As I was reading through Exodus, something occurred to me that never did before. Beginning with the Big 10 in Chapter 20, there is a long list of commands. The ten commandments are stated without any reference to punishments for lawbreakers. Through the next couple of chapters there are several offenses for which there are prescribed penalties from fines to death. In all cases, the sentencing and punishment is to be carried out by the Israelite community. However, in Exodus 22:22-24 God himself intervenes to pronounce the judgment, the sentence, and carry out the punishment.
"Do not take advantage of a widow or an orphan. If you do and they cry out to me, I will certainly hear their cry. My anger will be aroused and I will kill you with the sword; your wives will become widows and your children- fatherless."
The sudden shift is unmistakable and the implications are equally clear. Don't mess with the helpless ones of this world.
People who mistreat those who have no voice, will find God has become their enemy.
Friday, December 19, 2008
And the Snakes Remain
As I walked to work this morning, I was listening to Numbers. The highlight of what I heard, was the story of the venomous snakes. It is set towards the end of the 40 years of wandering in the desert. The Israelites had grumbled, complained, and rebelled repeatedly since God had delivered them out of slavery. On the other occasions that they grumbled about food or water, God provided what they were asking for. This time, however, the Israelites had taken it too far. So God sent venomous snakes among them as a punishment. When they realized they had sinned, they prayed that God take the snakes away. Instead, God had Moses make a bronze snake and put it on a pole so that when anyone was bitten, they could look up at the snake and they would be healed and not die (Thus the medical symbol for healing--snake on a pole).
What strikes me most is the snakes (pun intended). Why didn't God take them away like they asked. Wouldn't it have been much simpler to remove the snakes instead of having to cure the people as they continued to get bitten.
But as I look at the history of God's relationship with people, it becomes obvious that it was necessary to let the snakes remain. Anytime life is easy, the Israelites forget their dependence on God. When they have all they need, they forget that they would starve without God's providence. And without tangible reminders of their sin, they would forget that they require God's healing and forgiveness.
I hope we can always be thankful for God's providence, forgiveness and healing without the aid of snakes.
What strikes me most is the snakes (pun intended). Why didn't God take them away like they asked. Wouldn't it have been much simpler to remove the snakes instead of having to cure the people as they continued to get bitten.
But as I look at the history of God's relationship with people, it becomes obvious that it was necessary to let the snakes remain. Anytime life is easy, the Israelites forget their dependence on God. When they have all they need, they forget that they would starve without God's providence. And without tangible reminders of their sin, they would forget that they require God's healing and forgiveness.
I hope we can always be thankful for God's providence, forgiveness and healing without the aid of snakes.
Vanishing Mist
When asked where I am from, my reply is usually determined by how far from home I am at the time. While in Korea, I would simply say that I was from the U.S. While in Tennessee, I have to specify that I am from Texas. Among the Churches of Christ, I can specify further and say that I am from Abilene. This is partially true, since, for the most part, I went to school in Abilene, did our shopping in Abilene, went to church in Abilene, and went to college. The truth of the matter is that I actually grew up in a town called Tuscola. I rarely cite this as my home town because with only 600 people in the town, it is not likely to register on many maps. Yet from the small town of Tuscola, TX comes the most talked about College football player this year, Colt McCoy. I wondered how much pride that would give a little town like Tuscola, which has little else to brag about. How long will that little town be telling stories of the great McCoy's humble childhood.
I now live in Troy, TN--a slightly larger small town of 1200. I have been walking to work recently and on my way, I pass through a cemetary. On one of the tombstones was written, "Pete 'Toe' Gudauskas, NFL, Chicago Bears". With my curiosity aroused, I made a note to look up this name on the internet. I found that Pete was a kicker for the Chicago Bears in the 40's and one year he made more PAT's than anyone else in the entire NFL. In his entire NFL career, he only missed 2 PAT's. I have asked a few if they had ever heard of him, but so far, none have.
The memory of Pete Gudauskas' considerable athletic achievements have faded even from this small town in which his body rests. I daresay, that Tuscola will easily forget the name of Colt McCoy before the end of the century.
Our lives are truly a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. There is little chance of any of us carving out an enduring legacy, nor is there much point if we succeed. But while our lives fade like the grass, we can find our place in the eternal story, by joining in the story of another boy from a small town a world away from here. A tiny village has held it's head high for 2000 years (and will continue to do so for as long as this world lasts) all because of a baby born in stall, who became the King of kings and Lord of lords, the Lion of Judah, the Lamb of God. It was he whose name swept away the memory of the great empires of Babylon, Persia, Greece and Rome in Daniel's vision. The infant who was called Jesus, Immanuel, God With Us, born in the little town of Bethlehem, he will be remembered for all eternity, and if we align our lives with his, so will we.
I now live in Troy, TN--a slightly larger small town of 1200. I have been walking to work recently and on my way, I pass through a cemetary. On one of the tombstones was written, "Pete 'Toe' Gudauskas, NFL, Chicago Bears". With my curiosity aroused, I made a note to look up this name on the internet. I found that Pete was a kicker for the Chicago Bears in the 40's and one year he made more PAT's than anyone else in the entire NFL. In his entire NFL career, he only missed 2 PAT's. I have asked a few if they had ever heard of him, but so far, none have.
The memory of Pete Gudauskas' considerable athletic achievements have faded even from this small town in which his body rests. I daresay, that Tuscola will easily forget the name of Colt McCoy before the end of the century.
Our lives are truly a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. There is little chance of any of us carving out an enduring legacy, nor is there much point if we succeed. But while our lives fade like the grass, we can find our place in the eternal story, by joining in the story of another boy from a small town a world away from here. A tiny village has held it's head high for 2000 years (and will continue to do so for as long as this world lasts) all because of a baby born in stall, who became the King of kings and Lord of lords, the Lion of Judah, the Lamb of God. It was he whose name swept away the memory of the great empires of Babylon, Persia, Greece and Rome in Daniel's vision. The infant who was called Jesus, Immanuel, God With Us, born in the little town of Bethlehem, he will be remembered for all eternity, and if we align our lives with his, so will we.
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