pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

Tag Archives: rescue


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Growing and Widening

Reading: Acts 10-12

Acts 11:17 – “If God gave them the same gift he gave us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, then who am I? Could I stand in God’s way?”

Photo credit: Uta Scholl

The circle opens wider as God’s angel tells Cornelius to send for Peter. He does so. Meanwhile, Peter has a vision while praying on a rooftop. A sheet holding animals, reptiles, and birds descends from heaven. Peter is told to kill and eat. “Absolutely not!” is the response. Three times this happens and the sheet returns to heaven. Cornelius’ messengers arrive and tell their story. Peter invites them in. They leave in the morning. As Peter is preaching to a receptive audience the Spirit came upon them just as it had at Pentecost. These Gentiles are baptized in the name of Jesus. The circle widens.

When Peter returns to Jerusalem, some of the Jewish believers question Peter’s actions. He entered the home of an uncircumcised Gentile! Peter explained the whole story. Recalling the Lord’s promise of baptizing with the Holy Spirit, he then says, “If God gave them the same gift he gave us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, then who am I? Could I stand in God’s way?” The church decided God is at work; it is good. The church continues to grow and spread. In Antioch they first intentionally preach directly to Gentiles. Many come to believe. Barnabas is sent to investigate. He is overjoyed to see God at work. He gets Saul and they preach in Antioch for a year. The disciples are first called “Christians” in Antioch.

Turning to chapter 12, persecution comes from civil authorities. Herod has James killed and then he arrests Peter. Awaiting arraignment, Peter is rescued by an angel as the church prays earnestly. So unbelievable is the escape, it takes a while for the door to Mary’s home to be opened. After telling his story, Peter leaves. Meanwhile, an arrogant Herod dies in Caesarea, punished by God. Barnabas and Saul, along with John Mark, return to Antioch as the church continues to grow.

Prayer: Lord God, you work in amazing and sometimes unbelievable ways. You open the church to “outsiders” and you open prison doors to free the imprisoned. You always provide a way and you continue to call us to trust in where you are leading, growing both our faith and the family of faith. Thank you for your love and faithfulness, O God. Amen.


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Faith, Love, Compassion

Reading: Matthew 14-15

Matthew 15:6-7 – “You do away with God’s Law for the sake of the rules that have been handed down to you. Hypocrites!”

Photo credit: Nathan Lemon

Today’s two chapters cover a wide variety of topics – abuse of power, feeding and healing, doubt and fear, great faith. In some stories, these topics intertwine. Chapter 14 begins with the death of John the Baptist. Abusing his power is nothing new for Herod. Here it costs John his life. At his birthday party, Herod promises “anything” to his daughter-in-law. She asks for John’s head. Jesus learns of this, is grieved, and withdraws to a “deserted place” by himself.

The crowds find Jesus and bring the sick to him. With compassion he heals them. Late in the day, the disciples urge Jesus to send them away to buy food. His response: “You give them something.” The impossible becomes reality as 5,000 men plus women and children eat their fill from 5 fish and 2 loaves. In the end each disciple holds a basket full of leftovers. Later, in chapter 15, Jesus feeds a crowd of 4,000 men plus women and children.

Jesus dismisses the crowd, sends the disciples on across the lake, and goes up the mountain to pray. In the early morning he comes to them, walking on the water during a storm. Here is where Peter walks in the water – until his fears and doubts overcome his faith. Jesus rescues him. Later it is a Canaanite woman, another outsider, who shows great faith, persevering until Jesus heals her daughter.

At the start of chapter 15 there is an encounter between Jesus and the religious leaders. Being “clean” is the core issue. Jesus says, “You do away with God’s Law for the sake of the rules that have been handed down to you. Hypocrites!” His example: man’s rule (giving money to the temple) has overridden God’s Law (honor father and mother.) This too is an abuse of power. Getting to the core issue, Jesus tells the crowd and then the disciples that it is what comes out of the mouth (and therefore out of the heart) that makes one unclean. When one allows evil thoughts, adultery, insults… to form in the heart and then to come out of the mouth, then one becomes unclean. May it not be so.

Prayer: Lord God, like today’s reading, life brings a variety of challenges as we seek to walk faithfully with you. Faith, love, compassion – may these be our guides as we strive to love you and to love neighbor in all the ways we can, in all the times we can. Amen.


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Triumph in the End

Reading: Micah 1-4

Micah 4:5 – “Each of the peoples walks in the name of their own god; but as for us, we will walk in the name of the LORD our God forever and always.”

Micah was called by God to invite Judah back to God’s mercy and justice. He prophesied at the same time as Isaiah and Amos. Central to the book of Micah is the theme of social justice and the promise of restoration. These themes weave in and out of Micah’s condemnation of Israel’s sin.

Micah begins by proclaiming the coming disaster. God will “go down and tread on the shrines of the earth.” Samaria will be laid waste, its people taken into exile. The Assyrians weakened but did not defeat Judah. The doom will come, though, falling most directly on Judah’s leaders and the priests. It will ripple down to the people. The leaders covet and seize what they want. The priests teach “for wine and liquor.” God’s patience has run out.

Micah declares that those whose job is “to know justice” will cry out but God will not answer. This is because the priests who have “led my people astray” will be silenced. But as for Micah, he is “filled with power… with the spirit of God… with justice and righteousness” to declare Israel’s sins. Micah declares, “Zion will be plowed like a field.” This is quite the image.

Hope comes in chapter 4. The Lord’s house will be lifted up and the nations “will stream to it.” Some people will seek to “walk in God’s paths” because war will be no more in Zion. Some will still pursue their own gods, “But as for us, we will walk in the name of the LORD our God forever and always.” Yes, God will one day regather Israel. Yet the time is coming when “you will go to Babylon.” Pain will be felt. Even so, hope remains. Micah proclaims, “There you will be rescued… the Lord will redeem you.” Thanks be to God that love and grace always triumph in the end – for Israel and for you and me.

Prayer: Lord God, your justice and righteousness are our guides. When we live as people of justice and righteousness our world becomes what you intend it to be. Yet we can be less than ideal, elevating self and other idols over your will and way. In your power and might, bring us back to walking your paths, back to walking in your name. Amen.


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Prepare to Meet Your God!

Reading: Amos 1-4

Amos 4:4-5 – “Come to Bethel — and commit a crime!… Offer a thanksgiving sacrifice… publicize your gifts… for so you love to do, people of Israel!”

Amos is called from a small town in Judah in about 762 BCE. His task is to bring words of warning to Israel. Amos’ central message was that God is just and righteous and will uphold these practices. Chapters 1 and 2 contain judgments against Israel’s neighbors. Each begins with “for three crimes… and for four.” This is not strict math. It means that these sins were perpetrated again and again.

These sins or crimes include selling refugees as slaves, seizing land using violence, exacting revenge, and desecrating other leader’s bodies. Judah is ignoring the Instructions and disobeying the Law. Turn Israel’s sins are detailed. The rich and powerful mistreat and steal from the poor, often enslaving them. They disregard their rights – that’s using their blankets given as collateral for picnics instead of returning them each night, as required by the Law. Fathers and sons have illicit sex with the same woman. God then reminds them of all that God did for them. And of how prophets and Nazarites were sent. The deeds were forgotten, the words hushed. God declares that the fast, strong, and mighty will all fall.

Chapter 3 contains three beautiful verses: 2, 7, and 12. In verse 2 God declares, “You only have I loved so deeply.” This is God’s covenant love. God continues, “Therefore I will punish you.” This is God’s justice and righteousness at work. In verse 7 God says, “Surely the Lord does nothing without revealing his secret” through the prophets. This is God’s grace, again and again calling the people to justice and righteousness. Verse 12 speaks of God’s redemption and salvation. A remnant will be spared. God will rescue Israel in the end. This is a return to God’s covenant love through grace, mercy, and forgiveness.

I smiled when I read God’s taunt in chapter 4. God will try anything to bring the children back into right relationship. In verses 4 and 5 God says, “Come to Bethel — and commit a crime!… Offer a thanksgiving sacrifice… publicize your gifts… for so you love to do, people of Israel!” God wants them to clearly see their hypocrisy. They indulge and brag about it, but exclude the needy – again breaking the Law. God lays out the warnings, the revelations – famine, drought, disease, plague, war… “yet you didn’t return to me.” Again and again. So God proclaims, “Prepare to meet your God, Israel!” The day of justice and righteousness is coming.

Prayer: Lord God, oh how many voices we ignore. Oh how many signs we miss. We’re much like Israel. We hush the Holy Spirit. We read your word and take away what “tickles our ears.” This we too fall short of the justice and righteousness that is found at your core. You call us to hold to and to stand for these, especially in behalf of the poor and needy. Lord, break our hearts for what breaks yours. Renew and reshape us with generous hearts and courageous souls, O God, so that we might be your healing balm to a broken and hurting world. Amen.


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Receive Your Reward

Daniel 12:1 – “At that time, every one of your people who is found written in the scroll will be rescued.”

Today we read Daniel’s visions. These difficult and challenging words carry both a historical meaning and they speak into future times as well. In the historical sense, these words deal largely with Antiochus IV, a Greek king who heavily persecuted the Israelites. His reign brought the first known attempt by a political ruler to wipe out a religion. The historical time frame is 176-164 BCE. These words come much later than Daniel 1-6, set around 400 BCE.

Daniel’s first vision is of four beasts. These kingdoms will rise and fall. All will impact God’s people. But in the end, “the holy ones of the Most High will receive the kingship.” In the end, God will triumph. The fourth, the most evil, represents Antiochus. The 3 1/2 years lines up with his actual reign, as do the wars fought with the “southern king” – Egypt.

Daniel’s second vision of the ram and he-goat are about Persia/Media and the Greeks/Alexander the Great. As strong and powerful and dominant as Alexander will be, his kingdom is divided into four smaller, weaker kingdoms. This vision is followed by Daniel’s prayer in chapter 9. His humble words of confession and repentance move heaven. Gabriel is sent. He affirms Daniel as “greatly treasured” but also confirms the persecution soon to come upon God’s faithful.

Chapter 10 offers insight into another battlefront – the heavenly conflict. Michael helped in the battle against Persia’s powers so that the messenger could get to Daniel. Chapter 11 is some review – the battles between Antiochus and Ptolemy III of Egypt. It is about the persecution the people of God will face too. They are assured that this too will end.

Chapter 12 closes the book of Daniel with words of hope, with words of resurrection and rescue. The messenger speaks of the faithful who “will shine like the stars forever and ever.” In the end, Daniel is also encouraged. He’s told that he “will rest and will stand to receive your reward.” He too will be a part of this glorious eternity. May we also persevere through the challenges, remaining humbly faithful, trusting in God’s power to rescue and redeem.

Prayer: Lord God, as we read these words that the people of God lived through, we too are reminded of the lasting nature of evil. Antiochus wasn’t the first or the last to persecute the faithful. More came. More are yet to come. Lord, lead us to walk in faith, humbling turning to you, the only one with the power to save and rescue. Amen.


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God Alone Can Rescue

Reading: Daniel 4-7

Daniel 6:26 – “All people must fear and revere Daniel’s God because: He is the living God. God stands firm forever.”

Photo credit: Stormseeker

The “story” portion of Daniel continues today. Tomorrow’s reading turns to Daniel’s dreams and visions. Chapter 4 begins with Nebuchadnezzar telling of God’s grace, mercy, and restoration. He has a dream where a very tall tree ruled over all, caring well for everyone. That was Nebuchadnezzar. Yeah! But then the tree was cut down and destroyed, leaving only a stump bound with iron and bronze. He lost his mind for seven years, living amongst the wild animals. Finally, he humbles himself, as Daniel has asked him to do, and God restores him fully. The king worships God, declaring that God’s works are true, that God’s paths are just, and that God’s power will humble the prideful.

Chapter 5 shifts to the next king, Belshazzar. At a big party he calls for and drinks from the goblets taken from the temple. A hand appears and writes on the wall. Fear seizes all. Despite a big reward, no one can read or interpret the words. The queen enters and remembers Daniel. He is summoned and first reminds the king how God humbled Nebuchadnezzar. It is a warning that’s ignored. Daniel then interprets the writing: “Mene, mene, tekel, parsin.” Your days are numbered, you haven’t measured up, your kingdom will be divided. That night Belshazzar is killed. Darius the Mede becomes king.

Darius establishes a new governmental system. 120 regional officials will report to three main officers. Daniel is one of these three at first. Soon Darius is considering making him #1. This spawns jealousy which spawns a plot. The 122 leaders trick Darius into signing a decree that people can only pray to him. Daniel prays to God, “just like he always did.” On the way into the pit, Darius says, “Your God… will rescue you.” After a sleepless night, Darius discovers that God has done just that. He then issues a decree stating, “All people must fear and revere Daniel’s God because: He is the living God. God stands firm forever.” The proof, he says, is that God rescued Daniel. When we must decide between God and career or status or some other thing, may we trust in our God who rescues and saves.

Prayer: Lord God, you alone can rescue. You alone can save. There are many things, God, that can rise up in our selfish hearts, drawing us away from you. When they begin to have voice, when they start to pull at us, remind us of your better plan for our lives. Through the power of the Holy Spirit guide us to stand for and in your promise to rescue and save. Amen.


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Lamenting Suffering

Reading: Lamentations 3-5

Lamentations 3:22 – “Certainly the faithful love of the LORD hasn’t ended; certainly God’s compassion isn’t through!”

Photo credit: Falaq Lazuardi

Today’s key verse summarizes the feel of Lamentations 3-5. There is hope in these words of lament. There is a hope that God isn’t utterly done with Israel. Yes, the author knows the promises of rescue and restoration, but in the depths of the suffering, hope can flicker.

Lamentations 3 is in the first person. It reads as if Jeremiah were reflecting on the hardships and trials of his life as a prophet. He has felt God’s hand against him. He has felt like God “silences my prayer.” These memories of suffering bring bitterness. He muses, “Certainly the faithful love of the LORD hasn’t ended; certainly God’s compassion isn’t through!” Hope arises, though, as he declares, “Great is your faithfulness… The Lord is my portion! Therefore I’ll wait for God.” As the chapter continues, there is an invitation to “examine our ways” and to recognize, “We rebelled.” This is step one to forgiveness.

Chapter 4 reflects on the people’s suffering. The children are thirsty and hungry. The author laments that their fate wasn’t like Sodom’s – quick and final. He laments, death by the sword would be better than death by famine. The false prophets draw some of the blame. There is reality in verse 12: “Our end had definitely come.”

The last chapter is a communal lament. They invite God to notice their disgrace. They recognize that they are burdened by past sins. Their joy is gone. They are “doomed because we have sinned.” Hope surfaces again as the community recalls how God reigns from one generation to the next. With that hope, they offer this request: “Return us, Lord, to yourself. Please let us return!” May it ever be so.

Prayer: Lord God, we too lament when we suffer justly for our sins and for our choices to be of the world. We too long to end these seasons and to return to you, our God and king. In the suffering and trial, refine us as you are working to rescue us. Draw us to you, O Lord, again and again. Amen.


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Consequences of Choices

Reading: Jeremiah 39-45

Jeremiah 40:2-3 – “The LORD your God declared that a great disaster would overtake this place. Now the LORD has made it happen.”

Our reading begins with the fall of Jerusalem. After a siege that lasts about a year and a half, the Babylonians conquer the city. Zedekiah tries to escape but is caught. His officials and children are slaughtered before him. He is then blinded and taken into exile. The palace and houses are burned down. The walls come down. All but the poorest (and a few who are in hiding) are taken into exile.

Jeremiah is rescued. He is known by Nebuchadnezzar. He sends the captain of the special guard to find Jeremiah. Once he does, he says to Jeremiah: “The LORD your God declared that a great disaster would overtake this place. Now the LORD has made it happen.” Jeremiah is respected by the Babylonians. He’s given the choice to stay or to go. He chooses to stay, living under the care of Gedaliah, the Babylonian appointee. Most of the Judeans left in the land rally around him. Johanan, an army officer, warns Gedaliah of a plot. He ignores this warning – to his own peril. Ishmael and his men murder Gedaliah and flee with some prisoners.

Johanan hears of the murder and he rescues the captives. Ishmael and eight men escape to Ammon. Johanan and the remaining Judeans fear what Babylon will do in response to Gedaliah’s murder. They ask Jeremiah to inquire of the Lord: should we stay or go? After ten days, God tells them to stay put. God will build them up and will protect them from the king of Babylon. They are warned: refuse to listen, go to Egypt, and the war they fear and the famine they dread will strike them in Egypt. They accuse Jeremiah of lying. Baruch put him up to it!

Jeremiah warns them of the consequences of their choice to go to Egypt. He reminds them of their past sins and of the consequences of those sins. Jeremiah and Baruch are hauled off to Egypt. Once there, Jeremiah builds a stone platform in front of Pharaoh’s palace, declaring that Nebuchadnezzar will place his throne there. The people remain stubborn and disobedient. The hand of death is coming.

Prayer: Lord God, how can your people run to you, asking for guidance, only to turn against your response. But wait. We do that too. We allow fear and insecurity to drive our decisions now and then. Lord, build up our faith, guiding us to listen to your guidance, choosing life over death. Amen.


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Hope Even Then

Readings: Jeremiah 21-24

Jeremiah 23:3 – “I myself will gather the few remaining sheep from all the countries where I have driven them. I will bring them back.”

Today’s words from Jeremiah and God are mostly addressed to the kings and priests – the leaders. Zedekiah asks Jeremiah to go to God on their behalf because Nebuchadnezzar is besieging the city. God’s response is that God will join in the fight against Zedekiah and Jerusalem. God will send a plague, destroying them from within the city. They are told that surrender is the only way to live. Almost all will die instead.

Jeremiah elevates the correct behavior of kings. Administer justice and righteousness. Rescue the oppressed. Don’t mistreat the refugee, immigrant, orphan, or widow. Don’t spill innocent blood. Defend the rights of the poor and needy. Care well for the flock. Be fresh, good figs. Instead, the leaders chose to be evil, selfish, greedy, willful. God’s efforts will join theirs in scattering the flock.

Jeremiah also addresses the priests or “prophets.” They are telling lies and selling false security. They commit adultery with idols and teach in the name of Baal. God declares them no better than Sodom – a city completely destroyed by God because of their sin. The prophets have “destroyed the very word of God.” They too will join the kings and other leaders in exile, becoming objects of disgrace and shame.

We also find hope within these oracles and judgments. God still longs for the people to know and to love God. God’s love for them remains strong and steadfast. In 23:3 we read, “I myself will gather the few remaining sheep from all the countries where I have driven them. I will bring them back.” Thanks be to God for unfailing mercy and unending grace.

Prayer: Lord God, I am grateful for your standards and expectations. You call us to justice and righteousness, to mercy and compassion. You call us to love all people. You ask us to be who you are. It is good. Amen.


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God Will Teach Them

Reading: Jeremiah 13-16

Jeremiah 13:11 – “Just as a linen undergarment clings to the body, so I created the people of Israel and Judah to cling to me.”

Photo credit: Kenny Eliason

Our reading today begins with an illustration. Jeremiah buys, wears, and then buries an undergarment in the Euphrates River (in Babylon.) He digs it up and it is ruined, just like the people of God will be. God laments, “Just as a linen undergarment clings to the body, so I created the people of Israel and Judah to cling to me.” Because of their sin and disobedience, God will not have pity or compassion or mercy. They will be “dragged off to exile” and God will “scatter you like straw.”

Drought comes. It initially gets their attention. The people acknowledge their sin but then accuse God of being absent. God responds by telling Jeremiah not to pray for them. And God won’t accept their fast or their offerings. God will send war, famine, and disease. Brief attention is given to the false prophets. Yes, God says, they too will die – and their families. Chapter 14 closes with another attempt by the people. Yes, we’ve sinned. Yes, we’re sinning. But don’t reject us, don’t break your covenant. There is no repentance, no intent to turn from their sins.

God is so upset that God declares that even if Moses and Samuel came and interceded for the people, God still wouldn’t listen. God’s hand is set against Judah. The widows will “outnumber the sand.” In 15:10 Jeremiah laments his treatment. God asks, “Haven’t I taken care of you?” Jeremiah declares his love for God’s word. God offers to take him back – if he is faithful. God then promises to rescue and protect Jeremiah.

In chapter 16 God tells Jeremiah not to marry or to have children. That’s how bad it will be. The people are accused of being worse than their ancestors. Even so, in verses 14 and 15 we find hope. One day God will bring them home. But first they will be paid back double for their sins. God will teach them. “They will understand that I am the Lord,” declares God. Yes they will.

Prayer: Lord God, sin and disobedience break your heart. They create separation between who we are being and who we are meant to be. Teach us too, O Lord, how to walk faithfully and obediently. Guard us from sin. Plant your word in our hearts, enabling us to shine your love out into the world. Amen.