Let’s talk about Noah and boat building! You know I like boats. So the text for today and the fact that a boat figures prominently into Noah’s story (see Genesis 5:32-9:29), make that story of special interest.
When the story of Noah is retold, there is often an emphasis on the part about the animals going into the boat – two by two or seven by seven. Admittedly, that is a pretty cool situation for the animals and for preserving animal life through the cataclysmic deluge. Additionally, the part of the story where God makes a promise to save humans from destruction by water and seals the promise with a rainbow – that is awesome! To this day, we are reminded of that promise whenever we see a rainbow.
However, what stands out to me right now is the part of Noah’s story highlighted in the Book of Hebrews:
By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith. (Hebrews 11:7)
Noah built a boat because he was afraid for the wellbeing of his family. God warned Noah about what was coming in the near future. Noah’s reaction was fear. Noah’s response was boat building. Noah’s reward was life – life for himself and for his family. Ultimately, Noah’s belief and his exercise of faith saved the lives of his family and, by extension, the life of humanity on planet earth.
I can say, with certainty, that another cataclysmic event is on the horizon. The signs of the times show that we are very close to the end of the age of sin and suffering. God will soon usher in the age of goodness and peace. My prayer is that my boat building efforts are sufficient for the safety of my family.
I love you all. May we all enter the age of goodness and peace together!
During our visit in New Mexico last week, I was struck by the views of beautiful mountains and vast open spaces.
a view from the tram station on sandia mountain (msg)
Then as we rode the train across the desert, it occurred to me that many of those open spaces were dedicated to raising livestock. I began to imagine the cycle of life that the ranch animals experienced – cattle and sheep born and raised in the open space would eventually be herded into the smallest opening to be exchanged for the money that all their body parts are said to be worth.
concept of sheep on a ranch (gemini.google.com)
This year we will consider the stories of people mentioned in Hebrews 11. This chapter of the Bible is widely referred to as the faith chapter and the faith hall of fame. The first two verses read: “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for.”
The first “ancient” mentioned in the chapter is “Abel.” Abel was the son of Adam and Eve (Genesis 4:2). He was the younger brother of Cain, who is the first child of Adam and Eve introduced in the Genesis record (Genesis 4:1). Eventually, Abel was murdered by his brother Cain. (See the full story in Genesis 4).
It is unclear to me exactly why Cain chose to kill his brother. Cain brought the vegetables. Perhaps he thought that he had taken the moral high ground by presenting an all organic, plant-based, vegan offering? Perhaps he was surprised – and angry – to be told that God does not accept people based on their vegan lifestyle? Perhaps he thought that he should always be in good because he was the oldest brother? Whatever the reason or lack thereof for his action, the end result was killing his brother.
Which brings us to his brother. Abel brought the meat. He brought the blood. He brought what had been born and raised for this very moment – not unlike the livestock in the New Mexican desert – but not for money. Abel’s livestock were raised for blood. And the blood was and is the larger point. The blood was the right thing to bring.
concept of Abel with an offering (gemini.google.com)
With the understanding that the blood was the right thing! We might be tempted to look superficially at the circumstances and say that doing the right thing was what got Abel killed…and who wants to get killed…so let’s avoid getting killed by less attention or no attention to doing the right thing…
Alternatively, we could examine the matter more deeply and find that bringing the blood, i.e. doing the right thing, is exactly what God is looking for in our decision making. Abel probably knew this from Day One. Surely, his parents told him (and Cain) the story about the serpent…how they (Adam and Eve) had been duped by the serpent…how they had gone from being unashamedly clothed in light to having to shed blood to cover their shamefully naked bodies…how the childbearing would be a bloody business…how that childbearing would ultimately result in their lives being saved by the shedding of much blood – i.e. their Son’s (Jesus) heel would be bruised but the serpent’s (Satan) head would be crushed…
Abel knew that bringing the blood was the right thing. Even his death, however unfortunate, still testifies to the rightness of doing right:
The Lord said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground (Genesis 4:10).
And the writer of Hebrews confirms this rightness:
By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead (Hebrews 11:4).
What all of this means for us is that Abel is a type (a prefigure) of Jesus Christ, who is our blood Brother. Jesus was born and raised for an offering of His own blood. It was His right thing to do. It was His only thing to do in order for us to be saved (Hebrews 9:22). As such, we learn from the experience of Abel that Jesus offering, His sacrifice, cries out to God on our behalf.
It is only for us to exercise the faith that God gives us – not faith that we somehow have to manufacture ourselves because faith is a gift (Ephesians 2:8) – and that exercise of faith is our act of bringing the blood. In other words, we claim the blood of Jesus as our salvation. That is the act of doing the right thing.
Of all the conversations I have had with young people over the years about career options, one option has never been discussed: tax collector. In over 30 years of working with my own children and students at every level of schooling, not once has someone approached me with the question: “What do I need to do to be a tax collector?” Nor have I ever asked a student, “Have you considered working for the IRS?”
Don’t get me wrong, I am not hating on tax collectors! I am sure there are many persons of integrity and upstanding character who make a decent living working with the tax agency. However, it just does not seem to come to mind when thinking about one’s calling. Who wants to be called to do the tax collector thing?!
With that in mind, I wonder how Matthew ended up working as a tax collector. What’s more I wonder how Jesus ended up picking Matthew out of all the tax collectors to be in the starting line up for the Kingdom of God team. What’s more, everyone around Jesus seemed to be surprised that He not only picked him for the team but also was chilling at Matthew’s crib…
While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” (Matthew 9:10-11).
The disciples were actually kind of caught out there…I can imagine some of them being like: “Hmm, never thought of it like that…tax collectors…sinners…what in the world is Jesus thinking…glad it’s not me…all I ever did was catch fish…i don’t mean no disrespect…I’m just saying…” And while they were trying to justify themselves, Jesus jumped in.
On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Matthew 9:12-13).
Getting the Call
So Jesus set up a kind of paradox with that last bit about “…I have not come to call the righteous but sinners.” Most folks think you have to be righteous to be eligible for the Kingdom Team. But Jesus says just the opposite…it’s sinners who get the call. Some people may have gotten the call and thought it was because they were righteous. Once again, Jesus says…it’s sinners who get the call. This last group – the think-they-got-the-call-because-they-are-righteous folk – that’s probably who Jesus was referring to when He said, “Many are called but few are chosen.” They are the many, not the few.
My last thought is this: I got the call. What does that say about me? Have you gotten the call? (I already know the answer.) What does that say about you? Here’s what I know – It says that you are greatly loved. “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:6-8).
Jesus posted up by Jacob’s Well for the better part of an afternoon…with a woman…not exactly rappin`…more like doing therapy…
The woman listens for a while, speaks and, in a manner of speaking, tries to excuse herself…as Jesus words reach her ears she hears the chorus to “Killing Me Softly”…
The convo continues…sister lady tries to flip the script on Jesus…she name drops…”Messiah”…to Jesus…she says, “Mister, you pretty smart but Messiah…His game is next level…”
Jesus: “Yup! That’s me!”
The woman [with a bug-eyed look] sets her water bottle down, and says, “I’ll be right back…”
As she turns to leave, Jesus’ homies come thru with sandwiches from Samari’s deli up the street from Jacobs Well…surprised that Jesus is talking to a woman…but they don’t say nothing…clearly, it is Jesus’ business to talk to whoever he wants to talk to…
The Punchline
As the homies pull up on whatever rock they can find and greedily tear the sandwich wrapping paper, they start to greasin’ as only the homies can [mayo and hot sauce dripping, lips smacking, fingers licking]…one homie reaches out to hand Jesus a pastrami sandwich…
Homie: “Rabbi, eat something…”
Jesus: “I have food to eat that you know nothing about!”
Homies [kinda side-eye]: “Who brought Him food before?”
Jesus: “My food is to do the will of Him who sent me and to finish His work.”
A Thought There are two indictments in this story that I pray we avoid: 1. It is possible – as was the case with the woman – to hear Jesus speaking and not know who He is. Jesus said, “My sheep know my voice.” May we know the voice of Jesus and respond positively to his invitations. 2. It is possible to know Jesus voice but not recognize that His call – the actions that we should make in life – that those actions are food for life. More important that our daily bread, doing the will of God is all that matters. May we know God’s will and do God’s will. Be not only hearers of the Word but doers also. (James 1:22-25).
The wilderness and the wasteland shall be glad for them, And the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose; It shall blossom abundantly and rejoice, Even with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, The excellence of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the Lord, The excellency of our God.
Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and for evermore. From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the Lord’s name is to be praised
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
