pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

Tag Archives: disperse


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Center Stage

Readings: Genesis 9:18-39, Genesis 10, Genesis 11

Genesis 11:4 – “Come, let’s build for ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the sky, and let’s make a name for ourselves.”

Continuing in chapter 9 today we see that sin hasn’t left the world with the flood. Noah grows grapes and makes wine. He gets drunk then naked. Ham sees his father naked and instead of covering him up, he tells Shem and Japheth about it. They do the right thing and later receive Noah’s blessings. Ham, by contrast, is cursed because he did not honor his father.

Chapter 10 details the most of the descendants of Shem, Ham, and Japheth. They are listed a variety of ways – names, families, languages, lands, nations. This creates a kind of early ethnic map of the ancient world. Shem’s genealogy is found again in chapter 11. But it diverges in verse 18 as it follows Peleg’s branch of the family tree. This branch ends with Abram and family in the land of Haran. Sarai and her barrenness is also mentioned. This is a sharp contrast to the long list of children and descendants found in chapters 10-11.

In the middle of these genealogical lists we find the story of the Tower of Babel. In this story we see that the human tendency towards pride and arrogance survived the flood. At Shinar the people begin to scheme, saying to one another, “Come, let’s build for ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the sky, and let’s make a name for ourselves.” They want to build a tower that reaches to heaven. It could be to connect with God or it could be to be like God. It’s likely the second as they also desire to be famous, to be recognized for their skill. As a means to counter this pride and sin, God confuses or jumbles their languages and then dispersing this prideful bunch all over the earth.

When we try to take center stage for ourselves, how does this affect our relationship with God and with one another? How does God normally respond?

Prayer: Lord God, in my thoughts, my words, my actions, may I honor you and bring all the glory to you. When I’m tempted to bring the focus to me, remind my heart of you, my audience of one. Amen.


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Hope in Exile

Reading: Ezekiel 34: 11-16

Verse 16: “I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak”.

Ezekiel was one of God’s prophets. He ministered to Israel during their time in exile in Babylon. After being defeated by the Babylonians, many Israelites were dispersed throughout the kingdom of their conquerors. These words from God’s prophet would bring hope during a difficult time. These words of God would remind the people that their current experience will not be their reality forever. Both of these circumstances are true today. In our current pandemic, there is no doubt that this is a difficult time for almost everyone. Although it feels like it has been a really long time, we know that the virus and its effects will not last forever. Yet, in the midst of it, we are much like the Israelites in Babylon – isolated, feeling powerless, becoming a bit hopeless, grieving, separated.

Beginning in verse eleven God reveals his plan. In this verse God tells the people that he will “search for my sheep and look after them”. In the next verse God promises to “rescue them” from isolation, from exile, from “all the places where they were scattered”. Then God shares that he will bring them back home. In verse thirteen God states, “I will bring them into their own land”. God will search for his children; God will rescue them and gather them; and, God will bring them back home. Living in a time of defeat, in a time of exile, to hear that God is still God, that God loves and cares for them, that God will once again bring them all back together – these are words of healing and hope.

During these COVID times, just as was the case in exile, some people are coping or doing okay, some are not. Those who are naturally resilient, those who are disposed to optimism, those whose faith has grown in these times – these folks are going alright. There is a middle group who are mostly getting by. They have some of these positive characteristics, but life is now a delicate balance. And there are those who have depleted their reserves of these characteristics. They are struggling emotionally, physically, spiritually, relationally. This last group, especially, needs to hear verse sixteen’s promise: “I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak”. God has a special love for those hurting the most. Jesus, his son, modeled this love. Jesus, our Lord, calls us to follow his lead. To those around us most feeling like they are in exile, may we share these words of hope and love. And, if we dare, may we be these words of hope and love. May it be so for you and for me.

Prayer: Lord God, lead and guide me to the list, to the strays, to the weak. Set my feet towards those hurting in my communities. Break my heart for what breaks yours. Fill my broken heart with your love and care. Use me to bring hope to those without. May it be so. Amen.


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Hope in Faith

Reading: Psalm 107: 1-7

Verse 6: “Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress”.

Today’s Psalm reading begins with a great line: “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever”. Every time I read that line I am reminded of a song (Forever) that just makes me happier. This line is found in several Psalms – it is a familiar refrain for the people of God. The thanks in today’s Psalm is centered on the redeeming and gathering power of God in verses two through four, and on the Lord’s deliverance and guidance in verses five through seven. The acts of redeeming and gathering, of delivering and guiding, continue to be reasons we today can also say (or sing), “Give thanks to the Lord…”

Psalm 107 is one of many Psalms of thanksgiving. The nation has wandered and has been dispersed. They have been hungry and thirsty, life “ebbed away”. In his great love, God gathered them back into community, leading them once again by a “straight way”. God’s steadfast love remained strong for his children. God hears their cries and God responded. Through no fault of their own, our current pandemic has caused many to feel difficult emotions. Many are or worry about being hungry and cared for as employment is tenuous in this new time. Many are stressed by anxiety over their health or by the health of loved ones and friends. Many long to be gathered back into community, feeling the pain of isolation and loneliness. Many in our churches and neighborhoods are longing to be redeemed and gathered, to be delivered and guided. Many are crying out, many are hurting. It is a time of struggle, even for some of us.

Verse six reminds us of the promise: “Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress”. God will hear and deliver. There is hope in these words. Maybe we need to hear them ourselves. If so, spend some time today with this Psalm and in prayer with your loving God. Maybe we are people of faith who can share these words with those who are worried or stressed or anxious or lonely. As we live out and share our faith, may we each be a part of the healing of the nations. May it be so.

Prayer: Lord God, guide me and the church to the cries of the hurting and breaking. Lead us to respond in love and hope, offering fellowship and community, care and provision – offering faith in you. Use us to bring healing to our communities and neighborhoods. Amen.