Bibledoorajar: Ready To Listen?

     From Elim, God had Moses lead the children of Israel into the Wilderness of Sin. It was not pleasant, and the true nature and character of the people erupted. The bellyaching and grumbling about the Wilderness and the lack of food escalated. The people put down Moses and God also by swearing their oaths by His name. It would seem that God would have been so upset with their responses that He would have yelled from Heaven, sin, sin, sin! Bad. bad, bad! Get it, you are a sinful bunch! But instead, He just said, are you ready to listen ("Behold"). This is what I will do in response to your rebellious unbelief. "Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you. And, so, He did. They were His people.

      When the angels announced the birth of Jesus, they used the word "behold". 'World, are you ready to listen? God is so loving that He is sending His Son'. The apostles Paul and John put it these ways:

1. "where sin abounded that grace did much more abound" (Romans 5:21).  
2.  "see what marvelous love the Father has given to us,  that we might be called the sons of God (John3:21)

     May we learn the lesson of the wilderness of sin. That is who we are. But thank God He loves to the point of providing for us no matter what through Jesus. It is truly a marvelous love!

Bibledoorajar: His Creative Works

     The next place where the Jews stopped after their terrible reaction at Marah was the place called Elim. It was as if God wanted His people to realize that, even in a time of crisis, when they continue to contemplate His Goodness and creativity things will improve. At Elim they not only found water, they found abundance. It was an veritable oasis of lushness.
     I was talking with someone this past week who is going through a deep crisis about how coping has its' demands. I was bouncing off what we always told folks on Psychiatry: that somewhere entwined in his crisis is opportunity. Or, as the old folks used to say, "there's light at the end of the tunnel." From the Hebrew point of view, that is not just a platitude. For to the devout Jew seeking the Divine in the midst of crisis meant taking their eyes off the problem and perceiving God in His radiance (glory). Thus, the Light at the end of the tunnel. I encouraged this young man to go back to his roots. He was raised in a Christian home and was taken to church and perhaps it would be good for him to regain his innate godly perspective on things. That Light, that Radiance is, after all, creative. It is, after all, miraculous. It is, after all, an oasis of lushness. Where better can we go for help than that? Seeing the light at the end of the tunnel even as God restores our hope. It restores our resilience. We find Elim and restoration. We find peace.
     Perhaps there is not a greater example of focusing on the Light at the end of the tunnel, than the life and works of the Apostle Paul. That fellow experienced many a crisis in his ministry and life, but He never took his eyes off the goodness and creativity of the Lord. He had met Him following a crisis (blinded on the road to Damascus) and had waited to literally see light. An when it returned it was an oasis of lushness---brilliance to be shared with believers for generations to come. No, light at the end of the tunnel is not just a platitude when one realizes we are speaking of the Light that is ever creative, ever full of grace and mercy.
                      
                           "I wandered so aimless, life filled with sin
                             I wouldn't let my dear Savior in
                            Then Jesus came like a stranger in the night
                             Praise the Lord, I saw the light....."
                                                                    Hank Williams

                             "Shine, Jesus, Shine..."
                                                                    Graham Kendrick


"The Word became a human being and lived with us, and we saw his Sh'kinah (Glory of God)"
                                                                                            John 1:14

Sh'kinah: the One who dwells. Is Jesus dwelling in your heart today? Is He your Light at the end of the tunnel?

Bibledoorajar: Seeing the Tree's Properties

     When Moses stood there with those unhappy people who had found bitter water to drink, he was not in touch with the fact that there was a tree with sweetening properties right in front of them. He had to be shown the tree by God.
      Is it not true that we moderns are so much like the people of old? We rejoice and praise God for His goodness toward us with one breath and gripe and complain about what the day three days hence  brings us. But God who knows all about His children sometimes has to drive us to a place where we do not take Him for granted in our circumstances. Jesus does, after all, promise that He is always with us. God loved the Israelites so much that He put them in the presence of a tree that would sweeten their water. That was its' property: to sweeten. Of course, they did not see its' properties. That had to be revealed to them.
He has loved you and I so much that He has revealed a tree that held His Only Son. We can behold its' properties: everlasting love, redemption, full salvation, grace. And, on and on it goes. What happened with that tree for the Israelites was real. The tree that bared the Savior was real,  is real, and will always be real. And God helps us see it. Over and over.
So when we are "three days" out from rejoicing and we find ourselves bitter about our circumstances, we might want to ask God to allow us to see all the properties of "the tree on a hill far away". Only God can push us toward it when we become bitter. How great is His love for you and me. The experience of the Israelites at Marah is for our admonition (1 Corinthians 10) lest we forget.

"I saw One hanging on a tree"

John Newton

Bibledoorajar: Where's the Water and Food?

     I have just gotten in from Dallas where over 5,000 of us gathered in the Hilton Annatole to observe children from the 3rd to the 12th grades compete in various areas of Bible knowledge and means of sharing that knowledge. It was an amazing process to see how congregation after congregation met the needs of their kids and those accompanying them. No one hungered for water or food. But then, on the other hand, we were only there for 3 days and the 5,000 were split into many groups with their own supervision caring for them.
    For Moses, caring for multitudes went on day after day. And when they arrived at Marah and there was bitter water, those cries went up. And later, when food was hard to find, the cries and questionings grew even louder. Moses went to the One who had authorized him to lead. Lack of water and thirst are serious, so the Loving God of Heaven revealed a tree that if thrown into the water would sweeten it. And on they marched out of the Wilderness of Sin. But then, no food. Could God provide a banquet in the middle of a wilderness? That was the question put before Moses. Some question, huh? Again a loving God rained down bread from Heaven. It was called Manna. And, it was nourishing food.
     How are you doing on reading about the Bread of Heaven that God provided for you and me. Need to dust that Bible off? Spiritual food is a necessity in this world of sin. Dig in.

Bibledoorajar: It's Catching

      Joy in the powerful redemption and deliverance of the Israelites was at an all time high. So magnificent were the works of God on behalf of them, that Miriam picked up a tambourine and started singing again about how great  God was. The word says the women followed after her and joined her in the song of praise. Once again, the poem's words had to do with how powerfully their God had thrown the enemy into the Sea. The message was communicated for a second time: God ransomed His people and God powerfully delivered them.

     It is a message that each of us should never forget. As we approach Easter, we will be reflecting on that same theme. God sent His only son as a ransom for His people. We will focus on the Lamb on the Cross and rightly so. But our songs must also reflect the Lion who has the great power to completely deliver us. Over the years, the Holy Spirit has led many a heart to sing about these two great themes: ransom and deliverance. It is after all the crux of the matter is it not? It's catching. Hallelujah! Here's a chorus that is good for this time of year:

  "It only takes a spark to get a fire going.
And soon all those around, can warm up in glowing.
That's how it is with God's love,
Once you've experienced it, you spread His love to everyone;
You want to pass it on.

What a wondrous time is spring, when all the trees are budding;
The birds begin to sing, the flowers start their blooming.
That's how it is with God's love;
Once you've experienced it, you want to sing
"It's fresh like spring"; you want to pass it on.I wish for you my friend, this happiness that I've found.
You can depend on Him, it matters not where you're bound.
I'll shout it from the mountain top - PRAISE GOD
I want the world to know; the Lord of love has come to me,
I want to pass it on."
                                 It Only Takes a Spark by Kaiser

  Happy Spring. He is Risen! 

Bibledoorajar: He Gave Them a Song

     When the children of Israel had passed through the Sea unharmed and had arrived safely to the other side they must have stood there in great awe. But then as the attributes of their God really sank in, Moses led them in a song of praise. What did Moses want to sing about this God who wanted to be their God? If He was as powerful as they had seen, then He must be all powerful. If He possessed that much knowledge of their enemy, He must possess all knowledge. If He was faithful to do what He said He would do through Moses, then He must never be unfaithful. Wow, they were beginning to see that they served a God who was unchanging. Each thought of an unchanging attribute brought forth awareness of another in their minds.  No outside force compelled Him. He was the Almighty God and He was their God. So what did their song of praise say anyway? Why it said what people have been singing about for centuries. It spoke of the greatness of the God who had brought them out of bondage into freedom. So great was He that early on in the song they declared that they would exalt Him above all else. Over and over they referred to Him as Lord. It was all about Him and His mercy. Not once did they sing of themselves or anything they may have done. Not once did they say, "we ran like...." It was He who triumphed gloriously. It was He who threw the horse and rider  into the Sea.
     When I was a younger Christian I was taught a song based on Israel's song's theme:

             "I will sing unto the Lord for He has triumphed gloriously.

               The horse and rider thrown into the Sea.

               The Lord, my God, my strength and shield has now become MY victory.

                The Lord is God and I will praise Him, The Lord is God and I WILL EXALT HIM."

                                                                                              Unknown

There is great peace in knowing that God threw the horse and rider into the sea when Christians accepted His beloved Son. The promises of the Cross are unchanging. And if they are unchanging then God knows all and if God knows all, He is surely faithful to His promises to get us Home. He deserved all of our exaltation. While we humans may not know the time or the hour or the how all will be completed on our behalf, we can rest assured that there is One who does. Exalt Him. He will do what He said He would do through Jesus Christ.  Lord, Lord, Lord, He, He, He. You, You You. Thank you Father for Your triumphs in our lives.

"He gave me a song, a wonderful song"

Alton Howard

Bibledoorajar: Change in Perspective

     In the last blog, we watched as the Israelite's perspective about their situation changed. Fearful and trapped, they were told by Moses to stand still and see the salvation of the Lord. Their perspective changed from fear to faith as documented by the writer of Hebrews who states that they crossed the Red Sea in faith. It is always hard for humans to grasp the transcendence of God. That He is spirit and abides in eternity does not command our rapt attention as much as the natural fears of what is around us. But that is indeed what the Spirit of God is instructing is it not? He teaches that we must grab hold of these traits about our God that we find so mind boggling. Only then can fear become faith. Only then can we see the salvation of the Lord. It is He that gives worth to what He provides and how He is providing it. In deed, it is He, Himself, that is worthy. His means get the applause.
     When Jesus, God's ultimate provision for the fearful and trapped, came to earth it was the traits of the Father with which He fascinated His listeners. It was the acts of God which He did in their presence. No matter how much else He did, He never failed to show how awesome the Father is and how our insufficiency is only made complete when we grasp by faith the wonderful plan He has for us.
     Let it be remembered that each Israeli had to respond to Moses directive with faith and each Israeli had to take the steps through the walls of sea. Each Israeli saw the Father as transcendent above all. He was able, and though they were not, they took the steps because of Him. At that point their perspective changed and they were committed to Him and Him alone. At that point they moved in mass.
     One of the hardest things which Christians have to deal with in the church is maintaining the correct perspective of God's transcendence. Their confession about His transcendence seems to be more of a history report than that of a present and living God who is more than able. Lest we forget, the Household of God must constantly share His transcendence and His might, that are a part of His love for us. Let us encourage each other to maintain this perspective at all times.

"Tis the grandest theme thro' the ages rung

Tis the grandest theme for the mortal tongue

Tis the grandest theme that was ere' sung

Our God is able to deliver thee." 

                               William Ogden      

"Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us," (Eph. 3:20) we give praise.