its similarity to the other loves, Eros can have a positive outcome. Essentially, it involves a desire to move someone from “friend” to “family.” In my own life, I’m glad to have Eros in this assigned place.

Charity, (based on the Greek word, Agape) similarly, combines elements of Affection and Friendship – only they might be considered to be the positive ones. Like Affection, Charity is indiscriminate. The objects of Affection and Charity are not selected – and so the love must be unconditional. Yet, rather than being based on the un-chosen factors of family and background, Charity is based on the un-chosen, un-merited love of God. Charity is given to us by our Creator, because we are His creation. This is often referred to as “common grace;” God shines the sun and drops the rain on everyone (Matthew 5:44-45). Charity is also shown preeminently in the Son of God, Jesus Christ, Who died for the sins of humanity (1 John 2:2), so that we can be forgiven, and reconciled with God. It is from receiving this love that we can love (1 John 4:19). While sharing the non-selective nature of Affection, Charity also shares the disinterested nature of Friendship. It is not needy, but enriching to the other. While Eros and Affection desire to possess and be needed, Charity gives unconditionally. Rather than arising from a felt need, Charity, like Friendship, is a voluntary decision. Yet, unlike Friendship, Charity is not exclusive; Charity gives to all, equally.

Charity, of course, is impossible – humanly speaking. I just performed a wedding where the couple chose 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 as their theme verses. It gives a perfect, beautiful picture of what Charity/agape is. Yet, as we read this inspiring vision of the perfect love of God, we are also made aware of how much we fall short of it. These verses serve as a double-edged sword, serving as both an inspiring ideal and a condemning comparison.

I actually once heard someone tell another person to insert their name in place of the word “love” in 1 Corinthians 13, and to use it as instructions for life. Imagine reading that – while at first it may sound flattering or inspiring, deep down you’ll know it’s a lie. At the wedding I recently officiated, I didn’t want to just leave the poor newlyweds with a set of instructions. I wanted to assure them that there is good news. Look what the apostle John, “whom Jesus loved,” says about love:

⁷Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. ⁸Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. ⁹This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. ¹⁰This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.¹¹Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. (1 John 4:7-11)

In light of John’s words, how should we treat 1 Corinthians 13?
Try inserting “God” in place of the word “love.” God is love. Therefore, God is patient, God is kind…etc.

How does that change things?
We are made for love. Loving God and our neighbor sums up all of God’s commandments, and Jesus’s special commandment to His followers is to “love one another.” Pretty simple. Yet, we are completely unable to do this, until we begin receiving His love. We are not only made to love, but to be loved by God. Only God satisfies the need that we feel, and once we find it in Him, we find ourselves loving others!

Augustine famously said in his Confessions,

“You have made us for Yourself, and our hearts are restless, until they can find rest in You.”

Similarly, Jesus said,

“I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. (John 6:35)

If we are ever to love in the best way, we’d better get good at being loved. We’d better get used to the fact that Christianity is not about what we can do, but what God has done, is doing, and will do for us and through us. Jesus said that you cannot enter His kingdom unless you humble yourself like a child. And this is how you become His child:

Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God (John 1:12).

Believe in Who Jesus is, receive His love, and it will transform you.
It will reverse the order of everything in your life, when you find that His love is actually the source of everything else you need to do.
It will re-orient your thinking, and make you a new person – a child of God, growing up to resemble your Father!

Exodus 19 & Numbers 14: God’s Special People for a Special Purpose

I recently had a fascinating conversation about predestination. The issue always seems to come up at some point in a Christian’s journey – Does God show favoritism? Do we really have free will?

Throughout the book of Genesis, we’ve observed how God would initiate relationships with individuals – Abraham and His chosen offspring. He would call them to follow Him, and act specially on their behalf while using them as His instruments. In Exodus, we see God acting specially on behalf of an entire nation – Israel (descended from Abraham). He saves them from Egypt and brings them safely to Mt. Sinai, where He explicitly defines this special relationship with them:

‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.” (Exodus 19:4-6).

What? Why are they so special? Why does Israel receive this privilege?
God later makes it clear that it has nothing to do with their own merit. It is also well-known that God does not show favouritism.
So, what is the meaning of this?

This is actually consistent with God’s purpose, all along. Remember that God specially chose humans to bear His image and be stewards of creation. He specially chose Abraham to be a blessing to all nations. Now, He specially chooses Israel to be a kingdom of priests. They are to be holy and set apart – not for their own sake, but as mediators between God and all people. Their salvation would serve as a witness of God’s power, their obedience as a witness of God’s wisdom, and their presence as an inviting light to all nations. It is primarily through Israel that God would work in the world, reveal Himself, and bless other nations. Eventually the promise of blessing all nations would be fulfilled in Jesus Christ, a descendent of Abraham. Jesus would also serve as the perfect High Priest and Mediator, dying for the sins of the world:

But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. (1 John 2:1-2)

But God’s plan isn’t complete, yet. His purpose is still to work through a chosen people, to bring about the redemption of the world. Jesus calls His followers the light of the world who will be sent out as “fishers of men” to invite all people to follow Him . Now, Jesus’s followers compose the new People of God – united and identified through faith in Christ – not race, class, or gender. Through faith in Christ, they are reconciled to God and to one another – many nations made into one new humanity – a family of God, a new Temple in which the Spirit dwells. Believers are also collectively referred to as Christ’s Body – the instrument through which He still works on earth. Christians are also called a New Creation, and ambassadors who bring God’s message of reconciliation to the world. In fact, Peter refers to the Church in the same wording that we see in Exodus 19:

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. (1 Peter 2:9)

But again – why the favoritism? How is it fair that God would choose some? Does He predestine some to be saved, and others not?
If it is not clear yet, I will state clearly now: God’s overarching purpose is the redemption of all things. That is the end of the story – heaven and earth uniting and everything being made new – God and humanity together, again. God is reconciling all things to Himself and entrusting to believers, the beginning of His New Creation, the message of reconciliation. Yes, He actively calls certain people to follow and serve Him; He actively chose a certain nation to be His own; and He has called and chosen His Church to be set apart. Yet, these people are no one special. If anything, weakness is their best quality , which shows God’s strength to the world. But God calls His people to pray for the world, wanting everyone to be saved, patiently waiting for all to come to repentance. To put it succinctly, Paul explains God’s purpose in one, long sentence:

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In lovehe predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight,making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christas a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. (Ephesians 1:3-10)

So, God specially calls people to follow Him – for the purpose of reaching out to others. He has plans to unite all under Christ, reconciling the world to Himself – and He plans to do it through His chosen people. N.T. Wright says this about our salvation:

“the work of salvation, in its full sense, is (1) about whole human beings, not merely souls; (2) about the present, not simply the future; and (3) about what God does through us, not merely what God does in and for us.”

Paul claims to have been called to ministry before his birth – but, before call this “favouritism,” see what Jesus says about him at his point of conversion:

he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name. (Acts 9:15-16)

Being God’s instrument is no cake walk. It’s not just a free pass. It wasn’t for Abraham, and it wasn’t for Israel. God tests and disciplines His children, wanting to work with willing participants who trust Him. Though God called Abraham and promised to make him a blessing, this plan was not confirmed and fulfilled until Abraham’s faith was confirmed. Likewise, though God called Israel to be His people, and promised to give them rest in the land of Canaan, this plan was not fulfilled until Israel learned to trust Him and receive the promise by faith. When Israel on the verge of entering the promised land, the majority of them lost faith and decided to turn back to Egypt. Though God had saved them from slavery and sustained them in the desert, they did not believe He could overcome their opposition in Canaan. In response, God was ready to wipe them out and start a new nation with Moses – He could accomplish His plan through anyone, and didn’t particularly need Israel. But, see how Moses interceded on their behalf:

But Moses said to the Lord, “Then the Egyptians will hear of it, for you brought up this people in your might from among them, and they will tell the inhabitants of this land. They have heard that you, O Lord, are in the midst of this people. For you, O Lord, are seen face to face, and your cloud stands over them and you go before them, in a pillar of cloud by day and in a pillar of fire by night. Now if you kill this people as one man, then the nations who have heard your fame will say, ‘It is because the Lord was not able to bring this people into the land that he swore to give to them that he has killed them in the wilderness.’ (Numbers 14:13-16)

See Moses’s reasoning? Israel should not be saved for their own sake; they were undeserving, and not essential to God’s plan. But, for the sake of God’s reputation, He should save Israel. In light of His plan to show His power to all nations, He should follow through with His commitment to Israel. For the sake of other nations, God must use Israel’s weakness to show His strength – so that all nations might put their faith in Him. Moses continues:

And now, please let the power of the Lord be great as you have promised, saying, ‘The Lord is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, forgiving iniquity and transgression, but he will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, to the third and the fourth generation.’ Please pardon the iniquity of this people, according to the greatness of your steadfast love, just as you have forgiven this people, from Egypt until now.”

Not only would God’s power be called into question if Israel was destroyed, but so would His love. God had claimed to be loving and forgiving, and had treated Israel accordingly up to this point. Moses calls Him to remain faithful to His promise, despite Israel’s unfaithfulness.

And God relents. He pardons Israel, but also disciplines them for their instruction, and as an example for us. Yet, God does not change. His change of course actually reflects His persistence of purpose, and His consistency of character.

Despite Israel’s wavering faith, God continued to pursue His purpose of blessing all nations through Israel. Through saving them, He would show Himself to be the One, true God.
Like a spouse who remains in a troubled marriage for the sake of the children and home, God would remain faithful to Israel for the sake of His greater purpose – the redemption of the world.
Despite Israel’s change of heart, God remained faithful in His commitment to love, forgive, and care for His chosen people.
Like a neglected spouse who continues to do their part, patiently waiting for the other to change, God would remain faithful to Israel because His love is perfect and patient.

Through this episode between God and Israel, we see clearly that God treats people according to His purpose and character. His plan does not depend on our success, nor does His love depend on our worthiness.

Despite the blunders of His people, God persists in His purpose to bless and redeem the world. So, He shows His power by accomplishing His will through our weakness.
Despite the resistance of His people, God’s character remains consistent. He shows His love by forgiving and pardoning us simply because He has promised to do so.

Isn’t it comforting to know that God’s plans are bigger than us?

His faithfulness to His people is for His purpose of reaching the world.

And isn’t it comforting to know that God’s love doesn’t depend on us?

His faithfulness to His people comes from Who He is, not what we do.

Psalm 116:5-7 says:
⁵Gracious is the Lord, and righteous;
    our God is merciful.
⁶The Lord preserves the simple;
    when I was brought low, he saved me.
⁷Return, O my soul, to your rest;
    for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.

Online messages available here.

Easter Week: Remembering with God’s People

Has God done some great things in your life?
Does this have an enduring effect on your life, or is it too easy to forget?

Over the years, God’s people were called to “remember the wondrous works that he has done” (Psalm 105:5). Entire Psalms (105-107) were written to help them with this endeavor, as they sought to “tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders that he has done…that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children, so that they should set their hope in God (Psalm 78:4-7).

Israel was called to always look back and remember their salvation from Egypt and entrance into the promised land – when they passed through the waters of the Red Sea and River Jordan. The work was complete, and they were called to live in light of this new reality. Likewise, a Christian is given the experience of baptism – as a milestone to mark the death of their old self and rebirth as a Christian. The work is complete, and we are called to live out the new life that we’ve been given.

On Sundays at Parkdale, we learn from the stories of God’s people in the Bible – but we also invite people to share testimonies – to help us remember what God has done. There are always parallels between our stories! Yesterday, as the AA group met in our church building, I observed a similar dynamic – people being encouraged as others take time to look back and see how far they’ve come.

This Sunday, we enter the week of Easter. I look forward to kicking it off with a celebration of the Lord’s Supper – followed by a Potluck! Jesus instituted this special meal among His followers as a way to remember His body and blood – given as a sacrifice for our sins. Just as Israel would slay a lamb at Passover (Exodus 12) to remember how God spared them from the plagues in Egypt, so Christians celebrate with the bread and cup to remember how God spared us from our sins – through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ (Luke 22:15-20). But that’s not all – the meal is also a time to look forward to the Great Banquet that we will again enjoy with Him when He returns, to complete His kingdom! (Luke 14:15-24; 22:28-30)

May your Easter season be a time of both solemn remembrance, and joyful anticipation, in light of our Lord Jesus Christ!

Online messages available here.

Exodus 1-18: Seeing God in a New Way

What is God like?
Is He all-powerful? All good?
Apart from us? With us?
For us? Against us?

Distinct answers to these binary questions form the basis of worldviews, philosophies, and religions – it all comes down to what you think about God. In light of the problem of evil, Atheists and agnostics will view God’s power and goodness as mutually exclusive – while Christians will trust that God is working to pursue, convince, and redeem His lost, but free people. Many eastern religions (polytheist, pantheist, mystic) emphasize God’s nearness, while western philosophy from the enlightenment (Deist) emphasizes God’s separation from humanity. In contrast, Christians will embrace that both are made possible through the work of the Trinity, as revealed in the stories of Scripture.

If you’ve read through Genesis, I hope you can say that you’ve learned a lot about God’s character. I hope you have observed the manner in which He relates to people. And I hope that you’ve gained a sense of His purpose for humanity. I’ve argued that our purpose in reading Genesis should be to get to know God. He is the Protagonist of the story Who ties it all together. We’re not looking to other characters for an example to follow; rather, we learn through the context of their stories about how God interacts with people.

God specially created humans to bear His image, to be fruitful and multiply – exercising stewardship over the earth on His behalf. When people persisted in rebellion, God specially chose Noah to re-start humanity. When people united in their pride, God scattered the nations and specially called Abraham – a man with apparently limited potential – to father a nation that would bless all others. God entered into a personal relationship with Abraham and his descendants, making promises and inviting them to respond in faith. So, Genesis was all about God’s personal interactions with individuals, who He used to reach out to others.
Four centuries pass between Genesis and Exodus, and Abraham’s descendants have been “fruitful and multiplied” in Egypt. They have now become a great nation – just as God had promised to Abraham – and a threat to Egypt. The time is right for Israel to leave there, and the time is right for them to enter Canaan, where the people have been given their allotted time (Genesis 15:13-16).

Again, the time has come for God to act – to intervene in world affairs, and reveal Himself in a new way. His purpose and methods are still the same – choosing people to use for His glory – but His chosen instrument is different. In Genesis, God related directly to individuals – especially the patriarchs; in Exodus, God now acts on behalf of their descendants – the nation of Israel. After the setting is described, the story of God’s action begins as follows:

During those many days the king of Egypt died, and the people of Israel groaned because of their slavery and cried out for help. Their cry for rescue from slavery came up to God. And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. God saw the people of Israel—and God knew. (Exodus 2:23-25)

God heard…remembered…saw…knew. A new side of God is being revealed. In fact, in the very next chapter, He personally reveals Himself to Moses in the form of a burning bush. In this one moment, we see that the Angel of the Lord Who is seen in the bush is also the same God Who is speaking from it – the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Finding himself in God’s holy presence, Moses removes his sandals and hides his face in fear (Exodus 3:1-6). Yet, this holy God is not aloof and unapproachable. He tells Moses:

The Lord said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering.So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land (Exodus 3:7-8)

This same God Who created the world, called Abraham, and appeared in a burning bush is the Lord who sees, hears, cares, and comes to the rescue. In Genesis, we see references to “God” and “the LORD” interspersed. The generic term, “God,” or Elohim is often used when referring to God’s Almighty, macro-level activity. The personal term, “LORD,” or Yahweh, is used when God personally interacts with humans. It is here, in Exodus 3, that God formally introduces Himself to Moses as Yahweh, the LORD, the I AM. The true, living God of Creation is the One Who is with the nation of Israel. He explains to Moses:

God also said to Moses, “I am the Lord. I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob as God Almighty, but by my name the Lord I did not make myself fully known to them. I also established my covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan, where they resided as foreigners. Moreover, I have heard the groaning of the Israelites, whom the Egyptians are enslaving, and I have remembered my covenant. “Therefore, say to the Israelites: ‘I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment. (Exodus 6:2-6)

And indeed, God brings them out, and saves them. Egypt is devastated by plagues, the sea is parted, and the nation is miraculously fed. God fulfils His promise to Abraham (Genesis 15:13-16), and also to Moses – that Israel would worship God at Mt. Sinai (Exodus 3:12).

In the early chapters of Exodus, we see more clearly than anywhere else (until Christ’s coming) that the Almighty God above is also down with His people. Centuries later, God says in Isaiah 57:15:

For thus says the One who is high and lifted up,
    who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy:
“I dwell in the high and holy place,
    and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit,
to revive the spirit of the lowly,
    and to revive the heart of the contrite.

Praise God, who is Big Enough to save, and Near Enough to care!

Online messages available here.