“Somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue…and dreams that you dare to dream really do come true….” Eva Cassidy’s lilting rendition of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” is one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard. As I close my eyes and listen, I imagine a beautiful rainbow filling the sky….I think I can even smell the sweet aroma of the earth after a refreshing rain. What is it about the rainbow? Sometimes dazzling…sometimes subtle…always delightful and amazing. Sometimes the appearance of a rainbow will make me reflect on the Biblical account of the first time anyone saw a rainbow. It was preceded by one of the darkest times in the history of man, a time when God grieved.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
“Somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue…and dreams that you dare to dream really do come true….” Eva Cassidy’s lilting rendition of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” is one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard. As I close my eyes and listen, I imagine a beautiful rainbow filling the sky….I think I can even smell the sweet aroma of the earth after a refreshing rain. What is it about the rainbow? Sometimes dazzling…sometimes subtle…always delightful and amazing. Sometimes the appearance of a rainbow will make me reflect on the Biblical account of the first time anyone saw a rainbow. It was preceded by one of the darkest times in the history of man, a time when God grieved.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Is there anything that stirs our hearts like a good love story? The books and movies I remember best are the ones that revolve around a love story. I’d venture to say there is no great story unless there is a love story within it. Perhaps that’s because the story of our lives is a love story, and the story of God’s plan is the greatest love story imaginable.
I believe the outline of God’s love story is preserved in His holy days. Three seasons of the year, the Israelites were commanded to “appear before the Lord your God at the place He will choose.” These times were The Feast of Unleavened Bread (which began with Passover), the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost) and the Feast of Tabernacles. This past Sunday, May 31st, was the day of Pentecost (Pentecost literally means “count fifty.” The day after the Sabbath immediately following the Passover, a single sheaf of the firstfruits of the harvest was brought to the priest. The priest waved the sheaf before the Lord, to be accepted on behalf of the people…an obvious type of Christ being accepted on our behalf as the first of the firstfruits. Seven weeks were counted from the wave sheaf offering to arrive at the feast of Pentecost 50 days later…hence, it is also called the “feast of weeks.”) There is a wonderful love story associated with this holy day.
The book of Ruth is one of the Megilloth (festival scrolls, read on annual holy days). It is read in Jewish synagogues on Pentecost (referred to as Shavout). The events recorded in the book occurred between Passover and Pentecost in the late spring, between the early and late spring harvest. The timing of the book is fascinating. It occurred during the time of the judges, a time when “every man did what was right in his own eyes,” and the result was chaos, violence, disobedience and idolatry (Judges 21:25). So it becomes a story of God’s grace during a dark time in Israel’s history.
As the story unfolds, we learn that, because of famine, Naomi, her husband and two sons move to Moab and her sons marry there. Shortly thereafter, her husband and both sons die, and Naomi decides to return to Bethlehem (1:1-7). Naomi implores her Moabite daughters-in-law, Orpah and Ruth, to stay in Moab. Orpah agrees, but Ruth adamantly refuses. Her words to Naomi have been used countless times in weddings as a beautiful depiction of steadfast love, “Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me.” (1:16-17). I find it a little amusing that, although this is quoted in weddings, it actually depicts the love of a daughter- in- law for her mother- in- law! I have a mother in law I love dearly (Audrey, I hope you are reading this!), but I am often told this is not the norm for our day and age….I doubt it was then either! But her devotion to her mother-in-law led to an unexpected romance, a radical change of circumstance, a prophecy of future redemption, and to Ruth, herself, becoming a part of the lineage of Christ!
Ruth returned to Bethlehem with Naomi and participated in the first-fruit harvest, mainly in the fields of Boaz, who was a relative of Naomi’s dead husband. Boaz noticed Ruth and learned about her faithfulness to her mother in law. He was impressed. “May the Lord repay you for what you have done…may you be richly rewarded by the Lord…” (2:12). He protected her, allowing her to glean and gather sheaves left behind by the harvesters. Days later, when the barley and wheat harvests were finished, Ruth went to the threshing floor where Boaz was winnowing barley. When he had fallen asleep, she laid down at his feet. I love the account the scripture relates…”in the middle of the night something startled the man, and he turned and discovered a woman lying at his feet” (3:8). I forgot to mention that Ruth had washed and perfumed herself…and I would love to have some of that fragrance! Boaz’ response to her, after being startled in the middle of the night, was “ The Lord bless you, my daughter…this kindness is greater than that which you showed earlier…” Faithful to the custom of the “kinsman redeemer” (Deut. 25:5), Boaz made sure that the one relative with prior claim to Ruth renounced his claim, and then he made Ruth his wife. Truly a match “made in heaven,” their descendants include King David and Jesus Christ, Himself!
How appropriate that this book would be read on Pentecost. Ruth left everything of her own world, even her religion, to follow Naomi. Though a Gentile, she married an Israelite, embraced a new faith, and became included in the lineage of Christ. God shows us that Gentiles can become spiritual Israelites and take part in the marriage of Christ to His “firstfruits” (the Church). Boaz’ love for Ruth is a type of Christ’s love for the church, and prophetic of the redemptive work of our Saviour/Redeemer. He is the “Husbandman” who provides for and protects his bride. Boaz protected and provided for Ruth, even when she was unaware (2:15-16). Ruth “prepared herself” and laid at Boaz’ feet. The church is making herself ready to become the bride of Christ. Boaz redeemed Ruth, who had nothing and was powerless to change her circumstances. In this book, God reveals His heart. “When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the Lord your God” (Lev. 23:9,22). So Israel was commanded to care for the poor and the alien. Without this law, there would be no book of Ruth. God’s provision was not solely for Israel. His intent was to use Israel to bless others. Pentecost, in the New Testament, ushered in the church age, and now His church has the responsibility to express His heart in caring for others. He invites any who are willing to glean in His fields, to become a part of His early harvest, and to discover their Kinsman Redeemer. And the love story continues….
I believe the outline of God’s love story is preserved in His holy days. Three seasons of the year, the Israelites were commanded to “appear before the Lord your God at the place He will choose.” These times were The Feast of Unleavened Bread (which began with Passover), the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost) and the Feast of Tabernacles. This past Sunday, May 31st, was the day of Pentecost (Pentecost literally means “count fifty.” The day after the Sabbath immediately following the Passover, a single sheaf of the firstfruits of the harvest was brought to the priest. The priest waved the sheaf before the Lord, to be accepted on behalf of the people…an obvious type of Christ being accepted on our behalf as the first of the firstfruits. Seven weeks were counted from the wave sheaf offering to arrive at the feast of Pentecost 50 days later…hence, it is also called the “feast of weeks.”) There is a wonderful love story associated with this holy day.
The book of Ruth is one of the Megilloth (festival scrolls, read on annual holy days). It is read in Jewish synagogues on Pentecost (referred to as Shavout). The events recorded in the book occurred between Passover and Pentecost in the late spring, between the early and late spring harvest. The timing of the book is fascinating. It occurred during the time of the judges, a time when “every man did what was right in his own eyes,” and the result was chaos, violence, disobedience and idolatry (Judges 21:25). So it becomes a story of God’s grace during a dark time in Israel’s history.
As the story unfolds, we learn that, because of famine, Naomi, her husband and two sons move to Moab and her sons marry there. Shortly thereafter, her husband and both sons die, and Naomi decides to return to Bethlehem (1:1-7). Naomi implores her Moabite daughters-in-law, Orpah and Ruth, to stay in Moab. Orpah agrees, but Ruth adamantly refuses. Her words to Naomi have been used countless times in weddings as a beautiful depiction of steadfast love, “Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me.” (1:16-17). I find it a little amusing that, although this is quoted in weddings, it actually depicts the love of a daughter- in- law for her mother- in- law! I have a mother in law I love dearly (Audrey, I hope you are reading this!), but I am often told this is not the norm for our day and age….I doubt it was then either! But her devotion to her mother-in-law led to an unexpected romance, a radical change of circumstance, a prophecy of future redemption, and to Ruth, herself, becoming a part of the lineage of Christ!
Ruth returned to Bethlehem with Naomi and participated in the first-fruit harvest, mainly in the fields of Boaz, who was a relative of Naomi’s dead husband. Boaz noticed Ruth and learned about her faithfulness to her mother in law. He was impressed. “May the Lord repay you for what you have done…may you be richly rewarded by the Lord…” (2:12). He protected her, allowing her to glean and gather sheaves left behind by the harvesters. Days later, when the barley and wheat harvests were finished, Ruth went to the threshing floor where Boaz was winnowing barley. When he had fallen asleep, she laid down at his feet. I love the account the scripture relates…”in the middle of the night something startled the man, and he turned and discovered a woman lying at his feet” (3:8). I forgot to mention that Ruth had washed and perfumed herself…and I would love to have some of that fragrance! Boaz’ response to her, after being startled in the middle of the night, was “ The Lord bless you, my daughter…this kindness is greater than that which you showed earlier…” Faithful to the custom of the “kinsman redeemer” (Deut. 25:5), Boaz made sure that the one relative with prior claim to Ruth renounced his claim, and then he made Ruth his wife. Truly a match “made in heaven,” their descendants include King David and Jesus Christ, Himself!
How appropriate that this book would be read on Pentecost. Ruth left everything of her own world, even her religion, to follow Naomi. Though a Gentile, she married an Israelite, embraced a new faith, and became included in the lineage of Christ. God shows us that Gentiles can become spiritual Israelites and take part in the marriage of Christ to His “firstfruits” (the Church). Boaz’ love for Ruth is a type of Christ’s love for the church, and prophetic of the redemptive work of our Saviour/Redeemer. He is the “Husbandman” who provides for and protects his bride. Boaz protected and provided for Ruth, even when she was unaware (2:15-16). Ruth “prepared herself” and laid at Boaz’ feet. The church is making herself ready to become the bride of Christ. Boaz redeemed Ruth, who had nothing and was powerless to change her circumstances. In this book, God reveals His heart. “When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the Lord your God” (Lev. 23:9,22). So Israel was commanded to care for the poor and the alien. Without this law, there would be no book of Ruth. God’s provision was not solely for Israel. His intent was to use Israel to bless others. Pentecost, in the New Testament, ushered in the church age, and now His church has the responsibility to express His heart in caring for others. He invites any who are willing to glean in His fields, to become a part of His early harvest, and to discover their Kinsman Redeemer. And the love story continues….
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
The Master Potter
Recently, our school acquired a kiln. A whole new world of art has opened up for our elementary students, most of whom have physical disabilities. With the patient guidance of our art teacher, our students have plied clay to form pottery bowls and rolled clay into strips to make woven pottery baskets. When the raw clay pieces are finished, the art teacher “fires” them a first time, a process called bisque firing. She brings the fired pieces back to the students to be painted, or “glazed.” This is the part that fascinates me the most. The teacher sets out a number of jars of paint, each labeled with a color name. If they were not labeled, we would have no idea what color the paint was supposed to be. We trust her that the color that looks light green will actually be red, and the light purple will turn out to be yellow. The students delight in painting their artwork, and love to use a lot of different colors. As I assist eager little hands grasping flailing paint brushes, I find myself thinking, “okay, this will be a mess!” The art teacher smiles and tells us “these will be great!” and she carries them away to the kiln to be fired a second time. When she returns with the finished pieces, I am amazed…each piece is unique and utterly beautiful. The more varieties of paint that were used, the more beautiful the finished product turned out to be. Some of the pottery bowls went home for Mothers’ Day, and I am sure there were many delighted mothers.
“O Lord, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand”{Isaiah 64:8). What a profound analogy to reflect upon. God is forming each of us into a work of art, unique and beautiful. His hands are perfectly skilled, he does not make mistakes. The paint, or gloss, can be likened to the experiences of our lives. Each experience adds a dimension to who we are and brings us closer to the finished vessel our Potter plans for us to be. In our Christian journey, we are to “make every effort to add to faith, goodness, and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control, and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love” (2 Peter 1:5-7). As we eagerly attempt to pursue these qualities with unskilled hearts, our masterful Potter guides us through each life experience, adding, as it were, another color. We have to trust the Artist, because often circumstances in our lives don’t appear to be what we would expect or hope for. Trials come, refining us like fire, “so that our faith may be proved genuine” (I Peter 1:5-7). Our Potter knows exactly how much heat we need. Without the heat of the kiln, the pottery would remain fragile and plain. When heated at just the right temperature, for just the right amount of time, the pottery becomes a piece of art, a beautiful masterpiece, reflecting the glory of its Maker and given a place of honor in His house. “Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand…” (Jeremiah 18:6). How thankful I am to be in those hands, or this clay would be a mess…
“O Lord, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand”{Isaiah 64:8). What a profound analogy to reflect upon. God is forming each of us into a work of art, unique and beautiful. His hands are perfectly skilled, he does not make mistakes. The paint, or gloss, can be likened to the experiences of our lives. Each experience adds a dimension to who we are and brings us closer to the finished vessel our Potter plans for us to be. In our Christian journey, we are to “make every effort to add to faith, goodness, and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control, and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love” (2 Peter 1:5-7). As we eagerly attempt to pursue these qualities with unskilled hearts, our masterful Potter guides us through each life experience, adding, as it were, another color. We have to trust the Artist, because often circumstances in our lives don’t appear to be what we would expect or hope for. Trials come, refining us like fire, “so that our faith may be proved genuine” (I Peter 1:5-7). Our Potter knows exactly how much heat we need. Without the heat of the kiln, the pottery would remain fragile and plain. When heated at just the right temperature, for just the right amount of time, the pottery becomes a piece of art, a beautiful masterpiece, reflecting the glory of its Maker and given a place of honor in His house. “Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand…” (Jeremiah 18:6). How thankful I am to be in those hands, or this clay would be a mess…
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Mother's Day
And I pray that you, being rooted and established (“grounded” KJV) in love, may have power….to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love, that surpasses knowledge…. (Ephesians 3: 17-19). I just enjoyed the best Mother’s Day I can remember. There simply is no sweeter gift than spending the day with family, savoring good conversation, lots of laughter and the adoring attention of beautiful grandchildren. Truly, my cup is running over! The highlight of my day revolved around the planting of a tree. When my daughter, Lisa, was asked what she wanted for Mother’s Day, she said she wanted a dogwood tree for the backyard. My son-in-law delivered a sizable young tree while we were all together this afternoon. Each of the men took a turn to help dig the hole for the root ball, while Lisa mixed the overturned dirt with soil conditioner. Carefully, the tree was positioned in the hole, and the enriched soil was mounded around the root and pressed gently down around it. As we were all standing around admiring the new tree, my daughter suggested we offer a prayer of thanksgiving. Spontaneously, we held hands while she offered a simple prayer of thanks. She thanked God for the tree, for the special day, for all of us being together, and especially for the gift of family. It was a spontaneous moment, but it touched us all and moved some of us to tears. Reflecting on the day as we drove home this evening, I thought about that tree and the life-lessons that are so deeply interwoven into all of creation. A family is very much like a tree. I think of my mother and father in law, who were with us today, as the root of our family. They have set the example as pillars of faith and have helped each of us to become “rooted and grounded” in the love of God. As our lives have become established in the fertile soil of our God, His love has begun to flow in and through each of us, and we have become the branches, always reaching further and higher. It is our relationship with Him that has united, strengthened and enriched our family beyond measure. “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener” (John 15:1) I love the picture of God as a gardener….after all, He planted the most beautiful garden imaginable in the garden of Eden. And I don’t think it is insignificant that when Mary first saw Jesus after His resurrection, she mistook Him for the gardener (John 20:15). God is the Master Gardner, and I pray that, as a family, we will bear fruit to His glory…”I am the vine, you are the branches….this is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit…” (John 15:5-8). I am going to love watching that little dogwood tree as it grows….especially on Mother’s Day…
Saturday, May 2, 2009
“Don’t remind me!” is often the response we get when we wish someone a “happy birthday.” When we were young, we couldn’t wait to grown up. But as we cross that line considered “middle age” it’s as if every birthday reminds us of our mortality. It’s hard to see the vitality of youth giving way to aches and pains in places we didn’t even know we had places. Phyllis Diller once wrote that her body was falling so fast her gynecologist had to wear a hard hat! One good thing about growing older is the deeper realization that life is a gift, and it is a gift that bestows a great responsibility and wondrous opportunity. Around the first of the year I asked one of my dearest friends if she had a new year’s resolution. I was expecting an answer that revolved around a physical goal, like weight loss or “getting in shape.” Instead, with a look of resolve in her eyes, she responded, “To seek first the kingdom of God.” She added that although some physical goals were still important, they were no longer a priority in her life. I have thought often about what she said, and I have prayed that this would be my daily resolution as well. In praying about it, I have tried to understand the depth of what it means to “seek first the kingdom…”My friend was quoting from Matthew 6:33, where Christ tells his disciples to “seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things (material provision) will be given to you as well.” I am astounded by how many times Christ refers to His kingdom. Matthew 4:23 says “Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom….” His parables often centered on the kingdom. He said “this is what the kingdom of God is like…” as He began two parables, one about the growing seed and another about the mustard seed. Even the prophecies about Christ in the Old Testament focus on government….”for to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders….of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end” (Isaiah 9:6-7) Yet, His government is not here yet. Matthew 4, verse 8 states that Satan took Christ “to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. All this I will give you, he said, if you will bow down and worship me.” Christ conquered the kingdom of darkness on the cross, but He has not yet deposed it’s ruler on this earth. “A day of the Lord is coming…the Lord will go out and fight against those nations, as He fights in the day of battle. On that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west….the Lord will be king over the whole earth…” (Zechariah 14:1-9). Referring to that same period of time, Isaiah prophesies “They will not harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea” (Is. 11:9). No wonder Christ taught his disciples to pray “your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). So we are “Christ’s ambassadors” (2 Cor. 5:20) representing His coming kingdom. We are called to be “the salt of the earth…the light of the world,” caring about the things He cares about, being about “our Father’s business”(Luke 2:49, King James version).
And so, to my dear friend, and all of my friends and family in the faith, “I thank my God every time I remember you…in all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel ….being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus”…the day of His return, when we will reign with Him as kings and priests (Rev. 1:6). May we all seek that kingdom above all else.
And so, to my dear friend, and all of my friends and family in the faith, “I thank my God every time I remember you…in all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel ….being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus”…the day of His return, when we will reign with Him as kings and priests (Rev. 1:6). May we all seek that kingdom above all else.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Lord of the Rings is one of my family's favorite movies. The special effects, the scenery, and, especially, the story captivated us. We enjoyed finding subtle meanings in Tolkein’s masterful work, especially because we knew his reputation as a Christian and close friend of C.S. Lewis. I appreciate a good story that leaves me reflecting on life lessons. With all of the technology we have available today, someone should make a movie about the Bible. Okay, that might be too big a task. But I would love a movie about the Holy Days…a movie that would depict the fulfillment of the holy days historically and attempt to depict them prophetically. That would be an epic. Families could sit around the dinner table for hours and discuss the subtle meanings of God’s masterful work. It could be the condensed version of the entire Bible. You could begin in the book of Leviticus…
“Speak to the Israelites and say to them: These are my appointed feasts, the appointed feasts of the Lord, which you are to proclaim as sacred assemblies” (Lev. 23:1) As the chapter continues, God instructs His people, Israel, in the observance of His ordained festivals. The Israelites were already aware of at least two of these feast days because of significant events that had occurred on them, the Sabbath Day and the Passover. The Passover and Days of Unleavened Bread were introduced in Exodus 12, when God commanded the Israelites to take the blood of a sacrificed lamb and put it on the sides and tops of their doorframes. The blood would be a sign so that He would “pass over” their houses when He struck down the first born in Egypt. They ate unleavened bread for seven days, as a reminder that they left Egypt in haste, with no time to bake leavened bread. They undoubtedly passed through the Red Sea during the days of unleavened bread, as all of Pharaoh’s soldiers pursued and were covered by the water. A few days later, as they began their sojourn in the desert, God introduced them to manna, referred to as “bread from heaven.” The people were told to gather manna each day, but only enough for that day because it would not last until morning. Some folks paid no attention to Moses and kept part of their manna overnight. The next morning, they awoke to maggots and an awful smell! There was an exception on the sixth day. On that day, they were to gather twice as much as they needed because the seventh day was a day of rest and they could not gather on that day. They were able to save it over until the next morning and it did not have maggots or stink (Exodus 16:5, 21-26). Several chapters before the law was given at Mt. Sinai, God says “bear in mind that the Lord has given you the Sabbath…(Ex. 16:29). Go back even further, to the beginning of time as recorded in Genesis chapter 2:2-3…God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it He rested from all the work of creating that He had done.”
I am struck that God refers to these days as “the appointed feasts of the Lord.” They are not called the “feasts of Israel,” or the “feasts of the Jews.” As every festival is explained, God states “this is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, wherever you live.” The King James Version puts it even more powerfully…”it shall a statute for ever in all your dwellings throughout your generations” (Lev. 23, KJV). It is obvious these holy days are extremely important to God, and that makes them extremely significant for Christians. I believe the holy days weave the Old and New Testaments together in a beautiful tapestry that reflects the glory, power, love and mercy of our God, and that, in them, we are given a picture of God’s kingdom calendar. It makes an inspiring (and fun!) study to find some of the amazing historical events that have occurred on the holy days. The events that took place on the original Passover as God delivered the Israelites out of Egypt are well known and widely understood to have been prophetic. When Christ “our Passover was sacrificed for us” this event became the first holy day to be fulfilled in history. The Israelites crossed the Red Sea during the days of Unleavened Bread, and “were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea” (I. Cor. 10:2). Forty years later, immediately after they entered the promised land under Joshua, “on the plains of Jericho, the Israelites celebrated the Passover” (Joshua 5:10). The city of Jericho loomed as their first big obstacle. During the seven days of Unleavened Bread that followed, God commanded them to march around the city of Jericho once each day. On the seventh day, they marched around the city seven times, the priests sounded trumpets made of rams horns, the Israelites shouted, and the walls of the city collapsed (Joshua 6). These are great stories of God’s powerful deliverance that can inspire us and increase our faith. They teach us that becoming a Christian (coming under the blood of the Lamb, leaving the Egypts of our lives, being buried with Christ in baptism) does not guarantee an easy journey. God will not lead us the easy way. We may end up facing an impassable Red Sea, or a daunting obstacle like the heavily fortified city of Jericho. We need to remember God’s promise to Joshua, “I will never leave you or forsake you…be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified, do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:5,9). And this is only the first scene of the movie!
“Speak to the Israelites and say to them: These are my appointed feasts, the appointed feasts of the Lord, which you are to proclaim as sacred assemblies” (Lev. 23:1) As the chapter continues, God instructs His people, Israel, in the observance of His ordained festivals. The Israelites were already aware of at least two of these feast days because of significant events that had occurred on them, the Sabbath Day and the Passover. The Passover and Days of Unleavened Bread were introduced in Exodus 12, when God commanded the Israelites to take the blood of a sacrificed lamb and put it on the sides and tops of their doorframes. The blood would be a sign so that He would “pass over” their houses when He struck down the first born in Egypt. They ate unleavened bread for seven days, as a reminder that they left Egypt in haste, with no time to bake leavened bread. They undoubtedly passed through the Red Sea during the days of unleavened bread, as all of Pharaoh’s soldiers pursued and were covered by the water. A few days later, as they began their sojourn in the desert, God introduced them to manna, referred to as “bread from heaven.” The people were told to gather manna each day, but only enough for that day because it would not last until morning. Some folks paid no attention to Moses and kept part of their manna overnight. The next morning, they awoke to maggots and an awful smell! There was an exception on the sixth day. On that day, they were to gather twice as much as they needed because the seventh day was a day of rest and they could not gather on that day. They were able to save it over until the next morning and it did not have maggots or stink (Exodus 16:5, 21-26). Several chapters before the law was given at Mt. Sinai, God says “bear in mind that the Lord has given you the Sabbath…(Ex. 16:29). Go back even further, to the beginning of time as recorded in Genesis chapter 2:2-3…God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it He rested from all the work of creating that He had done.”
I am struck that God refers to these days as “the appointed feasts of the Lord.” They are not called the “feasts of Israel,” or the “feasts of the Jews.” As every festival is explained, God states “this is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, wherever you live.” The King James Version puts it even more powerfully…”it shall a statute for ever in all your dwellings throughout your generations” (Lev. 23, KJV). It is obvious these holy days are extremely important to God, and that makes them extremely significant for Christians. I believe the holy days weave the Old and New Testaments together in a beautiful tapestry that reflects the glory, power, love and mercy of our God, and that, in them, we are given a picture of God’s kingdom calendar. It makes an inspiring (and fun!) study to find some of the amazing historical events that have occurred on the holy days. The events that took place on the original Passover as God delivered the Israelites out of Egypt are well known and widely understood to have been prophetic. When Christ “our Passover was sacrificed for us” this event became the first holy day to be fulfilled in history. The Israelites crossed the Red Sea during the days of Unleavened Bread, and “were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea” (I. Cor. 10:2). Forty years later, immediately after they entered the promised land under Joshua, “on the plains of Jericho, the Israelites celebrated the Passover” (Joshua 5:10). The city of Jericho loomed as their first big obstacle. During the seven days of Unleavened Bread that followed, God commanded them to march around the city of Jericho once each day. On the seventh day, they marched around the city seven times, the priests sounded trumpets made of rams horns, the Israelites shouted, and the walls of the city collapsed (Joshua 6). These are great stories of God’s powerful deliverance that can inspire us and increase our faith. They teach us that becoming a Christian (coming under the blood of the Lamb, leaving the Egypts of our lives, being buried with Christ in baptism) does not guarantee an easy journey. God will not lead us the easy way. We may end up facing an impassable Red Sea, or a daunting obstacle like the heavily fortified city of Jericho. We need to remember God’s promise to Joshua, “I will never leave you or forsake you…be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified, do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:5,9). And this is only the first scene of the movie!
Friday, April 10, 2009
I loved getting my first bread making machine. We would dump in all of the ingredients, set the timer, and wake up to the smell of fresh bread. What could be easier? However, there were a few times when I forgot to add the yeast, and we awakened to a warm brick instead of a warm loaf. Yeast is a fascinating organism that we give little thought to (unless we accidentally leave it out of the bread dough!). Yeast microbes have been used for fermentation and baking for centuries. Researchers believe that they were first used in Ancient Egypt when they were discovered accidentally. They speculate that a combination of flour meal and water was left out longer than usual on a warm day and began to ferment due to naturally occurring yeasts. The resulting light and flavorful bread would have been a nice change from the flat, hard bread they were used to.
During this Passover season, yeast takes on a special significance. According to Leviticus 23:5-6, the Passover meal, on Passover night, was to be eaten with unleavened bread, or bread without yeast. Following the Passover were seven days when only unleavened bread could be eaten. In Corinthians 5:8, referring to the Passover, Paul said “Let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth” (KJV). Leaven was clearly pictured as a representation of sin. Paul corrects the Corinthians for being “puffed up” and he explains that “a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump” (I Cor. 5). Interestingly, if allowed to grow unchecked, yeast can cause metabolic changes in food and cause the food to spoil. What a perfect analogy for sin!
Years ago, when our family belonged to a church that rigorously kept the letter of the law, we attempted to rid our homes of all leaven before Passover arrived. I say “attempted” because we never actually achieved it! No matter how hard we tried, leaven would turn up in the least expected places. I remember scrubbing the stove, cleaning out the cupboards and the refrigerator, turning up sofa cushions and lifting carpets to vacuum. We threw out perfectly good food if it contained leavening, or even baking soda (which can become a leavening agent). After days of cleaning, we could partake of the Passover service (actually a communion service) feeling righteous, until, a day or two later, we would find we had forgotten to destroy the vacuum cleaner bag (FULL of our old leaven!). Or we would find ourselves enjoying a doughnut right in the middle of the days of unleavened bread simply because we had forgotten about leavening and had let our guard down. We would usually remember after the first delicious bite, and then have to fight the temptation of “just once won’t matter!” I am so grateful to have had those experiences. Although we have come out from under the burden of legalism, the lessons we learned during that time were priceless. Because of my many failed attempts to get rid of leaven, I have learned that I cannot overcome the power of sin by my own efforts. Yeast occurs naturally in the air, just as sin surrounds us. Our enemy is called “the prince of the power of the air” (Eph 2:2). It is as if he is leavening the very air around us with sin, so that even we, as Christians, are susceptible to it unless we are partaking continually of the unleavened bread that is Jesus Christ. “The Lord Jesus the same night in which He was betrayed took bread: and when He had given thanks, He brake it and said ‘Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you’…” Passover became the first holy day to be fulfilled in history. “For Christ our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed” (I Cor. 5:7).
Although I don’t adhere legalistically to the rituals of the Old Covenant, I find such a treasure in them. I understand now that the physical rituals given to the Israelites were actually given “as examples” for us (I Cor. 10:6). We are to “purge out the old leaven (of malice and wickedness) …that we may be a new lump…” (I love the Old King James for these verses!) It’s a process of putting away sin whenever we see it, and it’s harder now because the leaven is not in the cupboard, it’s in the heart. And the only place to get rid of our spiritual leaven is to give it to God, who covers it forever with the blood of His son. “By one sacrifice, He has made perfect forever those who are being made holy” (Hebrew 10:14). I think a piece of unleavened bread would taste pretty good right now…
During this Passover season, yeast takes on a special significance. According to Leviticus 23:5-6, the Passover meal, on Passover night, was to be eaten with unleavened bread, or bread without yeast. Following the Passover were seven days when only unleavened bread could be eaten. In Corinthians 5:8, referring to the Passover, Paul said “Let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth” (KJV). Leaven was clearly pictured as a representation of sin. Paul corrects the Corinthians for being “puffed up” and he explains that “a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump” (I Cor. 5). Interestingly, if allowed to grow unchecked, yeast can cause metabolic changes in food and cause the food to spoil. What a perfect analogy for sin!
Years ago, when our family belonged to a church that rigorously kept the letter of the law, we attempted to rid our homes of all leaven before Passover arrived. I say “attempted” because we never actually achieved it! No matter how hard we tried, leaven would turn up in the least expected places. I remember scrubbing the stove, cleaning out the cupboards and the refrigerator, turning up sofa cushions and lifting carpets to vacuum. We threw out perfectly good food if it contained leavening, or even baking soda (which can become a leavening agent). After days of cleaning, we could partake of the Passover service (actually a communion service) feeling righteous, until, a day or two later, we would find we had forgotten to destroy the vacuum cleaner bag (FULL of our old leaven!). Or we would find ourselves enjoying a doughnut right in the middle of the days of unleavened bread simply because we had forgotten about leavening and had let our guard down. We would usually remember after the first delicious bite, and then have to fight the temptation of “just once won’t matter!” I am so grateful to have had those experiences. Although we have come out from under the burden of legalism, the lessons we learned during that time were priceless. Because of my many failed attempts to get rid of leaven, I have learned that I cannot overcome the power of sin by my own efforts. Yeast occurs naturally in the air, just as sin surrounds us. Our enemy is called “the prince of the power of the air” (Eph 2:2). It is as if he is leavening the very air around us with sin, so that even we, as Christians, are susceptible to it unless we are partaking continually of the unleavened bread that is Jesus Christ. “The Lord Jesus the same night in which He was betrayed took bread: and when He had given thanks, He brake it and said ‘Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you’…” Passover became the first holy day to be fulfilled in history. “For Christ our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed” (I Cor. 5:7).
Although I don’t adhere legalistically to the rituals of the Old Covenant, I find such a treasure in them. I understand now that the physical rituals given to the Israelites were actually given “as examples” for us (I Cor. 10:6). We are to “purge out the old leaven (of malice and wickedness) …that we may be a new lump…” (I love the Old King James for these verses!) It’s a process of putting away sin whenever we see it, and it’s harder now because the leaven is not in the cupboard, it’s in the heart. And the only place to get rid of our spiritual leaven is to give it to God, who covers it forever with the blood of His son. “By one sacrifice, He has made perfect forever those who are being made holy” (Hebrew 10:14). I think a piece of unleavened bread would taste pretty good right now…
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