Let's examine the story of Joseph (Jacob's/Israel's son, not the foster father of Jesus).
In Joseph's life, we see a man who is the very image of mercy, who acts on behalf of God to administer mercy. That mercy is not only to the people of God, but to a whole region of the world.
Joseph was a man who was sold into slavery because of the jealousy of his brothers. He was accused of seduction because he refused to be seduced. However, when he gained power, when he gained such power as to manage all of Egypt's resources, he never used that power for revenge. Instead, he not only saved Egypt from famine, but he also saved the family that rejected him from starvation.
God gave this Joseph the power to interpret dreams. God sent these dreams, foretelling years of plenty and years of famine. God allowed an innocent boy to be sent into slavery for the salvation of a family and a nation. This willing victim did not hold onto the sins against him, but used his life as a salvation for many.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Monday, December 21, 2009
Wise Men: Portraits of Manliness?
Well, if you think about it, yes.
Here are three men, astrologers, who are probably used to quite a bit of luxury. They have plenty of money. They're respected in their communities. Going on a long journey is not the first thing that they'd undertake for the most part.
However, they see the most interesting celestial event of their lives. A new star is rising. A new king. It had been ages since such an event had occurred. Did they send servants? Emissaries? No. These men were so moved by the star that they themselves followed it.
They left their life of luxury and honor to travel the wilderness, following a star to Israel. The star did not lead them to Jerusalem. No, it didn't lead them to a major city, but a small village, Bethlehem. It did not lead them to the grand hotel, but a stable. Could the new king really be staying in a stable? Still, they followed.
They found a peasant couple with a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes. He was lying in a manger. He was lying in a feeding trough. Still, they believed. These three wise men, arrayed in fine clothes, offered presents of gold, frankincense and myrrh to this small peasant child.
They believed.
Here are three men, astrologers, who are probably used to quite a bit of luxury. They have plenty of money. They're respected in their communities. Going on a long journey is not the first thing that they'd undertake for the most part.
However, they see the most interesting celestial event of their lives. A new star is rising. A new king. It had been ages since such an event had occurred. Did they send servants? Emissaries? No. These men were so moved by the star that they themselves followed it.
They left their life of luxury and honor to travel the wilderness, following a star to Israel. The star did not lead them to Jerusalem. No, it didn't lead them to a major city, but a small village, Bethlehem. It did not lead them to the grand hotel, but a stable. Could the new king really be staying in a stable? Still, they followed.
They found a peasant couple with a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes. He was lying in a manger. He was lying in a feeding trough. Still, they believed. These three wise men, arrayed in fine clothes, offered presents of gold, frankincense and myrrh to this small peasant child.
They believed.
Monday, December 14, 2009
Deep In Mercy, Part 1
What you see over the course of the history of the OT going into the NT is a progressively deeper unveiling of God's identity over time, culminating in the ultimate reveal of who He is in the person of Jesus Christ. It is not any change in God Himself, but God revealed Himself slowly over the course of thousands of years to allow man to grow in his understanding progressively. It is a function of God's mercy that He unveiled Himself so slowly.
If he went *POOF* JESUS! DIE! RISE AGAIN! *POOF*, then mankind would likely reject it altogether, not having the proper cultural and emotional context to understand what is going on or appreciate what is happening.
Furthermore, He revealed Himself in the proper order. He first revealed His Justice, so that we would be able to understand His Mercy. Without an understanding of justice, mercy has no meaning. As one unfolds, the other follows.
The law came about so that man could understand his sin and his need for a savior. The law could not save, but it could instruct man in proper living. Its greatest lesson is how imperfect we all are and how weak we all are. It shows man how much he needs God. We all deserve death. We all deserve Hell. The law made this clear.
Even as God's Justice is being established, His Mercy is apparent, even from the beginning. When Adam and Eve disobeyed God's command, they had to face death in justice. However, God also treats them with mercy. He gives them leather garments to hide their shame. Moreover, Gen 3:15 contains the Protoevangelium, God's foretelling of the triumph over death.
When Abraham pleaded for Sodom and Gomorrah, God showed His Mercy when Abraham asked "If there are only 100, 80, 10, etc. righteous people... will you spare Sodom for the sake of the 100, 80, 10, etc.?" However, it was so completely corrupt that not even Lot's wife had been corrupted by their evildoing. Furthermore, God allowed those who were righteous to escape the doom. Such mercy by a god was unknown and amazing at that time.
There are countless others, and I haven't even gotten through Genesis.
I could go on and on about the countless Mercies that God showed His people and even others who were not "his people" throughout the Old Testament. To paint God in the OT as cruel and heartless is, quite simply, ignorant.
If he went *POOF* JESUS! DIE! RISE AGAIN! *POOF*, then mankind would likely reject it altogether, not having the proper cultural and emotional context to understand what is going on or appreciate what is happening.
Furthermore, He revealed Himself in the proper order. He first revealed His Justice, so that we would be able to understand His Mercy. Without an understanding of justice, mercy has no meaning. As one unfolds, the other follows.
The law came about so that man could understand his sin and his need for a savior. The law could not save, but it could instruct man in proper living. Its greatest lesson is how imperfect we all are and how weak we all are. It shows man how much he needs God. We all deserve death. We all deserve Hell. The law made this clear.
Even as God's Justice is being established, His Mercy is apparent, even from the beginning. When Adam and Eve disobeyed God's command, they had to face death in justice. However, God also treats them with mercy. He gives them leather garments to hide their shame. Moreover, Gen 3:15 contains the Protoevangelium, God's foretelling of the triumph over death.
When Abraham pleaded for Sodom and Gomorrah, God showed His Mercy when Abraham asked "If there are only 100, 80, 10, etc. righteous people... will you spare Sodom for the sake of the 100, 80, 10, etc.?" However, it was so completely corrupt that not even Lot's wife had been corrupted by their evildoing. Furthermore, God allowed those who were righteous to escape the doom. Such mercy by a god was unknown and amazing at that time.
There are countless others, and I haven't even gotten through Genesis.
I could go on and on about the countless Mercies that God showed His people and even others who were not "his people" throughout the Old Testament. To paint God in the OT as cruel and heartless is, quite simply, ignorant.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Head of the Household
"Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the church and handed himself over for her"
~ Ephesians 5:25
I'm the head of my household. I have to lay down my life for my wife. When I have children, I'll have to lay down my life for them as well. In the past eight months, I've been learning to do that. It hasn't been easy, but my life has a new purpose and meaning that it did not have before. It is my vocation. It is my calling.
Before I met my lovely wife, I had lots of freedom. Boredom, too. I had money; I had lots of time to spend as I wished. I could pretty much go where I wanted or do what I wanted, so long as I showed up 9 to 5 for work. I was miserable. I spent many an hour simply feeling aimless and passionless. I didn't have anyone to live for.
Now, I have a wife, a house and a dog. There are honey-dos, a wife to love and comfort, and a dog to entertain and feed. There are schedules to coordinate, charts to follow, payments to make and precious little free time. But, I have purpose. I'm much happier than I was when I had "freedom."
Live for God. Live your vocation. Live.
~ Ephesians 5:25
I'm the head of my household. I have to lay down my life for my wife. When I have children, I'll have to lay down my life for them as well. In the past eight months, I've been learning to do that. It hasn't been easy, but my life has a new purpose and meaning that it did not have before. It is my vocation. It is my calling.
Before I met my lovely wife, I had lots of freedom. Boredom, too. I had money; I had lots of time to spend as I wished. I could pretty much go where I wanted or do what I wanted, so long as I showed up 9 to 5 for work. I was miserable. I spent many an hour simply feeling aimless and passionless. I didn't have anyone to live for.
Now, I have a wife, a house and a dog. There are honey-dos, a wife to love and comfort, and a dog to entertain and feed. There are schedules to coordinate, charts to follow, payments to make and precious little free time. But, I have purpose. I'm much happier than I was when I had "freedom."
Live for God. Live your vocation. Live.
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