The actions “. . . of human mistrust and wrongdoing and lying accumulate, as people try to put a shroud over truth. But the basic reality of God is plain enough. Open your eyes! . . . . People knew God perfectly well, but when they didn't treat Him like God, refusing to worship Him, they trivialized themselves into silliness and confusion so that there was neither sense nor direction left in their lives. They pretended to know it all, but were illiterate regarding life! They traded the glory of God . . . for cheap figurines you can buy at any roadside stand . . . . They traded the true God for a fake god, and worshiped the god they made instead of the God who made them!” Romans 1:18-19, 21-23, & 25 [MSG] – (E.M. - emphasis mine)

So it has always been! There is not a one of us that innately desires to be dependent on someone or something else. We have all been born with the internal desire to be independent – to be free! From our youth up, we have longed to be able to get out from under our parents' supervision and control; to be out on our own and to try to make our own way. This is a very natural need that we all share. We do want to be independent of all others (including God Himself) until we don't!

There was an event early on in Jesus' ministry illustrating this very idea. Jesus beckoned His disciples to take one of the fishing boats and sail across the Sea of Galilee to the other side. As they traveled, Jesus fell asleep.

Now unlike the majority of them, four of the disciples; Peter, Andrew, James and John were seasoned fisherman - professionals (though reading through the Gospels, they never once caught any fish without Jesus' express instructions). They knew how to mend and ply their nets, care for their boats and were savvy at navigating the fickle waters of the relatively shallow Galilean Sea. Despite such skills, it was not uncommon for storms of varying strengths to sweep down from the hills that surrounded the lake, challenging the abilities of even the most experienced of seamen. And that is exactly what happened to the disciples on this occasion.

The storm that ensued was so severe, “water poured in [and the boat was] about to capsize. . . .[The disciples] woke Jesus: 'Master, Master, we're going to drown!' Getting to his feet, he told the wind, 'Silence!' and the waves, 'Quiet down!' . . . . The lake became smooth as glass.” Luke 8:22-25 [MSG]

We (like everyone else, including Jesus' disciples) want to be in control of our own lives. We want to face our daily responsibilities with a sense of confidence and determination. It feels good to be in control and to successfully deal with what life brings to us. And as long as life rolls along at its usual normal everyday pace, and we are able to work through the sundry issues and problems connected to that life, our level of comfort and confidence increases. As such, though we may be strong believers in God and Jesus Christ, it is quite easy to slip into a “just in case” state of mind. We want Jesus, but we want Him to remain quiet and dormant in the corner (sort of like the disciples who were content to have a 'sleeping Jesus' in the back of their boat). It's only when we have an emergency that gets out of hand and beyond our ability to control or handle that we want Jesus to 'step in' and help us.

It is very true that everyone (not simply God believers) is more or less like this. We all want to live independently until we just can't! However, it is the beginning of wisdom and good sense for each of us to come to grips with what Jeremiah, the prophet had learned; “I know, God, that mere mortals can't run their own lives. That men and women don't have what it takes to take charge of life. So correct us, God, as you see best!” Jeremiah 10:23-24 [MSG]

The words of Jeremiah make it abundantly clear that having a part-time Savior is NEVER a good life strategy. Is it wise at all to tuck Jesus away in some closet or in a 'just in case of an emergency' metal box until we really need Him? Can we deal on our own with life's daily issues until those rare occasions occur when we come face to face with a bonafide emergency where we are obviously in over our heads? This is the strategy that most people seem to have adopted.

Our Lord gave a bold uncompromising demand; “Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You're not in the driver's seat – I am. Don't run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I'll show you how self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self. What good would it do to get everything you want and lose you, the real you?” Luke 9:23-25 [MSG]

Humanity was originally created with the critical need for relationship- relationship to our physical environment, to other people and to our God! We cannot survive without the constant vital connection to ALL of these. People who attempt to survive without, will in all certainty crash and burn!

However, today it often feels like people who find themselves in this predicament and are told of Yahweh God's attitude toward divorce, are hardly ever told the 'rest of the story'. A careful reading of the larger context of this statement provides more information not expressed in this terse declaration. And it is critical for us to understand exactly what our Lord is and is not saying.

Why does Yahweh God hate divorce so very much?! When God says; “I hate divorce!', all we are hearing is His denunciation, without an adequate explanation. What's going on here?! Yahweh's whole agenda goes far beyond His intent to condemn a detestable ACTION. Actually He is denouncing an ATTITUDE of heart that is deeply entrenched in selfishness and greed! And His full intention is the unmasking of evil in calloused hearts that have no qualms or guilt in committing cruel and detestable actions against those that they should love and honor the most!

I know for a fact that people who have found themselves on the 'wrong' side of the marriage/divorce equation as they were confronted with Yahweh God's blunt denunciation, have experienced a tremendous level of discomfort-- even grief and despair (whether deserved or not). The shock-value of Malachi's abbreviated quote has often found its mark. However, I suspect a little more context would be helpful in knowing what our Lord was actually saying. Consider the larger context of Malachi's rant against the people of Israel;

“The Lord God of Israel says, 'I hate divorce. And I hate people who do cruel things as easily as they put on clothes,' says the Lord of heaven's armies. So be careful. And do not break your trust.” [read its full context in vs.13-16]

In this context, we are given a glimpse into the heart of Yahweh God. He hates divorce not strictly because of His nature as a God completely dedicated to establishing sacred relationships (covenants) among those whom He created for deep and fulfilling relationship. He hates divorce because often it becomes a convenient tool to dispose of a relationship that has become sour, tired or just plain routine. The freshness and excitement that once flourished in this relationship have been allowed to significantly diminish and eventually die. Hearts are hardened toward each other so that the tenderness and compassion that were once nourished by a vital love, has been replaced by suspicion and bitterness giving rise to a disgust and hatred that opens the floodgates of cruelty and indifference! No wonder divorce is the natural and inevitable result.

Yahweh God is “all in” for strong long-lasting, robust relationships, particularly within the realm of marriage which is the primary tool for encouraging and building a healthy life among those of His creation. By His very nature, because He is “Love”, He completely detests anything that tears down and disrupts the equilibrium of this most basic and essential foundation of human society.

Yahweh God is a relationship establishing God.- this is what He is and has always been about! His whole intent for all humanity is that they be in full/close relationship with Himself and with each other. This truth is driven home over and over again in Scripture! Jesus made it clear that the greatest commandment is to “Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, soul and mind” -- AND the second greatest is to -- “Love your neighbor as yourself!” – PERIOD!

“God is love”, but He “hates divorce”. Why? Because divorce is completely against and opposed to everything He is and stands for! Divorce is the breaking of a sacred trust and covenant/relationship existing between a man and a woman. It is the failure of two people who have pledged undying love and devotion to one another. The intent of marriage has always been a 'for life' decision of two people to maintain this relation-ship with each other come “hell or high water”.

Our Lord hates divorce because it violently violates every good thing that He has intended for the crown of His creation. And so, the very nature of Yahweh God compels Him to be opposed to actions that rip apart the very tapestry of relationships that are designed to hold people closely together for life!

A couple years ago my son, who teaches various classes from time to time in a Northern Indiana church, asked this question to a group of multi-aged individuals (teens to seniors) in a class on Ecclesiastes; “What would you say the deepest hurt you have ever experienced to this point in your life has been?” He was caught completely off guard by the initial responses to that question. After a moment's pause, three individuals spoke up with the same answer. The greatest hurt or loss had not been the death of a child or a parent. It had not been the loss of one's job or a home. It had not been a tragic accident. No – All three spoke of a divorce somewhere along the way that had reeked havoc in their lives whether it had happened to them directly or to their parents or some other close relative or acquaintance. This is not to say that the loss of a loved one or loss of something as significant as a home had not been a traumatic or horrendous event in one's life. It was just a real surprise for Craig to hear that people's first response to his question involved the disastrous effects of divorce.

And if you think about it, we have all been affected either directly or indirectly by divorce. It has become one ever-present reality in American life. Every single one of us has been touched by the devastation that divorce always brings.

But would it surprise you to learn that Yahweh God Himself has been directly effected by divorce? There is a very real sense in which we could call God a 'divorcee'! Hear Jeremiah's scathing rebuke against both the people of Israel and Judah;

“The Lord said to [Jeremiah], 'Have you seen what faithless Israel has done? She has gone up on every hill and under every spreading tree and has committed adultery there. I thought that after she had done all this she would return to me but she did not, and her unfaithful sister Judah saw it. I gave faithless Israel her certificate of divorce and sent her away because of her adulteries. Yet I saw that her faithless sister Judah had no fear; she also went out and committed adulteries. Because Israel's immorality mattered so little to her, she defiled the land and committed adultery with stone and wood. In spite of all this, her unfaithful sister Judah did not return to me with all of her heart, but only in pretense,' declares the Lord.” (Jeremiah 3;6-10)

Yahweh God was Himself, a victim of DIVORCE! In fact, consider this: “We all like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid upon Him the iniquity of us all” [Isaiah 53:6]! In relation to every single person of all humanity, our Lord has always been loyal to us, His creation. But we, like an unfaithful partner have ALL turned our backs on Him. (Romans 3:10-12)

And so the impassioned lament of Yahweh God in Hosea drives home the intense longing and broken-heartedness that He shares with everyone of us when our relationships 'crash and burn';

“But HOW CAN I GIVE UP ON YOU . . . ?! How can I turn you loose, Israel? How can I leave you to be ruined like Admah, devastated like luckless Zeboim? I can't bear to even think such thoughts. My insides churn in protest. And so I'm not going to act on my anger. I'm not going to destroy Ephraim. And why? Because I am God and not a human. I'm the Holy One and I am here – in your very midst.” (Hosea 11:8-9 [MSG])

Finally, in the midst of the flood of tears, the frustration, the gut-wrenching agony and even the white hot rage of jealousy and rejection, Yahweh God just cannot go through with it! “RETURN O faithless Israel . . , I will frown on you no longer, for [I'm not just hanging back to punish you. I'm committed in love to you. My anger doesn't seethe nonstop.] . . . Acknowledge your guilt – you have rebelled against the Lord your God.” (Jeremiah 3:12-13 NIV/[MSG]) - - {Emphasis Mine}

I honestly believe divorce is hardly ever a good solution, but unfortunately all too often it is the only solution! In some instances people have been made to feel guilty because of divorce – in many instances, like Israel, that guilt is appropriate. And so, when we begin to understand that Yahweh God hates divorce not simply because He is God, but also because He Himself is consistently the unwilling victim of divorce and shares in our grief and devastation, then we also begin to understand that He is not against us, but rather understands what we have and are experiencing. He identifies with us completely. And when we can begin to understand this, we also begin to realize that the sadness and shame we feel whether we are directly or indirectly affected by divorce, is also intimately shared by our Lord. He hates divorce in our lives because it not only violates the very nature of who He is as the covenant-establishng God, but because He understands intimately the horrendous hurt, devastation and permanent alienation and separation that divorce imposes upon people who have no desire to be single again. He suffers with them in their extreme pain and shame – the same rejection He experiences in ALL of His relationships with humanity!

And so when the Lord through Jeremiah, blasts Israel for her blatant and indifferent attitude toward divorce (“I hate divorce!”), we are able to identify with His anger and disgust, because we hate divorce as well as He! [I mean, who has ever relished the thought of going through another divorce?!]

We are told in the Scripture that God HATES divorce and anyone who has even the slightest understanding of Scripture understands that satan LOVES divorce. Let me ask a question - - Where do YOU stand? If you Love divorce, you obviously stand with satan. If you Hate divorce (even if you have found yourself to be divorced) it could very well be that you stand with God. Where do you stand?

He hates divorce so much because God is Love, if it's possible to wrap your mind around that!

 
We are told that the believer is “blessed” (see Matthew 5:3-10). But WHAT DOES THAT REALLY MEAN? – even when it comes to the daily mundane experiences of frustration, failure, discouragement and the flashes of anger that we must claim as a part of OUR VERY OWN LIVES!? What does it MEAN?

This last week-end I heard the frustration of a Bible teacher attempting to put into very down-to-earth 21st century language, what it means to be “BLESSED” -- especially in the midst of doubt, despair and anger. And to be truthful, I struggled with him. Suddenly, it hit me -- in those times when I have obviously failed, when I doubt my place before God or when I perhaps am improperly angry, I experience EXUBERANT RELIEF ! That brings great JOY. And THAT is what it means to be BLESSED! I am STILL accepted and made ACCEPTABLE to Him because He has still found me covered by the blood of His Son!! Hallelujah -- Praise God !

[Matthew 11:2-3, 7-14]

province of Cilicia devoted himself to God by perching on a small platform raised atop a twenty foot pillar for the remaining 47 years of his life. Though young children from the nearby village brought him, among other things, small parcels of flatbread and goats milk to sustain his life, he eventually died there on the top of that pillar.

From ancient times on through the present day, people have consistently sought out various methods of cloistering themselves away from other people for long periods of time in their attempts to reach out to God. They have placed themselves in spartan, solitary and deserted places like one room huts, caves or monasteries for intense contemplation and complete focus on God so that they might attain a higher level of spiritual renewal and development.

In their pursuit of God or the ultimate reality, people have adopted a variety of ascetic lifestyles which often included long periods of fasting or simple, even meager diets. Banning certain substances or particular foods from the body is not unusual. Harsh or abusive treatment of the body through mutilation or self flagellation--even allowing oneself to be nailed to a cross, have been practiced to bolster a certain level of spiritual awareness or arrest God’s notice and approbation.

Some individuals and peoples in religious societies have adopted unique clothing, or cut their hair in a particular manner (or not at all!) along with other specific or peculiar rituals which set them apart from conventional norms or behaviors. They have decided that such traditions are important in maintaining their level of spirituality or connection with God.

Still others have committed to memory huge portions of Holy Scripture or bound themselves to prolonged sessions of intense prayer (certainly nothing wrong with any of that). Many have chosen to ban T.V. viewing in their homes or refuse to watch any movies or at least drastically restrict the programming or films they do watch. Some restrict their leisure of listening to only ‘Christian’ or religious music.

For a number of years as a youngster, I religiously kept a small three or four ring notebook in which I inscribed noteworthy passages of Scripture taken from my daily readings, committing small individual sections or verses to memory (again, this was not a bad thing). I don’t now recall my precise motives for doing this. Certainly it was good to familiarize myself with the Scriptures and to call my attention to some of the very important principles that I was learning, but I would not be at all surprised if one of my primary motives for doing this were my feeble attempts at reminding/ convincing God that I was trying hard to be one of His “good” guys! And I doubt that this was particularly unique with just me! I suspect at one time or another, this is a common tendency among many people.

In fact, it appears that Micah, the Old Testament prophet addressed this very issue in the sixth chapter of his small book:
"You say, ‘What can I bring with me when I come before the Lord? What can I bring when I bow before the God on high? Should I come before the Lord with burnt offerings, with year old calves? Will the Lord be pleased with 1,000 male sheep? Will he be pleased with 10,000 rivers of oil? Should I give my first child for my sin?” Micah 6:6-7 [NCV]

What does God want from us? What will really snag His attention; make Him sit upright or bowl Him over with the single word interjection; “WOW”? What is it that will command or solicit His favor or approval?

The apostle Paul hints at what God does not want in his letter to the Colossians. He said;

Do not let anyone make rules for you about eating and drinking or about a religious feast, a New Moon Festival, or a Sabbath day. In the past, these things were like a shadow of what was to come. But the new things that were coming are found in Christ. Some enjoy acting as if they were humble and love to worship angels [messengers] . . . . They are full of foolish pride because of their human way of thinking . . . . You died with Christ and were made free from the worthless rules of the world. So why do you act as if you still belong to this world? I mean, why do you follow rules like these: ‘Don’t eat this,’ ‘Don’t taste that,’ ‘Don’t touch that thing’? These rules are talking about earthly things that are gone as soon as they are used. They are only man-made commands and teachings. These rules seem to be wise. But they are only part of a man-made religion. They make people pretend not to be proud and make them punish their bodies. But they do not really control the evil desires of the sinful self. (Colossians 2:16-18, 20-23 [NCV])

I have recently run across an excellent insight (from the people at KeyLife) into what often motivates our extreme efforts to snag God’s attention (Thomas Aquinis observed the same human tendency in the 12th century). We genuinely (even desperately) want what only God can provide (forgiveness, acceptance, security, power, sustenance, confidence and courage, etc.), but we do not really want Him! We want only what He can give us. And so in all of our pious ways and strenuous efforts to serve and impress Him, we are not actually seeking Him (God Himself), but only the goods we can receive from Him (really this was initially what the prodical son was seeking from his father when he returned home and requested that he be given a place as a hired hand in his father’s household- Luke 15:)

There is one thing in particular that absolutely rivets God’s attention. Luke tells this story in his Gospel during Jesus’ three year ministry. And he pretty much “nails” just what grabs God’s attention.* Jesus had shortly arrived in the coastal city of Caperneum , traveling from the South in Judea, to the Northern province of Galilee. Upon His arrival, a group of religious leaders from the local synagogue approached Him with a significant request. They spoke to Jesus of a particular Roman Centurion dwelling in their city, saying; “He loves our nation!” This man had come to learn about their God and His special people, the Jews, and being a man of means, had gone so far as to build a synagogue for them so they could gather together and worship God.

But this man had an urgent need. A servant of his; one that he deeply cared for, was deathly ill. He thus requested that these leaders approach Jesus and plead on his behalf for the life of his servant. Without hesitation, Jesus went with them.

Not far from the house, “. . . the centurion sent word to Him through some friends saying; ‘Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed . . . . ‘“

Jesus was astounded: “. . . and turning to the crowd following him, he said, ‘I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel!’ What was it that really grabbed Jesus’ attention? What caused Jesus to sit up and take notice? – Some noble deed? Some lavish expenditure (like the building of a Synagogue)? Some long recitation of Scripture or prayer with high sounding words or sentiments? Some extreme deprivation or extraordinarily strenuous long-term effort?

Or was it the simple confidence he expressed in Jesus’ ability to do anything that needed to be done despite the odds that it actually would be done? This was unlike a similar occasion of healing where Jesus, approached by a distraught father, simply told the man; “Go home. Your son lives” (John 4:50 [MSG]). No, the boy’s father had not independently stated his confidence in Jesus’ power or ability, but simply “took Jesus at his word” and returned home to a son now restored to full health. On the other hand, the Roman centurion in Luke’s narrative, did a pre-emptive strike! He boldly declared what he already knew: “Say the word, and my servant will be healed!” With no prompting from Jesus, or anyone else, this Gentile soldier simply stated what he had come to believe! And what was it he believed? -- He was convinced that Jesus had the power to wrench his servant from even the jaws of death, and restore him to his health! And Jesus was floored! – To paraphrase Jesus; “I’ve never seen this before, among God’s people – and certainly not from any of the Gentiles!”

The evening before His death, Jesus had announced to His Apostles, His impending departure from them. The resulting confusion, sadness, deep discouragement -- even despair thrust them into a tail-spin as their hopes and dreams of a bright future were dashed! Then, Jesus offered His disciples these words of comfort: “Don’t let this throw you. You trust God, don’t you? TRUST ME . . . ! (John 14:1 [MSG]. And that’s exactly what the Roman centurion did! He was a Gentile who should have been the last person on earth to know, but he expressed EXACTLY what gets God’s attention in a ‘heart beat’ -- Even TODAY!!

And this is exactly what the prophet, Micah was saying to the people of Israel [and to us!]:

“He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? TO ACT JUSTLY, and to LOVE MERCY and to WALK HUMBLY with God!” Micah 6:8 [emphasis mine] .

*Luke 7:1-10

And tragically, we will often find ourselves at odds and talking past others who hold ideas and concepts that don’t seem to mesh well with varying concepts that we treasure just as passionately as they.

I am also suggesting that the Scriptures are saturated in paradox. Once the essential nature of paradox is embraced as a very real reality, many of the so-called discrepancies or outright contradictions that have consistently been leveled against the Bible begin to evaporate.

A friend of mine has said; "paradox is a reality/truth which contains essential elements that appear to contradict each other." They seem to be mutually exclusive. A neat quote (in and of itself a paradox) from an online dictionary states; “‘I always lie’ is a paradox because if it is true, then it must be false." How often has a “bottom-line” truth been declared with such finality: "If it is ‘Y’, then it is impossible for it to be ‘X!’"? It must be “either”/ “or”--It cannot be “both”. But in God’s sphere of operations, reality often is!

Is Jesus divine?--or, is He human? From our perspective, it is an either/or proposition. But from God’s, the answer is; “Yes!--He is." It is a paradox, and it drives us crazy because we cannot logically reconcile both realities with each other in our attempts to wrap our minds around and embrace them together as veritable truth.

Another paradox of Scripture contains the two elements of God’s sovereignty (supreme power or authority--the absolute right to exercise power over others) and humanity’s free moral agency. How is it possible for both of these realities to coexist as bona-fide truth? Another paradox stirring a high level of controversy over many many years is the Scripture’s declaration that there is one God, with three beings or entities that share in that one divine nature. The finite human mind finds itself deeply troubled in the baffling nature of the three-in-one God as described in His Holy Scriptures. Humanly explainable or not, through the centuries, orthodoxy has consistently embraced both as divine truth.

Statements of paradox abound in Scripture. Consider a few in the following quotes:

= "Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant" (Matthew 20:26).

= "Whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it"      (Luke 9:24).

= "But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first" (Matthew 19:30).

= "In me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have  overcome the world" (John 16:33b).

= "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the  righteousness of God" (II Corinthians 5:21).

= "Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted" (Matthew 23:12).

= "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will  and to act according to his good purpose" (Philippians 2:12-13). 

= "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me" (Galatians  2:20). 

Truth, by its very nature is paradoxical. It is like two sides of the same coin. They are parts of a single substance, but each side has its own unique markings; distinct from the other. As a result, even though they may not look like each other, they are an essential part of each other. Take away or destroy one or the other and the whole coin is destroyed.

The paradoxes cited above are genuine realities that strain and defy our ability to comprehend or adequately explain, but they are well supported by Scripture. It is therefore not unwise to be cautious about swallowing “hook, line and sinker” a reality that seems single faceted, one-sided or “cut and dried”. We may discover less obvious details which give a fuller and more complete picture of the whole as we step back and take a closer look at a particular truth.

Reality, for that is what truth is, is not always an issue of what is “black or white” or “right or wrong”. It is hardly ever a simple matter of assembling all of the involved pertinent facts and then coming to a hasty conclusion. Although some truth seems obvious, much of it is not. It may require many years of experience and learning--even intense soul-searching, to grasp and understand. Often there is a very fine line between truth and falsehood because they may look so deceptively alike.

Paradox is a part of reality--divine reality (reality as God has created it). Paradox is disturbing, even mystifying, but an essential part of life. Until we come to grips with the truth of paradox, we will feel a constant uneasiness and discord which tends to pull us in opposing directions. It is only as we learn to embrace and become more at ease with the tensions that paradox produce, that we begin to experience the sense of peace that brings the wholeness that we need.

Jesus said; "Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free . . . . So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed" (John 8:32-36).          

usually a statement designed to set oneself apart from everyone else by way of positive spin. It’s common to hear people brag. They do it all the time. Heck, probably every one of us has a tendency to brag from time to time.   And at some level we may even understand when someone is bragging.  But as my son-in-law has said, we understand that a brag even at its best  is not usually considered to be a positive thing. A boast at its core probably contains an element of truth.  Somewhere along the way there is usually the twist of exaggeration; what we might even be compelled to confess is just not true!

What surprised and snagged my attention was the context of how this term ‘bragging’ was used last week as we listened to a radio program on our way to worship. The narrator in telling his story spoke to the fact that at an early age very little of God was communicated to him in his home. It wasn’t until he was out and about as a young adult that he began to be exposed to the God of Scripture. The people he had become acquainted with who shared his interest in providing assistance to Native Americans, were very kind and compassionate not only to these people, but also to himself. In his very unique manner he said they “loved on him and bragged on their God”.

That phrase; ‘bragged on God’ just seemed really strange-- so incompatible. It just seems that ‘bragging’ and ‘God’ have no place in the same sentence together. To me, the action of bragging involves overstatement and embellishment. From the narrator’s perspective, these people were using terms of exaggeration to describe who their God was and what He was about. I thought about that. What was it they were saying that led him to adopt such an idea?

I then began to think about some phrases and statements in Scripture that might have some bearing on this. I was reminded of the early days of Jesus’ ministry. He found Philip and challenged him to follow Him. Philip immediately located his friend, Nathanael and spoke to him about Jesus: “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote--Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of Joseph.” Nathanael spat out his reply: “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?!” Philip’s response returned in a very simple yet compelling manner; “Come and see” (John 1:45-46).

The story of Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well of Sychar came to mind as well. Jesus had been traveling through Samaria back North to Galilee from Jerusalem when He sat down at a well near Sychar. A woman at midday came to draw water and Jesus engaged her in conversation. Through the course of their visit, the woman, apparently an outcast from among her people, came to the realization that Jesus was no ordinary man, but a prophet--THE Prophet of God Moses had written concerning in the Law. As she returned to her village, she announced to the people; “Come, [and] see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ?” (John 4:1-30).

As I considered these things the thought came to mind that these two individuals from Scripture were probably doing in their own simple manner just what the radio narrator was apparently doing with his ‘bragging on God’ remark. They were challenging all those around them to take a closer look at God and Jesus and see for themselves whether their claims were simply exaggerations--embellishments, completely hollow and devoid of any real merit and totally unworthy of any serious consideration--or not.

We have all been ‘let down’--disappointed by the extravagant claims of others. We had such high hopes, but nobody could deliver. After all was said and done, everyone exposed themselves for who they really were--just human beings ‘bragging on themselves’. And in time, it became obvious to everyone else as well. You would think we would eventually become smarter than we are. You would think that we would finally become complete cynics, galvanized from any such lavishly absurd assertions. But there seems to be something deeply embedded within that longs for a sense of certainty--something that will be there day in and day out. And every single one of us wants that dependability--that something that we can truly lean upon even when everything else gives out!

I think that is the reason Jesus’ statement in Matthew 11: is so astounding. It takes one’s breath away: “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me--watch  how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly” (Matthew 11:28-30 [MSG]).

This sounds like Jesus was bragging on Himself. However, toward the end of His ministry, He asked His remaining disciples if they too were going to abandon Him and His ministry. Several others of His disciples had found that following Him had become too inconvenient for them. And Jesus wanted to know if the remaining disciples who had been with Him for a long time were also going to ‘throw in the towel’. If Jesus were only a man like all the other charlatans before Him, Peter, of all people, should have known by then. That’s what makes his answer all the more astounding:

“Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God” (John 6:68-69 [NIV]).

There are many places in the Gospels where it sounds like Jesus is ‘bragging on Himself’, but  I think He is saying in essence to every one of us; “Come and see for yourself”.

“Open your mouth and taste, open your eyes and see--how good God is. Blessed are you who run to him” (Psalm 34:8 [MSG].

~L.A.Williams

the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground” [emphasis mine--e.m.] (Genesis 1:26).

James Smith wrote the following explanation in his commentary The Wisdom Literature of Scripture  when he said: “God has placed ‘eternity’ in the heart of man. Man can appreciate the lasting import of things. He can look back to the distant past and forward to the distant future. He senses that he is not just a creature of time. He has a deep-seated sense of purpose and destiny. Yet this sense of eternity does not solve all his problems nor answer all his questions. He often is at a loss to trace through in detail God’s power and purpose in daily events. Occasionally he may catch a glimpse of God’s lofty purposes. For the rest, man must be content to wait and hope.”

I suspect its meaning has very much to do with the fact that in his initial effort to tempt, satan appealed to Eve’s (and later Adam’s) awareness of God’s timelessness (eternity) in saying to her; “. . . God knows that the moment you eat from that tree, you’ll see what’s really going on. You’ll be just like God, knowing everything, ranging all the way from good to evil” [e.m.] (Genesis 3:4-5 [MSG]).

Here is the connection back to the second part of Ecclesiastes 3:11; “. . . yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” Eve [and Adam] didn’t know everything, but she wanted to--badly, so badly, in fact that she even gave in to satan’s temptation against God’s strict orders not to touch the fruit of the ‘tree of the knowledge (e.m.) of good and evil’. It is the same longing that we still have--we want to know what God already knows and has known for an eternity! And we will do just about anything and everything in order to KNOW it!

This same intense curiosity to know is easily observed in the continuous bombardment and barrage of inquisitive questions pouring forth from the lips of just about any 2 or 3 year old. This incessant desire--even need to know this and need to know that, ad infinitum, can hardly ever be quenched. From an early age on, there is a continuous ongoing and, in fact, increasing self awareness that is taking place. And it doesn’t really cease in adulthood.

What is the dynamic behind the tremendous appeal of the worldwide web commonly known as the Internet? Why do people feel so insecure, anxious or even frantic when their computer crashes or their connection to the Internet is interrupted for a significant period of time or their smart phone dies at an inopportune moment (is there ever an opportune moment)? What drives the fear or anxiety of this happening to any one of us? I suspect it is the need to know or to be ‘in the know’.

We have a voracious appetite for ‘knowing’. Over two months ago, an airliner from Malaysia disappeared completely from the face of the earth without a trace. For weeks and weeks on end, there has been nonstop reporting on the search for this flight along with all sorts of ideas being floated about as to what happened to the plane and its passengers. Was it mechanical failure? Did human error of the pilots bring it down? Was it a terrorist plot involving the commandeering of the plane or a bombing or a suicide pact carried out by the flight crew? Did the plane safely land at some remote location for the purpose of ransom or to outfit the plane for a future suicide flight to some strategic location? Any number of theories are ‘out there’ in an attempt to explain this event. But still, nobody knows.

What is it that feeds this continuing investigation? Hundreds of millions of dollars are being spent with no end in sight. Why? Because we have the inherent need to know. This is what fuels all of the outer space programs whether it be manned flight to the moon or unmanned flight to mars or the sending of deep space probes (like the Hubble telescope) to the far reaches of the universe. Or what about efforts to explore the depths of the sea or the dense jungles of the Amazon or the polar caps or the highest peaks of the tallest mountain ranges? We will expend obscene amounts of money and time on projects that some or many may feel will have a limited return of value. But it goes much further than this. People will, and have risked or given up their lives in order to ‘push the envelope’ to understand and know. Why is it so important to us?

With the profoundly vast knowledge and information that we now have, it is not enough!  Satan ‘nailed’ it with Eve, didn’t he?--”You will be like God” That’s it! We want to be like God--We want to know like God knows. But we don’t, and that drives us crazy!

Unlike other humans, Jesus “. . . did not need man’s testimony about man, for he knew what was in a man” (John 2:25). And with this innate sense, Jesus knew exactly what people were thinking at any given moment (Matthew 9:4, Mark 2:8, Luke 5:32, John 6:8). From moment to moment, as He heard people speak or observed them doing the things that they did, He knew very well the motives that precipitated those events--the words and the actions.

And so it is surprising to learn that in speaking to His disciples of the ‘end times’/His second coming, an event in which He was to be intimately involved, Jesus said to them; “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father” [e.m.] (Matthew 24:36). I suppose if Jesus were anything like us in this regard, it would probably have driven Him ‘nuts’ to be ‘outside the loop’ concerning this more than significant event. But it apparently did not.

Concerning this very issue about human nature (the obsession to be ‘in the know’), Jesus spoke very clearly and directly: “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged” (Matthew 7:1-2 [NLT]). Though this passage has frequently been abused in making it say that all value judgments or assessments of others is to be avoided, this stern command of Jesus has more often been ignored. Because we want so much to know and believe we should know, it is interesting that whenever we see an action of another or hear his/her words, we are immediately ready to announce with certainty the reason or motive for it . We know without a doubt why this or that was said or done. And almost invariably we are wrong!  We think we got it right, but later we may find that we misunderstood that situation entirely.

Because we have been created with a sense of ‘eternity’ within, Jesus was and is very much aware that we are extremely prone to misjudge and so He has been very direct in condemning this human tendency to impute motives to others that are not likely there. We are not God and we have no business in our silly, but futile notions at ‘playing god’. But once we come to the place of being content (like Jesus) with what we do and do not know, we take a solid step in our struggle toward coming into our own as the sons and daughters of God.

Through John, our Lord directly addressed the issue of who we are becoming when He said; “ . . . What great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God . . . . And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Dear friends, now are we the children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure” [e.m.] (I John 3:1-3).

“Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully as I am fully known” [e.m.] (I Corinthians 13:12 [NIV]). Eternity has been set in our hearts; the deep desire to know as we have never known before. Speaking of this very thing, Peter said; “His (God’s) divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness . . . . That through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires” [e.m.] (II Peter 1:3-4).

The process, however, that will bring all this about with certainty is not so much in our voracious appetite for more and more knowledge and still more  knowledge, but in the wise and gracious use of that knowledge. As Paul said; “Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up” (I Corinthians 8:1). The greatest truth in all of this is that as our God pours out His love into our hearts by His Spirit, we become most like God because “God is love” [e.m.] (I John 4:16).

~L.A.Williams

Moses’ God. He had brought them safely through the Red Sea--the same waters that had later drowned their former masters, and set them before Mount Sinai in the land of Midian--the great mountain of God. They assembled at its foot to receive His commandments. With the fire and billowing smoke from the mountain along with the tremendous shaking underfoot and trumpet blasts getting louder and louder, Yahweh God spoke directly to the people, giving them His Ten Commandments. With all of this intense ‘shock and awe’, the people were extremely “afraid and pulled back.” Standing at a distance, there was no ambivalence among them! The people immediately spoke up, saying to Moses; “You speak to us and we will listen, but don’t have God speak to us or we’ll die!” (Exodus 19:16-20:21 [NIV & MSG]).

Some fifty years later, Joshua, Moses’ successor led the Children of Israel into the land God had promised to them and their ancestors.  As their leader, he addressed them for the last time before he died. Calling attention to the fact that Yahweh God had divided the waters of the Jordan River before them and permitted Joshua to lead them through it into the land of Palestine, Joshua recounted the marvelous history of their God’s continuing care for them, and their fathers before them.  Had He not wonderfully delivered them from Egypt and provided the abundant resources of food, water and other provisions in the wilderness?  They were now safe and sound in the land of Canaan, for God had gone ahead of them to conquer it so that they could settle the land  in peace.  Joshua reminded them that the gods of the surrounding nations had been no match for their God who was Yahweh.  Their enjoyment of the land with all of its abundant resources had been a tremendous gift to them from Moses’ God.  Then Joshua charged them all:

“Now fear the Lord and serve Him with all faithfulness . . . . [and] choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:14-15 [NIV]).

There was no indecision, and caution was thrown to the wind. Without hesitation, the people responded:

“We’d never forsake God! Never! (emphasis mine/e.m.). We’d never leave God to worship other gods. God is our God! He brought up our ancestors from Egypt and from slave conditions. He did all those signs while we watched. He has kept his eye on us all along the roads we’ve traveled and among the nations we’ve passed through. Just for us he drove out all the nations, Amorites and all, who lived in the land. Count us in (e.m.): We too are going to worship God. He’s our God” (Joshua 24:16-18 [MSG]).

Sure enough! They were true to their word and took immediate action. The Israelites ratified the renewed covenant of God with Joshua that very day in setting up a huge stone under a spreading oak at the holy place of God. It was a stone of witness against them and their pledge. It would stand as a constant reminder of their words of loyalty to Yahweh God. The people of Israel faithfully served Him during the remaining years of Joshua and “. . . the elders who outlived him, who had themselves experienced all that God had done for Israel” (Joshua 24:31 [MSG]).

The times, however, have a way of taking their toll on a people. A full generation of people had come and gone, and year after year this tremendously strong resolve had eroded away. Within a hundred years the Israelites had abandoned God, “ . . . The God of their parents who had led them out of Egypt; they took up with other gods, gods of the people around them. They actually worshiped them! And oh, how they angered God as they worshiped god Baal and goddess Astarte [Asherah?]! God’s anger was hot against Israel . . . ! They were helpless before their enemies. Every time they walked out the door God was with them--but for evil . . . . They were in a bad way” (Judges 2:11-15 [MSG]).

Many many years had passed, but though it played a role, time was not really the culprit in their defection from God and their eventual demise. Israel finally turned her back on Yahweh primarily because she forgot  her holy history! --“Live holy lives before me because I, God, am holy.  I have distinguished you from the nations to be my very own” (Leviticus 20:26 [MSG]).  The people forgot this and in forgetting these values along with other vitally important realities, their hearts gradually moved them away from their God!  Soon, they lost their unique place in God’s heart as his precious redeemed people and became just like the foreign idolators who lived around them, learning the gross excesses of that idolatry!

Fast forward to the events of that solemn assembly involving King Ahab, the 850 prophets of Baal/Asherah,  Elijah and all the people of Israel  at Mt. Carmel. The solid resolve of the people of Israel to serve and worship only Yahweh God from the days of Joshua had melted completely away. And Elijah’s demand that the people “Make up your minds” fell on deaf ears:

”Nobody said a word, nobody made a move” (I Kings 18:21 [MSG]).

What was it that froze them in their tracks? What was it that sealed their lips--that prevented any sort of action? Was it fear? Intimidation? After all, the odds were only stacked 850 to one. The full religious establishment of the land along with Ahab, Jezebel and the political clout of their government also weighed heavily against Elijah, the lone prophet of Yahweh God.

Perhaps Israel was only waiting to see which way the ‘wind’ would blow before making a decision. If Elijah and his god won in this contest, perhaps they would go with him. If, on the other hand, it were Ahab and the 850 prophets of Baal/Asherah, to the victor goes the spoils.

Maybe at this point in time, it just no longer mattered! The culture they now lived in had become so sensually charged, self-centered, indulgent and brutally cruel that they had become completely indifferent and apathetic to any outcome. After everything was said and done, ‘What difference did it make?’

Well, according to the story (from I Kings 18:19-40), the prophets built the altar and petitioned Baal god to come consume their sacrifice with fire.  They called/cried out to their god for over half a day til the time of the evening sacrifice. They desperately jumped up and down on the altar, cut themselves and used every incantation and religious trick they could think of--all to no avail. Despite Elijah’s mocking throughout the whole ordeal that perhaps Baal couldn’t hear them or that he was on a trip or that he was busy with another project or was preoccupied on the toilet (this is the thrust of the original language) or that, perhaps he was sound asleep--there was no one there! Baal did not answer!

Elijah rebuilt the altar, placed the firewood and sacrifice upon it and dug a wide and deep trench around everything. He then instructed that four barrels of water be poured upon the altar--three times. The altar, wood and sacrifice were completely drenched and the trench around it was full to overflowing! With a simple prayer Elijah addressed the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel;

“. . . make it known right now that you are God in Israel . . . , answer me, God; O answer me and reveal to this people that you are God, the true God, and that you are giving these people another chance at repentance” (I Kings 18:36-37 [MSG]).

“Immediately the fire of God fell and burned up the offering, the wood, the stones, the dirt, and even the water in the trench was licked up by the flames. All the people saw it happen and fell on their faces in awed worship, exclaiming, ‘God is the true God! God is the true God!’” Every prophet of Baal--every single one of them, was dispatched in a great massacre and the people returned to their homes.

We live in a time and culture saturated in sensuality, violence and widespread corruption in the political, corporate and personal realms, along with the blurring of moral boundaries. Clear distinctions between the right and the wrong, the good and the bad, and the acceptable and the unacceptable are no longer so clear! And we are encouraged--NO, expected to keep our mouths SHUT!

We often feel we are in the minority. We hear hardly anyone speaking up. We feel all alone (Elijah felt that way. He thought he was the only one of God--that is until Yahweh informed him differently; 7,000 in Israel had still refused to bow to Baal-I Kings 19:18). Will we be so intimidated that we ‘SHUT  THE  H@%L  UP’? What would it take to get us--and others to begin to open their mouths to the evil and the abuses that we see every single day? A miracle?

But if I speak up, I might get in trouble. I might be ostracized. I might even get beat up! Listen to Martin Luther King--he, though being dead, speaks the truth: “Our lives begin to end when we remain silent about the things that matter.”

Steve Brown of  KeyLife  told a fanciful story from a friend of his;

“A just man went to Sodom and began yelling loudly in the streets: ‘Repent! For your own sakes, quit this wickedness that you are doing!’ Day after day, he shouted the same message to the people of Sodom. And all he got from the people of that city was derision and laughter and mocking as they continued their wicked ways. Finally, a little child who had quietly taken in all that had occurred from day to day, stopped this just man and asked him what seemed obvious: ‘Every day you come here with the same words, calling these people to change and quit their wickedness. Why are you doing this? Don’t you see that they are not listening to you? You aren’t making a difference. You are being ignored. Why do you do this day after day!?’ The just man replied to him; ‘Child, I am not doing this to change them, but to keep them from changing me!’”

Because we forget so quickly and easily, reciting our ‘holy history’ to each other and our children and loved ones is the vital link to life.  Failing or refusing to continually speak the redemptive message and other fundamental truths pertaining to our lives exposes us to the same dangers that led the people of Israel away from their critical relationship with the living God into the pernicious perils of lifeless idolatry.  Refusing to speak the words that connect us to our Father will eventually bring us to an apathy and  complete disconnection to life itself.

Speak Up!

“Don’t be bluffed into silence by the threats of bullies. There’s nothing they can do to your soul, your core being. Save your fear for God, who holds your entire life--body and soul--in his hands”  (Matthew 10:28 [MSG]).

L.A.Williams