I hope you are finding our year-long Bible Challenge as interesting and thought-provoking as I am. The text of the Bible has many different levels of meaning, all of which are worth thinking about and learning from. The first level or way of reading the Bible is to look at its plain meaning, then we can consider the meanings implied but not directly set forth in the text.
In our Bible Challenge readings this week we read in Exodus of the escape of the Jewish people from Egypt and the miracle of the splitting of the sea. Together with the People of God, Exodus recounts in 12:38, A mixed multitude also went up with them, along with flocks and herds, a very large number of livestock.
The term “mixed multitude” in Hebrew is erev rav. These Hebrew words are only used as a term once in the entire Bible, in Exodus 12:38. How can we understand it? First of all, by looking at it in context. Exodus 12:37-39 reads, Now the sons of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, aside from children. A mixed multitude also went up with them, along with flocks and herds, a very large number of livestock. They baked the dough which they had brought out of Egypt into cakes of unleavened bread. For it had not become leavened, since they were driven out of Egypt and could not delay, nor had they prepared any provisions for themselves.
So, erev rav is used in the context of the line before it, setting forth who went out from Egypt. Exodus 12:27 says who and what departed. First it mentions the male descendants of Jacob, then children. That women were in the company of those leaving Egypt is implied. Then, it mentions the erev rav together with livestock, implying that the mixed multitude was different than the People of God.
Many, many commentators have speculated on who made up the mixed multitude. Some say it was a mixed bag of disaffected Egyptians, criminals, debtors, and others who had reason to think life would be better for them if they escaped. Other scholars, focusing on the word “mixed” think it means people of mixed Egyptian and Israelite descent.
In general, the erev rav are identified with the asafsuf, the rabble-rousers in Numbers 11:4, The rabble who were among them had greedy desires; and also the sons of Israel wept again and said, "Who will give us meat to eat?
This complaint, of course, is after the miracle of the manna and the quail which fell on the camp of the Israelites daily, and right after they left Mount Sinai. The Hebrew word “asafsuf” also occurs only once in the Bible. After they are destroyed in Numbers 11:33-34 they are never heard of again.
In general, the mixed multitude that followed God’s People in the flight from Egypt can be understood as a group of non-Israelites who were actually not supposed to be there, but they followed after. But, in a way, we can look at this metaphorically.
When a person makes a change of life from the world to God, when a person becomes a Christian, he or she “escapes” from the bondage of sin (metaphorically, Egypt) and begins the long journey to the Promised Land, the Lord’s World to Come. This desert through which we walk is hard, but the promise is sure. We have to rely upon God’s mercy every step of the way. Complaining and questioning is a sign that our faith isn’t yet strong, but time will help cure that, as we see God acting time and again.
When we make our escape from bondage to sin, however, we bring with us an erev rav, a mixed multitude of what we were supposedly leaving behind. That mixed multitude of wrong viewpoints, and bad habits and tendencies holds up our progress and tries to act as rabble-rousers in our hearts. Despite all that the Lord does for us, no matter how many miraculous acts we witness, no matter how many promises we make, there is still the asafsuf which wants to question God’s wisdom and complain about what He’s doing, even though it’s His intention to, at the next instant, give us what we need.
Jesus explained this in Luke 11:9-13 So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. “For everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it will be opened.“Now suppose one of you fathers is asked by his son for a fish; he will not give him a snake instead of a fish, will he?“Or if he is asked for an egg, he will not give him a scorpion, will he? “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?”
I think that just about every struggle we have with living in faith is derived from doubt, doubt that God loves us, cares for us, and will only do us good. As Romans 14:8 says, For whether we live, we live to the Lord; and whether we die, we die to the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.
The challenge put to God’s People has always been the same: to whom do you belong? Do you belong to Egypt, or God?
Friday, February 1, 2013
Monday, January 21, 2013
Good Seed, Rocky Places, Thorns, and Fruit
Today we read Matthew 13.
Jesus' explanation of the parable of the sower in 13:18-23 says, "18 “Hear then the parable of the sower. 19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is the one on whom seed was sown beside the road. 20 The one on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, this is the man who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21 yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls away. 22 And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word, and the worry of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. 23 And the one on whom seed was sown on the good soil, this is the man who hears the word and understands it; who indeed bears fruit and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty.”
"...hears the word of the Kingdom...." In verses 18 and 19 the term "word" refers to the message (or Good News) of God's Kingdom in the here and now, as well as it's future arrival in fullness.
Jesus' advice to us is to "hear" the message, which first of all requires an open and teachable heart to receive the message which the ear hears. At the same time a person must understand it, which is both the understand the meaning of the words themselves themselves and even more importantly to grasp their significance.
It may be that a person doesn't have the intellectual capacity or the educational background to actually know all the details in an academic sense, but rather is only able to accept the Gospel in a simple-hearted manner. To accept the Good News of Jesus Christ in a simple-hearted openness is, of course, is the highest and most important of all spiritual paths. The understanding of the heart, the Holy Spirit speaking to the heart -heart speaking to heart- is the most profound relationship any person can have with God.
So, Jesus warns us that to hear and yet not understand the significance of the word of the Kingdom is to have it bounce off our hearts, so to speak, and be lost.
In verses 20 and 21 the word of the Kingdom is received joyfully, but because the hearer is inconstant or shallow in his commitment when hard times come he forgets the word which was planted in his heart and falls away from his faith. This is like a patch which has been insecurely sewn on a piece of cloth which drops off easily when it's rubbed or caught on a thorn.
Likewise, in verse 22 Jesus admonishes His disciples not to get caught up in worldly affairs which make it hard for the growing shoot of faith to grow, choking the young plant and making it hard for faith to flower and produce fruit. In the beginning of the Christian faith people took this admonition seriously, and deliberately avoided opportunities for worldly "success", since in order to be successful in money or business or career worldly achievement can only be arrived at by spending your spiritual capital, your spiritual resources. So, in order to get really rich or powerful, or famous you have to diminish and ultimately deplete your spiritual resources in ultimately unfruitful endeavors.
But, the reassurance in all of this is found in verse 23. The good soil on which the word of the Kingdom falls and grows is your open and receptive heart, which makes a serious commitment to permanently take on Jesus' Yoke no matter what may come. Then, making sure the ground of your heart is kept clear of worldly preoccupations of success and wealth together with tending the garden of your heart, watering it with Holy Scripture, prayer, and good works in His Name, you will indeed bring forth much fruit, both in the hermitage of your heart, in your relationships in this world, and your reward will be great in the World to Come.
So, to simplify things:
1. Open your heart to receive the word in the words of the Bible, which through the Holy Spirit (Ruach HaKodesh) experientially warms the heart to the true underlying reality of things, which is God's Kingdom.
2. Set your doubts aside and make a commitment to yourself and God to stay with it, and don't shake your own promise. Questions, confusion, searches, clarifications, inquiries are all good.
3. Just keep on in your present committed state minute by minute, day by day, week by week. Seek out ways to do whatever builds up the Kingdom in your heart and the world around you.
Jesus' explanation of the parable of the sower in 13:18-23 says, "18 “Hear then the parable of the sower. 19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is the one on whom seed was sown beside the road. 20 The one on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, this is the man who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21 yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls away. 22 And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word, and the worry of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. 23 And the one on whom seed was sown on the good soil, this is the man who hears the word and understands it; who indeed bears fruit and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty.”
"...hears the word of the Kingdom...." In verses 18 and 19 the term "word" refers to the message (or Good News) of God's Kingdom in the here and now, as well as it's future arrival in fullness.
Jesus' advice to us is to "hear" the message, which first of all requires an open and teachable heart to receive the message which the ear hears. At the same time a person must understand it, which is both the understand the meaning of the words themselves themselves and even more importantly to grasp their significance.
It may be that a person doesn't have the intellectual capacity or the educational background to actually know all the details in an academic sense, but rather is only able to accept the Gospel in a simple-hearted manner. To accept the Good News of Jesus Christ in a simple-hearted openness is, of course, is the highest and most important of all spiritual paths. The understanding of the heart, the Holy Spirit speaking to the heart -heart speaking to heart- is the most profound relationship any person can have with God.
So, Jesus warns us that to hear and yet not understand the significance of the word of the Kingdom is to have it bounce off our hearts, so to speak, and be lost.
In verses 20 and 21 the word of the Kingdom is received joyfully, but because the hearer is inconstant or shallow in his commitment when hard times come he forgets the word which was planted in his heart and falls away from his faith. This is like a patch which has been insecurely sewn on a piece of cloth which drops off easily when it's rubbed or caught on a thorn.
Likewise, in verse 22 Jesus admonishes His disciples not to get caught up in worldly affairs which make it hard for the growing shoot of faith to grow, choking the young plant and making it hard for faith to flower and produce fruit. In the beginning of the Christian faith people took this admonition seriously, and deliberately avoided opportunities for worldly "success", since in order to be successful in money or business or career worldly achievement can only be arrived at by spending your spiritual capital, your spiritual resources. So, in order to get really rich or powerful, or famous you have to diminish and ultimately deplete your spiritual resources in ultimately unfruitful endeavors.
But, the reassurance in all of this is found in verse 23. The good soil on which the word of the Kingdom falls and grows is your open and receptive heart, which makes a serious commitment to permanently take on Jesus' Yoke no matter what may come. Then, making sure the ground of your heart is kept clear of worldly preoccupations of success and wealth together with tending the garden of your heart, watering it with Holy Scripture, prayer, and good works in His Name, you will indeed bring forth much fruit, both in the hermitage of your heart, in your relationships in this world, and your reward will be great in the World to Come.
So, to simplify things:
1. Open your heart to receive the word in the words of the Bible, which through the Holy Spirit (Ruach HaKodesh) experientially warms the heart to the true underlying reality of things, which is God's Kingdom.
2. Set your doubts aside and make a commitment to yourself and God to stay with it, and don't shake your own promise. Questions, confusion, searches, clarifications, inquiries are all good.
3. Just keep on in your present committed state minute by minute, day by day, week by week. Seek out ways to do whatever builds up the Kingdom in your heart and the world around you.
Thursday, January 17, 2013
One of them shall not fall to the ground without your Father.
In our reading for today Jesus tells us in Matthew 29:31, " Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows."
As it's said, God doesn't take vacations. From the smallest happenings to the largest, all of what we experience is part of what is called the Economy of Salvation. For short, people call it "God's plan".
Abraham Lincoln put it this way in an 1862 letter:
"I have desired that all my words and actions may be in accordance with His will; but if, after endeavoring to do my best with the light which He affords me, I find my efforts fail, then I must believe that, for some purpose unknown to me, He wills it otherwise. If I had had my way, this war would never have been; but, nevertheless, it came. If I had had my way, the war would have ended before this; but, nevertheless, it still continues. We must conclude that He permits it for some wise purpose, though we may not be able to comprehend it; for we cannot but believe that He who made the world still governs it ..."
This understanding of the nature of things is called Divine Providence, or in Hebrew Hashgachah Pratis. There are two basic concepts regarding Divine Providence. The first is called individual-specific Divine Providence, and the second is species-specific Divine Providence.
Individual-specific Divine Providence refers to the concept of God's intentions being operative in a specific individual's life, while species-specific refers to God's general oversight of groups of individuals.
Some scriptural commentators have suggested that God works only with certain individuals, and not with others, with humans individually and animals and plants only in general, or only with specific groups of people and only generally with groups of other people. The degree to which God works in the world is subject to discussion, but where do we go for authoritative definition of its parameters?
Of course we go to the Bible, and as Christians we must look to what Jesus teaches as the authoritative and normative teaching on the subject. In Matthew 10:29a Jesus first of all uses a sparrow's smallness and inexpensive cost as a way of illustrating how refined God's providence is.
Then in Matthew 10:29b Jesus says that even one of those tiny inexpensive sparrows doesn't have something happen to it apart from God's providence. In this teaching Jesus is giving us his authoritative ruling on the debate. He teaches in line with the body of traditional Jewish teachers who say we need to approach the working out of God's guidance of the world in terms of individual-specific Divine Providence. In other words, nothing happens outside of His specific intention down to the smallest thing.
The 18th century Jewish leader Rabbi Israel ben Eliezer, the Baal Shem Tov, taught in line with Jesus' definition of Divine Providence when he used a slightly different example, "Everything is by Divine Providence. If a leaf is turned over by the breeze, it is only because this has been specifically ordained by God to serve a particular function within the purpose of creation."
While everyone is responsible for his or her own actions, still everything falls within His plan. The Baal Shem Tov elucidates what he said previously, "Every single thing that a person sees or hears is an instruction in his conduct in the service of God."
Whatever you experience look for God's seen and unseen presence. View whatever happens as an opportunity to learn from the experience how to conduct yourself even more gracefully in the service of the Lord.
As it's said, God doesn't take vacations. From the smallest happenings to the largest, all of what we experience is part of what is called the Economy of Salvation. For short, people call it "God's plan".
Abraham Lincoln put it this way in an 1862 letter:
"I have desired that all my words and actions may be in accordance with His will; but if, after endeavoring to do my best with the light which He affords me, I find my efforts fail, then I must believe that, for some purpose unknown to me, He wills it otherwise. If I had had my way, this war would never have been; but, nevertheless, it came. If I had had my way, the war would have ended before this; but, nevertheless, it still continues. We must conclude that He permits it for some wise purpose, though we may not be able to comprehend it; for we cannot but believe that He who made the world still governs it ..."
This understanding of the nature of things is called Divine Providence, or in Hebrew Hashgachah Pratis. There are two basic concepts regarding Divine Providence. The first is called individual-specific Divine Providence, and the second is species-specific Divine Providence.
Individual-specific Divine Providence refers to the concept of God's intentions being operative in a specific individual's life, while species-specific refers to God's general oversight of groups of individuals.
Some scriptural commentators have suggested that God works only with certain individuals, and not with others, with humans individually and animals and plants only in general, or only with specific groups of people and only generally with groups of other people. The degree to which God works in the world is subject to discussion, but where do we go for authoritative definition of its parameters?
Of course we go to the Bible, and as Christians we must look to what Jesus teaches as the authoritative and normative teaching on the subject. In Matthew 10:29a Jesus first of all uses a sparrow's smallness and inexpensive cost as a way of illustrating how refined God's providence is.
Then in Matthew 10:29b Jesus says that even one of those tiny inexpensive sparrows doesn't have something happen to it apart from God's providence. In this teaching Jesus is giving us his authoritative ruling on the debate. He teaches in line with the body of traditional Jewish teachers who say we need to approach the working out of God's guidance of the world in terms of individual-specific Divine Providence. In other words, nothing happens outside of His specific intention down to the smallest thing.
The 18th century Jewish leader Rabbi Israel ben Eliezer, the Baal Shem Tov, taught in line with Jesus' definition of Divine Providence when he used a slightly different example, "Everything is by Divine Providence. If a leaf is turned over by the breeze, it is only because this has been specifically ordained by God to serve a particular function within the purpose of creation."
While everyone is responsible for his or her own actions, still everything falls within His plan. The Baal Shem Tov elucidates what he said previously, "Every single thing that a person sees or hears is an instruction in his conduct in the service of God."
Whatever you experience look for God's seen and unseen presence. View whatever happens as an opportunity to learn from the experience how to conduct yourself even more gracefully in the service of the Lord.
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Jews demand signs and Hellenes look for wisdom
[I've been a bit busy with my dad's hospitalization, but now that I have my computer I can post while sitting by his bed.]
In this part of Matthew we read about many of the miracles Jesus did in the region of the Sea of Gallilee. One thing that strikes me about these miracle stories ("signs") of which Jesus is the center is that signs aren't done just for the sake of the person who asks for it, but more importantly to point out who God is, and who Jesus is.
Time after time people come up to Him and ask Jesus to do something for them, which seems to invariably be a healing. When a person you love is sick, your greatest desire is that your loved one get well as soon as possible. If you or someone who love is in danger, you want God to save.
But this healing and saving is all about you or the one you love, and can easily miss the point. It's said that people promise God all sorts of things in exchange for healing or saving from danger, but when that worldly salvation happens the promises which were made are quickly forgotten. This is true, all too often.
There was a man in my former parish of Helpston named Robert Campbell. When his father had a severe heart attack at the age of 50, Robert promised the Lord that if his father lived that he would go to church every Sunday for the rest of his life. Unusually, when his dad did survive Robert indeed went to church, every Sunday. And, that weekly church-going did change his life as a result. Robert was a gentle, good, kind, and deeply thoughtful man, and he attributed those qualities to what God had done in his life as a result of Robert's undertaking of a sincere religious practice.
A few years ago, Robert returned his soul to God when he died of a massive heart attack at the age of fifty, the same age as when his father had his heart attack. Robert was ready, because he kept his promises to the Lord and did what he said he would. This is rare, but very beautiful.
! Corinthians 1:22 says that Jews demand signs, but in fact this is a universal human characteristic, though in the Holy Land of the 1st century this might have been a notable Jewish quality. The second phrase in 1:22 says that Hellenes look for wisdom. Hellenes, or Hellenic refers to Greek culture and attitudes, especially the Greek philosophical framework which emphasized learning and knowing something special which will enable you to achieve spiritual salvation.
What strikes me most often about the miracle stories of the Bible, Old and New Testament, is that no matter what God does or achieves, his people, despite their desire to follow him, have a kind of spiritual ADD. God does a great and astonishing wonder, the people believe it, and then sooner than later they just forget and do their own thing, acting as if they're in charge when in fact they never were.
It's not easy to stop drinking, or smoking, or living in physically, mentally, and spiritually unhealthy ways. It takes, as twelve-step groups will tell you, depending on your higher power and not on yourself, walking humbly with your God.
In this part of Matthew we read about many of the miracles Jesus did in the region of the Sea of Gallilee. One thing that strikes me about these miracle stories ("signs") of which Jesus is the center is that signs aren't done just for the sake of the person who asks for it, but more importantly to point out who God is, and who Jesus is.
Time after time people come up to Him and ask Jesus to do something for them, which seems to invariably be a healing. When a person you love is sick, your greatest desire is that your loved one get well as soon as possible. If you or someone who love is in danger, you want God to save.
But this healing and saving is all about you or the one you love, and can easily miss the point. It's said that people promise God all sorts of things in exchange for healing or saving from danger, but when that worldly salvation happens the promises which were made are quickly forgotten. This is true, all too often.
There was a man in my former parish of Helpston named Robert Campbell. When his father had a severe heart attack at the age of 50, Robert promised the Lord that if his father lived that he would go to church every Sunday for the rest of his life. Unusually, when his dad did survive Robert indeed went to church, every Sunday. And, that weekly church-going did change his life as a result. Robert was a gentle, good, kind, and deeply thoughtful man, and he attributed those qualities to what God had done in his life as a result of Robert's undertaking of a sincere religious practice.
A few years ago, Robert returned his soul to God when he died of a massive heart attack at the age of fifty, the same age as when his father had his heart attack. Robert was ready, because he kept his promises to the Lord and did what he said he would. This is rare, but very beautiful.
! Corinthians 1:22 says that Jews demand signs, but in fact this is a universal human characteristic, though in the Holy Land of the 1st century this might have been a notable Jewish quality. The second phrase in 1:22 says that Hellenes look for wisdom. Hellenes, or Hellenic refers to Greek culture and attitudes, especially the Greek philosophical framework which emphasized learning and knowing something special which will enable you to achieve spiritual salvation.
What strikes me most often about the miracle stories of the Bible, Old and New Testament, is that no matter what God does or achieves, his people, despite their desire to follow him, have a kind of spiritual ADD. God does a great and astonishing wonder, the people believe it, and then sooner than later they just forget and do their own thing, acting as if they're in charge when in fact they never were.
It's not easy to stop drinking, or smoking, or living in physically, mentally, and spiritually unhealthy ways. It takes, as twelve-step groups will tell you, depending on your higher power and not on yourself, walking humbly with your God.
Monday, January 7, 2013
In the beginning: Day 1
In the Old Testament the two names most of often used for God are Elohim and YHVH. YHVH is translated into English as "Lord".
Elohim refers to God's quality of righteousness and judgement, which has to do with restraint, while YHVH refers to His quality or mercy and compassion.
The universe was created through God' s restraint, ie allowing that which is limited to exist within His fullness. God did this in order to give us the power of free choice, while at the same time His attribute of compassion shines upon the righteous and righteous alike.
We all are in exile (Hebrew: galut), uprooted from our native land, the literal and metaphorical Eden, through heeding the wiles of our inclination toward that which is bad, and not listening to the good.
Elohim refers to God's quality of righteousness and judgement, which has to do with restraint, while YHVH refers to His quality or mercy and compassion.
The universe was created through God' s restraint, ie allowing that which is limited to exist within His fullness. God did this in order to give us the power of free choice, while at the same time His attribute of compassion shines upon the righteous and righteous alike.
We all are in exile (Hebrew: galut), uprooted from our native land, the literal and metaphorical Eden, through heeding the wiles of our inclination toward that which is bad, and not listening to the good.
| Psalm 1 tells us: 1 Happy is the man that has not walked in the counsel of the wicked, When we restrict our natural inclination toward that which is wrong the sun of our natural inclination toward the good has an opportunity to shine. In Matthew 1 we read the descent of God's compassionate intent to call us back from exile from Abraham to its fulfillment in Christ Jesus (Moshiach Yeshua). Meditate on God's Word day and night. Think about what you read daily in the Bible. Talk about it with your friends and family, and you'll discover insight after insight, arising endlessly, because its depths are endless. |
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