What’s the Rush? (Luke 10:38-42)

WHAT'S THE RUSH? (LUKE 10:38-42)
Hong Kong is an extremely busy city. After a year in Hong Kong, I have done my best to keep up. Every working day in Hong Kong, I rush for the 7:24 am Ma Wan ferry, arriving around 16 minutes (7:40 a.m) later at Tsuen Wan West, where I have two minutes to get to the nearby rail station for the 7:42 a.m. ride to Yuen Long, where I have another two minutes to get to the bus station to catch the next bus to work. I miss my train at least once a month. By this time, I have learned the ropes, which is to find a seat by the door of the coach that stops nearest to the escalator. When the door opens, I am among the first to trot down the escalator.

Within my first year in Hong Kong, I took a trip to Singapore and a few months later to Beijing, and the contrast couldn’t be any more amusing. In Singapore and Beijing, people are stationary while riding the escalators. In Hong Kong, people stand to the right on an escalator, so that busy passersby can pass them. In Beijing and Singapore, not only do people not stand to the right, two people would stand side by side, sharing the same step and allowing passersby no room to pass them. In Hong Kong, you know who the locals are by where they stand on the escalator.

Martha is the Bible’s busy bee and one of the most interesting and beloved characters in the Bible. Most people can identify with her because they consider themselves a Martha instead of a Mary. In her busyness, however, Martha forgot why she invited Jesus into her home in the first place. Martha was so busy that what began as a sweet gesture turned into a sour attitude.

What is keeping us busy? Why are we busy? How do we cope with the busyness of life?

Serve with Hearts That Rejoice in Him
38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. Luke 10:38

It’s been said, “No guest is so welcome in a friend's house that he will not become a nuisance after three days.”

What makes a person a good or perfect host? Here are some Internet tips:
“The perfect host is the one who says, as each guest arrives, “I’m so glad you are finally here!” And when each leaves, “Must you go so soon?” (Ben Patterson)
“The perfect host is the man who does everything he possibly can to make his guests feel at home..... even when he wishes they were (at home).” (W.Bro. Powell, P.M.)
“To be the perfect host is to offer hospitality unconditionally, unreservedly, unendingly.”
Another perspective: “A perfect host is the one who draws out his guests and allows them to monopolize the conversation. When these guests go home they have had the time of their lives.”
“The most important aspect of being a good host is being a good listener.” (Jay Leno)
“The whole point is that while being a good host is important, the food isn't the draw here, so don't let it stress you out.” (David Tutera)
“The perfect host is truly open to guests and honestly delighted with their presence.”

In Hong Kong nobody hosts friends at home. They take guests out for dinner but never home to visit. We did our North American best accommodating a family of four over four days in our tiny 488 sq. ft., 2-bedroom apartment in our first year in Hong Kong.

Martha has been unfairly cast in a wholly negative light. Most readers forget she had all the qualities, requirements and potential to be a host par excellence, a host of highest distinction and without peer. She did something precious for Jesus few can boast of in the Bible, which is to “receive” (v 38 “opened her home” in NIV) Him into her house. The verb “receive” or “receive under” (hupodechomai) occurs the first of merely four times in the Bible - elsewhere translated twice as “welcomed” and once as “gave lodging” (v 38, Luke 19:6, Acts 17:7, James 2:25) in NIV. Unlike the normal “receive” that occurs 56 times in the Bible, this minority “receive” word is used sparingly and specifically for Zacchaeus who “welcomed” Jesus gladly (Luke 19:6), Jason who “welcomed” Paul and Silas (Acts 17:7) and Rahab, who gave lodging to the spies (James 2:25).

There was nothing more joyous and precious to Martha than receiving and welcoming Jesus into her home, to have Him to be the houseguest, to grace and bless the home. Jesus journeyed to many “villages” (v 38) in the book of Luke but this is the first instance He was “received” into a family. Martha had the great fortune of being one of only two people in the Bible to “welcome” Jesus into her home. The other is Zacchaeus (Luke 19:6). Zacchaeus, too, gladly “welcomed” Him, but with a difference – but only when he was asked. Martha welcomed Jesus into her home without a hint and Zacchaeus welcomed Jesus into his home upon Jesus’ request.

Hosting Jesus is not the easiest of tasks or for the faint of heart. His disciples (v 38) come with the territory and task. Martha knew Jesus had at least twelve other men with him wherever he traveled, yet she welcomed the group as much as she did Jesus. She had her work cut out for her. She was not serving a person but a squad, not Teacher Jesus but Team Jesus. The disciples, a dozen grown men, ate like the best of adults. Further, they were also known to be the last to offer to serve anybody, as witnessed by Jesus washing the disciples’ feet (John 13:5), but Martha did not begrudge them, knowing how long they were on the road. Already in the last chapter, when Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem, the people of Samaria did not welcome him passing through, because he was heading for Jerusalem. (Luke 9:51-54). So Martha’s welcome to Jesus and the disciples was quite a change from their previous reception and a relief to the aching feet of the disciples, who were last seen witnessing in every town and place at the beginning of the chapter (Luke 10:1-2). Also, Martha and her siblings Mary and Lazarus were from Bethany, less than two miles from Jerusalem (John 11:18), the last refuge for Jesus before he was crucified.

Serve with Ears That Listen to Him
39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. Luke 10:39

A music teacher once asked her class what is the difference between listening and hearing. At first there was no response. Finally a hand went up at the back of the class and one of the young people offered this wise definition: “Listening is wanting to hear!”

True listening is active, alert and attentive. Hearing is merely the ability but listening is the attitude. Hearing is nature, listening is nurtured. Listening is not activity, but availability.

Mary’s way of receiving Jesus is far different from Martha’s. By the way, sitting by Jesus’ feet is not the best position or the exalted position we think it is. Feet has a connotation of lowliness, inferiority and unpleasantness, as witnessed by many instances of foot washing in the Bible (Luke 7:44, John 12:3, John 13:5) and Jesus’ subjugation of his enemies under his feet (Matt 22:44, Mark 12:36, Luke 20:43). Feet are considered lowly, dirty and smelly. Instead of thinking Mary found the best seat in the house, readers should consider that she did not mind any spot, given that most of the good spots are taken by guests and men.

Like Mulan, Mary was most eager to study and learn despite men’s presence. To understand Mary’s zeal to listen, one has to understand that she could not do the same in the temple, where men only may enter. While children were better seen and not heard in old times, women were confined to the outer court, which was not considered a part of the Temple. Jesus’ visit was too good to be true, too good to miss.

Martha opened her house to Jesus but Mary opened her heart to Jesus. Mary radically sat “at (pros)” (v 39) Jesus’ “feet” – Greek is “towards” not NIV’s “at.” The phrase “towards (one’s) feet” is rarely associated with “sitting” at His feet, but is usually associated with “falling” before Jesus, as in the case of Jairus (Mark 5:22), the Phoenician woman (Mark 7:25), Mary one more time when her brother Lazarus was dead (John 11:32) and the elder John in Revelation (Rev 1:17). “Towards/at the feet” of Jesus connotes obedience, reverence or worship, but not adoration, affection or admiration.

Serve with Eyes That Focus on Him
40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!" 41 "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her." Luke 10:40-42

Here is a person’s insight upon visiting “The Lord’s Clinic”:

“I went to The Lord’s Clinic to have my routine check-up and I was confirmed I was ill. Apparently, Jesus was the Medical officer. When Jesus took my blood pressure, He saw I was low in TENDERNESS. When He read my temperature, the thermometer registered 40 Degree of ANXIETY. He ran an electrocardiogram and found that I needed several ‘LOVE bypasses’ since my arteries were blocked with loneliness and could not provide for an empty heart.

I went to Orthopedics, because I could not walk by my brother’s side and I could not hug my friends, since I had fractured myself when tripping with envy. He also found I was SHORTSIGHTED, since I could not see beyond the shortcomings of my brothers and sisters. When I complained about DEAFNESS, the diagnostic was that I had stopped listening to Jesus’ voice talking to me on a daily basis.

For all of that, Jesus gave me a free consultation. Thanks to his mercy, so my pledge is once I leave this clinic, only take the natural remedies He prescribed through His words of truth: Every morning, take a full glass of GRATITUDE. When getting to work, take a spoon of PEACE. Every hour, take one pill of PATIENCE, one cup of BROTHERHOOD and one glass of HUMILITY. When getting home, take one dose of LOVE. When getting to bed, take 2 caplets of clear CONSCIENCE.”

The word “distracted” (v 40), which is “perispao” in Greek, occurs for the only time in the Bible. It is not your ordinary, normal or everyday Bible word. It is derived from the preposition “peri,” which means “around” and the “spao,” which means “draw out 拔,” as in drawing out a sword (Mark 14:47, Acts 16:27). It means to drag all around and to be pulled and torn in all directions figuratively. Distracted does not mean being pulled in a different direction, but to be pulled in all directions. “Preparations” (diakonia) is a noun, meaning service or attendance. “All” is “much” in Greek. Jesus is not against service but “much service.” Interestingly the writer Luke did not say what preparations she made – it was unimportant and not the issue, so most readers falsely assume the issue was food. Unlike Zacchaeus who was delighted with Jesus’ presence (Luke 19:6), Martha was weighed down with presentation, presents and provisions. The phrase “that had to be made” is missing in Greek. The truth is there are not many things that had to be made. Jesus orders our presence not our preparations. The next time, Martha corrected herself and served Jesus in John 12:2 with the same or more people in attendance, not overdoing it – “much serving” is missing in John, but apparently in Luke she was overdoing it.

The verb “came to him” (ephistemi) in verse 40 is more aggressive, abrupt and awkward in Greek. Literally it means “to stand upon.” Other translations include “coming up” (Luke 2:38), “came up” (Luke 20:1), “close on” (Luke 21:34), “stood beside” (Luke 24:4), “came up” (Acts 4:1), “stood there” (Acts 22:20) and “stood near” (Acts 23:11). It meant she stood up, she stood out, and she stood firm.

Martha’s complain is much sharper in Greek: “Lord, NOT care you…” – emphasis on “NOT” instead of “Lord, don’t you care…” She made the same assertion in Greek as the disciples erroneously did when they complained to a sleeping Jesus in a sinking boat: “Don’t you care (if we drown?)” (Mark 4:38) Here is where frustrations and negativity set in and we do not think straight. Mary did not leave Martha for the reason her sister stipulated. To Mary, it was about worship, not work; about fellowship, not about food; about manners, not menu.

Martha’s problem was that her eyes were not totally fixed on Jesus. She had one eye on her sister. Her hands were serving Jesus but her heart was scolding Mary. The word “tell” (v 40) is an imperative, the only imperative in this sibling story. The worst mistake Martha made was complaining Jesus instead of confronting Mary. We are not told how the imperative was used - for Jesus to “tell” Mary or Martha “tell” Jesus what to do, but she had the nerve. That goes to show it is easy to overreact when you are overextended. She misunderstood what it meant to serve Jesus. Jesus came for her intake rather than her output, to be enjoyed and not to be entertained. Note that Jesus was not directing his message at Mary alone (v 39).

“Worried” (v 41) and “upset” are two different things. Worry is within and internal but upset is expressed and vocal. Worried is the activity of the mind and upset is the activity of the lips. “Upset” is also translated as noisy (Matt 9:23) and commotion (Mark 5:39). “Many” occurs twice (vv 40 – “all”, 41), it is a contrast to one (v 42). Martha made a big fuss over who benefited from Jesus’ visit, who did the job and who got the credit. The story is not about keeping things in your heart to yourself but expressing discontent at others. It is OK to let Jesus know your stress, but just don’t tell Him the solution, which Martha did.

The fact is Martha had a choice, which she did not exercise. One is to ask for help. The Bible did not say Martha asked her sister to help, which the latter refused to do. “One thing” serves to contrast Martha’s distraction – pull from all directions. The “better” part is to listen to His word – to be in attendance rather than be an attendant, to be the audience and not the actor, and to pay attention to Jesus and not draw attention to self. Also, Mary was not against work, which she could make up for after the entourage was gone. Another choice she made was not to answer back. Mary did not counter Martha because she was concentrating on Jesus.

Martha, on the other hand, mixed up the blessing for the burden. She needed but neglected Jesus’ company. Her doing was more important than her being.

Conclusion: Love must precede labor in serving God. Walking with Jesus is more important than working for Jesus. We must first listen to God and learn from Him before we live for Him. Are you growing in the word as you grow in your work? Is God’s word transforming you and teaching you as it should? Do you have a quiet time? A plan to read God’s word or study the Bible? Do you still delight in God’s word, drink eagerly and dine heartily from it?

Passing the Baton (2 Kings 2:9-11, 6:8-23)

PASSING THE BATON (2 KINGS 2:9-11, 6:8-23)
There is no event in the track and field more absorbing, climatic and patriotic than the 4 x 100m race. The most dramatic losses for the competitive United States team in the relays were in 2008.

First, the men’s race was going smoothly for the United States through the first two legs of the 400-meter relay preliminaries until Darvis Patton closed in on Tyson Gay. Gay reached backward, they couldn't connect. Patton made a final lunge to get the stick to Gay before he ran out of the 20-meter passing zone, but as Gay's hand closed, the stick wasn't in it. It bounced off the rain-slickened track, and the crowd gasped. Gay said he felt the baton. “Then I went to grab it and there was nothing,” he said.

Next, the U.S. women were also in good shape heading into the final exchange, but Lauryn Williams didn't receive the baton from Torri Edwards. It fell to the ground as Edwards yelled and covered her face with her hands. Williams went down in history as the American involved in not one but two faulty Olympic exchanges that cost her team medals. Four years earlier, she misconnected with Marion Jones in the final and the Americans were disqualified for making the exchange outside the 20-meter handoff zone.
“U.S. 4x100m Teams Both Drop Batons” http://www.nbcolympics.com/trackandfield/news/newsid=243415.html

No matter how talented, trustworthy and treasured the leaders of a generation are, the baton has to change hands one day. The old has to give way to the young. Prime time becomes past time in no time. It’s the circle of cycle. The Chinese say, “The back waves push the back waves in the ocean” and “Green derives from the blue and surpasses the blue.”

Elijah was more than happy to pass the ministry baton and the hot potato to Elisha, who was more than happy to catch the pass. While it was not easy to follow in the footsteps of a spiritual giant and powerhouse like Elijah, Elisha did the impossible and an impeccable job, especially on how he treated the Israelites, his servants and the Arameans.

How does one follow in the footsteps of a legend? Is there room to improve at the top? What does God expect of believers learning to serve and succeed in ministry?

Better Yourself by Breaking Barriers
8 Now the king of Aram was at war with Israel. After conferring with his officers, he said, “I will set up my camp in such and such a place.” 9 The man of God sent word to the king of Israel: “Beware of passing that place, because the Arameans are going down there.” 10 So the king of Israel checked on the place indicated by the man of God. Time and again Elisha warned the king, so that he was on his guard in such places. 11 This enraged the king of Aram. He summoned his officers and demanded of them, “Will you not tell me which of us is on the side of the king of Israel?” 12 “None of us, my lord the king,” said one of his officers, “but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the very words you speak in your bedroom.” (2 Kings 6:8-12)

I have put together ten “Live is hard” quotations I enjoy reading from the web:
“Life is hard, but not that hard.”
“Life is hard, get over it.”
“Life is hard, so wear a helmet.”
“Life is hard, but that’s no excuse.”
“Most of life is hard, but not all of it.”
“Life is hard but you make it harder.”
“Life is hard, but harder for some more than others.”
“Life is hard, but that is no bad thing.
“Life is hard, it can be beautiful.”
“Life is hard, but compared to what?”

In 1 Kings 19, the depressed Elijah feared for his life (1 Kings 19:3), fled to the desert (1 Kings 19:4), prayed for instant death (1 Kings 19:4) and retired into a cave (1 Kings 19:9). The determined Elisha, on the other hand, survived and thrived despite asking for a double portion of Elijah’s spirit (2 Kings 2:9) and doubling his scope of ministry in the process. His ministry overlapped the geographical barrier, crossed the dynasty barrier, and broke the race barrier.

The optimistic successor, who used to pour water on the hands of Elijah (2 Kings 3:11), couldn’t be any different from his pessimistic predecessor. While Elijah limited himself to the northern kingdom, Elisha extended himself to Israel and Judah, to Israel and Aram, to the household of Ahab or the next dynasty of Jehu. In fact, he was fair and frank in all and to all his challenges. In chapter three, he offered help to Ahab’s son Joram, king of Israel – the northern kingdom, and Jehoshaphat, king of Judah – the southern kingdom, out of respect for the good king Jehoshaphat (2 Chron 17:3, 20:30). Without the presence of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, Elisha scoffed, “I would not look at you or even notice you.” (2 Kings 3:14)

True, Elisha scorned Joram in word, but he never abandoned him in deed and in war. The prophet had all the reasons in the world to despise rather than deliver Joram (2 Kings 3:1-3). The northern king will threaten to cut off the prophet’s head by the chapter’s end. (2 Kings 6:30-32) But “time and again” he “warned” (v 10) the king of Israel of the Arameans’ location, plans and activities. “Time and again” (v 10) in Hebrew is “not once or twice” in Hebrew; it means multiple, numerous, countless times. Elisha was tireless, passionate and active. “Time and again” is a powerful contrast to Elijah’s exhaustion, fatigue and resignation (1 Kings 19) at battling Ahab’s family. Even near his death, the dying Elisha could only think of helping Jehoash, three kings and another dynasty removed, defeat the Arameans (2 Kings 13:14-20).

Elijah fulfilled his potential as a prophet regardless of Joram’s merit or asking. A prophet’s duty, as outlined in Ezekiel 3 (Ezek 3:17, 18, 18, 19, 20, 21, 21) and Ezekiel 33 (Ezek 33:3, 4, 5, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9) – is to “warn” others – the same word found in verse 10, whether they be righteous (Ezek 3:21) or wicked (Ezek 3:18). Ezekiel was the quintessential watchmen of Ezekiel 3 and 33. He never hesitated to warn (v 10) the king of the danger.

Further, Elijah’s ministry covered not more than the 22 years of Ahab’s reign (1 Kings 16:29), but Elisha served more than twice as long, beginning from Joram’s 12 years (2 Kings 3:1), the next dynasty’s king Jehu - 28 years, Jehoahaz – 17 years (2 Kings 13:1), and Jehoash – 16 years (2 Kings 13:10) – 50 or more years.
The account of Elijah covers seven chapters (1 Kings 17 to 2 Kings 2) but Elisha’s 17 chapters (1 Kings 19- 13).

Also, Elijah was strictly concerned with Ahab and his house, but Elisha strived to minister to both the Israelites and the Arameans. Not that Elijah did not have a chance to engage the Arameans, but he passed. As you may remember in the case with Elijah, he was instructed by God to anoint Hazael to be king over Syria or Aram (1 Kings 19:15), which he never did. The task was later completed by Elisha instead (2 Kings 8:13). For reasons not explained in the Bible, Elisha restricted himself to the Israelites, while Elisha reached out to the Gentiles, including Namaan. Still, while their gifts, personality and ministry were unique, they both served the Lord and complemented each other.

Better Yourself by Bearing Burdens
13 “Go, find out where he is,” the king ordered, “so I can send men and capture him.” The report came back: “He is in Dothan.” 14 Then he sent horses and chariots and a strong force there. They went by night and surrounded the city. 15 When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh, my lord, what shall we do?” the servant asked. 16 “Don't be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” 17 And Elisha prayed, “O Lord, open his eyes so he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. (2 Kings 6:13-17)

Let me test you with a question: What do you say to a person who greets you with a “How are you?” question? There are four types of people revealed in greetings. The clueless type includes a blank look, a cold shoulder or a suspicious stare, which are common among teenagers.

The polite type answers the question with “Fine, thank you.” The third type returns the question: “And you?” or “How are you?”

To be perfect, of course, is to be the person to offer the greeting, but sadly in Hong Kong, only paid employees, from security to supermarket staff people, do that! It is true not just for saying “good morning.” Too often you open or hold the door for a stranger in Hong Kong who marches right through it without a word of thanks, as if you are the doorkeeper. In fact, even people in church do not greet each other “Hello” “Good morning” or “How are you?” Whatever was considered rude in the past is considered routine in the present. I find that a greeting, a nod or a smile – which is dumb and suspicious in Hong Kong - opens the door to evangelism faster than a tract.

The friendly Elisha was night and day from the frosty Elijah in endearing himself to others. The former was a companion, colleague, coworker, confidant and coach without peer. In fact, the sons of the prophets (“company of the prophets” in NIV) appeared prominently 10 times in Elisha’s ministry (2 Kings 2:3, 2:5, 2:7, 2:15, 4:1, 4:38, 4:38, 5:22, 6:1, 9:1), but they never hung out with Elijah. Not much is recorded of Elijah’s relationship with fellow prophets other than anointing Elisha, an act which was ordered by God rather than offered by Elijah, while Elisha did not stop mingling with and ministering to the school of prophets, who he considered peers, partners and prophets in ministry. Note they were sons of the prophets (plural) and never students of the prophet (Elisha, singular). Elisha effortlessly, naturally and voluntarily interacted with those around, while Elijah did not talk much and have nothing to say to other prophets. It is not hard to imagine why, since Elijah reiterated three times he was “the only one left” (1 Kings 18:22, 19:10, 19:14), the last of the Mohicans if you will.

Elisha is the type of mentor that exudes and inspires confidence, attracts and affirms people, and calms fears and nerves. He is a leader you cannot help but love, follow and trust. The way he carried himself around the sons of the prophets and his servants was very radical in his day. People can talk to him, tell their troubles and trust his actions.

Notice Elisha was handed the speaking parts that Elijah never got:
Prophets: “Do you know that the Lord is going to take your master from you today?”
Elijah: “Yes, I know, but do not speak of it.” (2 Kings 2:3)

Prophets: “Do you know that the Lord is going to take your master from you today?”
Elijah: “Yes, I know, but do not speak of it.” (2 Kings 2:5)

Prophets: “Look, we your servants have fifty able men. Let them go and look for your master. Perhaps the Spirit of the Lord has picked him up and set him down on some mountain or in some valley.” 2 Kings 2:16
Elijah: “No, do not send them.”
Elijah: “Send them.”
Elijah: “Didn't I tell you not to go?” (2 Kings 2:18)

Prophets: “Look, our lord, this town is well situated, as you can see, but the water is bad and the land is unproductive.”
Elijah: “Bring me a new bowl, and put salt in it.” (2 Kings 2:19-20)

Elijah: “Put on the large pot and cook some stew for these men."
Prophets: “O man of God, there is death in the pot!”
Elijah: “Get some flour. Serve it to the people to eat.” (2 Kings 4:38-41)

Prophets: “Look, the place where we meet with you is too small for us. Let us go to the Jordan, where each of us can get a pole; and let us build a place there for us to live.”
Elijah: “Go.”
Prophets: “Won't you please come with your servants?”
Elijah: “I will.” (2 Kings 6:1-3)

Prophets: “Oh, my lord, it (axhead) was borrowed!"
Elijah: “Where did it fall?...Lift it out.” (2 Kings 6:5-6)

While Elijah had no conversation with other prophets, he did speak to his servant, but his approach is more instructional and imperatival (1 Kings 18:43-44 - “Go” and “look” toward the sea; “Go back” and “Go” and “tell” Ahab, “Hitch up” your chariot and “go down” before the rain stops you.) while Elijah’s is inspirational. In this latest episode, Elisha said to his servant who yelled “Oh, my lord, what shall we do?” (v 15): “Don't be afraid, those who are with us are more than those who are with them” and then prayed for him, “O Lord, open his eyes so he may see.” (vv 16-17)

Better Yourself by Building Bridges
18 As the enemy came down toward him, Elisha prayed to the Lord, “Strike these people with blindness.” So he struck them with blindness, as Elisha had asked. 19 Elisha told them, “This is not the road and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will lead you to the man you are looking for.” And he led them to Samaria. 20 After they entered the city, Elisha said, “Lord, open the eyes of these men so they can see.” Then the Lord opened their eyes and they looked, and there they were, inside Samaria. 21 When the king of Israel saw them, he asked Elisha, “Shall I kill them, my father? Shall I kill them?” 22 “Do not kill them,” he answered. “Would you kill men you have captured with your own sword or bow? Set food and water before them so that they may eat and drink and then go back to their master.” 23 So he prepared a great feast for them, and after they had finished eating and drinking, he sent them away, and they returned to their master. So the bands from Aram stopped raiding Israel's territory. (2 Kings 6:18-23)

A story is told of Peter Miller, a plain Baptist preacher living in Ephrata, Pennsylvania in the days of the Revolutionary War. Near his church lived a man who maligned the pastor to the last degree. The man became involved in treason and was arrested and sentenced to be hanged. The preacher started out on foot and walked the all seventy miles to Philadelphia to plead for the man's life. Washington heard his plea, but he said, “No, your plea for your friend cannot be granted.” “My friend!” said the preacher. “He is the worst enemy I have.” “What!” said Washington, “you have walked nearly seventy miles to save the life of an enemy? That puts the matter in a different light. I will grant the pardon.”
(from Illustrations of Bible Truths # 339)

By the way, Elisha never had an enemy in his life. Verse 18’s “enemy came down” is grossly exaggerated. The Hebrew version is “they came down.” Elijah never regarded the Arameans as “enemies.” “They” refers to the “servants” (vv 8, 11, 12) of the king of Aram. In fact, just a chapter ago, he broke barriers by healing their captain or commander (2 Kings 5:1), Naaman, of leprosy. Elisha is always associated with Gentiles in the New Testament. The only occurrence of his name in the New Testament refers to him healing a foreigner (Luke 4:27).

A number of scenarios could have played out after the Arameans were struck with blindness and led to Samaria. When the king of Israel saw them, he asked Elisha, “Shall I kill them, my father? Shall I kill them?” The king’s repetition of the question exposes the king’s hidden motives or renders it a rhetorical question.
The history of treating political prisoners is not pretty. Light cases of abuse end with prisoners humiliated or harassed. Serious cases of abuse result in prisoners disfigured or dead. Most are injured or imprisoned.

Elisha could have released the Syrians without feeding them. He could have sent them home red-faced and empty-handed. Or he could have sent them with eyes blind and stomach empty. The prophet had demonstrated his wits, displayed his wisdom and defended his watch, but he used the opportunity to teach both the Arameans and Joram. He advised the king to let the prisoners do three things: free them, feed them and fatten them.

Note that “he prepared” (v 23) refers to Joram and not Elisha. I am not sure what the king fed them since this Hebrew word for “feast” (v 23) makes its only appearance in the Bible. The king got the idea, preparing a “great feast” (v 23), feeding them generously, not grudgingly; with big portions, not budget food.

Conclusion: God is not interested to know how things are doing; He is interested to see if you are growing. There is no defeat in serving; there is only the lack of desire and determination. It’s been said, “The world is run by tired men.” Do you hope for God’s work or do you hide from God’s work? Do you rail about not having resources, revival, respect and so on? One person cannot do it all. We are in the work of motivating God’s people, mining their resources, maximizing their gifts, multiplying their effectiveness, and mentoring the young.

When Prophets Lodge in Caves (1 Kings 19:1-18)

WHEN PROPHETS LODGE IN CAVES (1 KINGS 19:1-18)
Are you delighted with your job or are you depressed by it? Do you like or loathe your job?

Associated Press, with government data from 2004 through 2006, reported 7 percent of full-time United States workers battled depression in 2006. Women were more likely than men to have had a major bout of depression, and younger workers had higher rates of depression than their older colleagues.

Almost 11 percent (the highest group) of personal care workers — which includes child care and helping the elderly and severely disabled with their daily needs — reported depression lasting two weeks or longer. During such episodes there is loss of interest and pleasure, and at least four other symptoms surface, including problems with sleep, eating, energy, concentration and self-image. Workers who prepare and serve food — cooks, bartenders, waiters and waitresses — had the second highest rate of depression among full-time employees at 10.3 percent.
In a tie for third were health care workers and social workers at 9.6 percent.
The lowest rate of depression, 4.3 percent, occurred in the job category that covers engineers, architects and surveyors.

Depression leads to $30 billion to $44 billion in lost productivity annually, said the report from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Just working full-time would appear to be beneficial in preventing depression. The overall rate of depression for full-time workers, 7 percent, compares with the 12.7 percent rate registered by those who are unemployed. “Report ranks jobs by rates of depression”
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071014/ap_on_go_ot/depressing_jobs

No job is as stressful as that of a prophet. Before his martyrdom, Stephen charged, “Was there ever a prophet your fathers did not persecute?” (Acts 7:52) No wonder Elijah ran for his life, fled for the desert and lodged in a cave.

Why do godly people sometimes resign their post, regret their duty and retreat into oblivion? What can you do when you feel deserted, discouraged and depressed?

God’s Power is Perfected in Peace
19 Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2 So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.” 3 Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, 4 while he himself went a day's journey into the desert. He came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” 5 Then he lay down under the tree and fell asleep. All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” 6 He looked around, and there by his head was a cake of bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again. 7 The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” 8 So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God.
Martin Luther once spent three days in a black depression over something that had gone wrong. On the third day his wife came downstairs dressed in mourning clothes. “Who’s dead?” he asked her. “God,” she replied. Luther rebuked her, saying, “What do you mean, God is dead? God cannot die.” “Well,” she replied, “the way you’ve been acting I was sure He had!”

Jezebel the queen called Elijah’s bluff and the prophet fell for the threat. His world fell apart and turned upside down. If Jezebel truly meant to kill him, she would have ordered the same messenger (v 2) to do it on the spot instead of to warn him about the danger. For readers to understand the scope and the magnitude of Elijah’s fear, he is the first and only prophet in the Bible known to fear the worst, enough to run for his life. Early translators did not know what to do with Elijah’s fear, so instead of translating it as “feared” (as in Septuagint, Syriac) they translated it as “saw” (as in MT) since the two words share the same consonants. G. H. Jones (NCB 1& 2 Kings Vol II, p 329) charges that KJV’s “he saw” version was “an early attempt to avoid the reference to Elijah being afraid of Jezebel and the apparent discrepancy between this Elijah and the Elijah of chapter 18.” Both views ended the same with Elijah running for cover and begging for death. Interestingly, nothing was as fearful as fear itself, because Jezebel was a shadowy, sinister and spiteful figure Elijah never actually met. The prophet met the king several times (1 Kings 17:1, 18:1, 18:16), but never the queen not even on Mount Carmel. In fact, Jezebel avoided Elijah as much as he feared her. She was missing in the battle at Mount Carmel.

Elijah took flight because he forgot that God’s perfect peace (Isa 26:3) is available to those who trust in Him. Further, he did not think God cares or understands. Of course the Lord cared, despite Elijah thinking otherwise. The angel provided him a cake and a jar of water. What is the significance of the cake (v 6)? The cake, in Elijah’s case, appears in a previous episode when a widow from Zarephath (1 Kings 17:9) fed the prophet his favorite food (1 Kings 17:13), per his request a cake. The jar was also familiar to Elijah because the widow at the same time also served him oil from a jar (1 Kings 17:12). Of course, water is far better than oil for a forty days’ non-stop travel (v 8). All the little details reminded the tired, troubled and tested prophet how much God loved and cherished him.

Of course, God understood. What inspires me most is that while Elijah wanted to die right there and then after a day’s journey, God gave him enough to travel for not only for 40 days alone, but 40 days and nights to his target – Mount Horeb, the destination in Elijah’s mind known only to God. In fact, God knew he never really wanted to die because his destination was not the desert, but Mount Horeb (v 8), so he had ways to go. Also, God knew what direction he was heading (v 8, Horeb), how much food he needed (v 7, second time) and how long was the travel (v 8, 40 days and nights).

God’s Power is Perfected in Patience
9 There he went into a cave and spent the night. And the word of the Lord came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 10 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.” 11 The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 14 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”
What is the “best way to overcome depression”? Here are some web suggestions from various people:
One: “The best way to overcome depression is through a whole foods diet, herbal supplementation, and moderate exercise.”
Another: “The best way is to do mechanical work (run, exercise, clean your home, walk, whatever you can think of).”
The next: “To help others.”
The fourth: “Start realizing that the world is much bigger than what we are worrying about.”
A short one: “To be happy.”
One more: “Be on your own, or with help from loving friends and family.”

How can one solve a crisis and stabilize a matter as deep as Elijah’s? Actually, the best way is to locate the source. The Chinese say, “解鈴還須繫鈴人” (Whoever tied the bell is the one who can untie the bell” and “心病還需心藥” (The best cure for the ailing heart is medicine for one’s emotion.

In old China a Chinese monk once questioned his hearers, “Who can untie a bell that is tied to a tiger’s neck?” No one could answer it. A bypassing young monk was given the riddle, but he replied famously, “Of course, the person who tied the bell to the tiger’s neck can untie it.”

To solve a crisis, one has to examine its cause or locate its source.

So what actually was Elijah’s problem? Not only did he believe he had no strength, he did not think God can save him. He did not believe God was in charge or in control of the world, so “spending a night” (v 9) in a cave was his solution to the crisis. “Spent the night” has been translated by KJV elsewhere as “lodge” 34 times in KJV, negatively as “murmur” 17 times (Israel’s murmur in the wilderness), and “tarry” nine times in KJV. A minority view, but Strong’s even suggested it implies “to stay permanently; hence (in a bad sense) to be obstinate (especially in words, to complain).” The fact is the text did not mention of how long he was to stay – definitely not for a “night,” which is not in the Hebrew text.

Elijah had passion but lacked patience. “Very jealous” (v 10) is “jealous, jealous” in Hebrew – repetition of the word “jealous,” and Elijah is the only person in the Bible who uses this phrase. If you notice, Elijah did not state the real reason why he was there. He was not there because of what the Israelites did, but what Jezebel said. The prophet was not there because the Israelites rejected God’s covenant and broke down the altars. He was not there because they have put God’s prophets to death with the sword. Not because they were trying to kill Elijah too. Why was he there? He was there because he feared – interestingly there is no direct object to his fear (v 3) – readers do not know who or what he feared. The prophet who, barely two chapters ago, told the widow from Zarephath not to fear for her sustenance and survival (1 Ki 17:13), did not follow his own advice and caved in to fear.

There is no precedent for a “great and powerful wind” (v 11) in the Bible. The closest was a “great wind.” In Job’s case, a mighty or “great” wind struck a house and killed his children (Job 1:19), and in Jonah’s time a great wind threatened to break up Jonah’s ship (Jonah 1:4), but none was comparable to the “great and powerful wind” in this instance. The earthquake, also, is fascinating because the word occurs for the first time in the Bible (1 Kings 19:11). Fire (1 Kings 18:23, 23, 24, 25, 38) reminded Elijah of “fire from the Lord” (v 38) in his victory over Jezebel’s prophets a chapter ago.

God, however, reminded Elijah that His power was not present in powerful elements such as wind, earthquake and fire alone, but also in a “still, small voice” or “gentle whisper” in NIV. Elijah was reminded to be patient because God is present in mighty as well as meek things, both in majestic and modest elements, in meaningful and mild days, in important and the insignificant matters, in the upside and downside of life, in the high and ho-hum moments. Power does not always punish, pulverize or provoke. The reason Elijah ran was he ran out of patience with everything, including God. He had no control as long as he was not calm and clear about his role. The nature of a prophet’s work is to declare God’s word, not necessarily deliver God’s people. He is merely a spokesman and not the solution, a seer and not the savior. His role is to rebuke and reproach and not to relate or rescue. He had to expect rejection and not reception. Speaking for God is not necessarily welcoming but it’s certainly worthwhile.

God’s Power is Perfected in Partnership
15 The Lord said to him, “Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. 16 Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. 17 Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu. 18 Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel — all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and all whose mouths have not kissed him.”

About 10 months after arriving in Hong Kong we decided to move out of Ching Lai Court (清麗苑) by Mei Foo station when our lease is over. Although quiet, it is a retirees’ haven. During the long hot summer months I get a strong reminder on the reality of retirement. To find a cool spot and to save electricity on air-conditioning, the elderly men, dressed in their singlet and short, spent their late afternoons sitting on a bench, sometimes on the chair they brought, with one of their legs propped on the bench, usually the left one, and a fan in their right hand to do the balancing act.

Retirement means plenty of time to do nothing.

A youth asked a sad and lonely man this question: “What is life’s heaviest burden?” He answered, “To have nothing to carry.”

Elijah’s greatest enemy was not Jezebel but himself. He fell into the trap of thinking “I am nobody, I have nobody and I need nobody” or “I have no power, God has no power, and others have no power.” Of course, loneliness did not help. He was the quintessential Lone Ranger, Lonesome Cowboy, the friendless male. So far in his ministry, Elijah had nobody as his partner, peer or pal. In fact the company of prophets finds it easier to talk to the Elisha than to the reclusive Elijah (2 Kings 2:3, 2:5). God, however, intended for Elijah to be the channel but not the champion, the herald but not the hero, the messenger and not the miracle.

Elijah’s mindset was exemplified by his three statements:
“I am no better than my ancestors” (v 4)
“I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty” (v 10)
“I am the only one left” (v 10)

The third claim (v 10) stands out most because he said it three times, not twice (vv 10, 14), which he did a chapter ago (1 Kings 18:22) when he faced 400 prophets of Baal. At least four translations (ESV, KJV, RSV, ASV) preferred the literal version for verse 10, which is “I, even I only” for “I am the only one left.” The Hebrew text is even more blatant: “I am left, I, alone.” Previously he used the pronoun “I” twice in his address to the people (1 Kings 18:22), this time in Chapter 19, he added “alone” (vv 10, 14).

Just when Elijah thought all was helpless, God reminded him to correct his attitude, change his perspective, and cancel his holiday. In every time and place God has placed faithful witnesses – people who are unbowed, unblinking and unbending, people such as Elisha.

The truth is Elijah only thought he was alone, but he was never alone, because before his battle on Mount Carmel with false prophets a devout believer in the Lord in charge of Ahab’s palace by the name of Obadiah (1 Kings 18:13) revealed to him he had hid a hundred of the Lord's prophets and supplied them with food and water. In fact, Elijah had to change his thinking before it got worse. While he was afraid, he was never alone. Though outnumbered before, he was never outfought previously.

God would use Jehu to end Ahab’s dynasty and the worship of Baal in Israel (2 Kings 10:28). Hazael oppressed Israel so much (2 Ki 9:15) that they have no time for idols. The word "idol" and "altars" did not show up again in Israel except for its being smashed (2 Kings 11:18) even though “high places” and groves” still exist. Ironically the attraction to altars (1 Kings 16:10) and high places (2 Kings 21:3) assumed in the south. Beginning in the next chapter, Elijah would share the spotlight with three other prophets, including Elisha. More shocking is the discovery in the next book is that Elijah did not anoint Hazael and Jehu, which was left to Elijah to do (2 Kings 8:13). Scholars even questioned whether Elijah’s symbolic action upon Elisha (v 19) was really meant as an ordination. The point is that the will of God will be done no matter what Elijah had left undone.

Conclusion: There is no running away for God’s servants from God’s will and work. Do you face your enemies or do you flee or fear them? Are you doing your part to contain, counter and confront evil? Do you choosing the easy way out - dying in the desert and or lodging in a cave? Remember, God is not powerless, others are not powerless you are not powerless either.

For a Few Good Men (Gen 18:1-8, 16-33)

FOR A FEW GOOD MEN (GENESIS 18:1-8, 16-33)
I borrowed a fascinating book from my seminary library after I heard the speaker at our school chapel. In the Chinese book by the odd title “I love Curry Village” (我愛咖喱鄉) Hong Kong missionary Yim reveals that after ten years of mission work in India he could only manage to convert one person – a Sikh, yet the hard work would not daunt or damper the zeal and fire in God’s people.

Yim recalls one year attending a typical camp to prepare incoming missionaries for the field and evaluating the quality of the new recruits.

12 were in training that year. Their ages differ. Among them was a couple in their 60s who joined after their retirement. There were quite a few young couples with children in tow. Also in attendance were some singles. All of them had something in common, which is enjoying to choose a challenging mission field for ministry. Five chose Mongolia, four were headed to East Europe, six went to a Communist country, two to Pakistan. Yim was happiest when he discovered that three decided on India. Some were undecided. (嚴鳳山，「我愛咖喱鄉」，105頁)

Chapter 18 introduces the Lord’s personal visitation of Abraham. Previously the Lord appeared to Abraham and spoke to him on at least five occasions (Gen 12:1, 12:7, 13:14, 15:4, 17:1). Words were spoken and communication was made but readers were not told how? The most popular references were made to “the Lord/He said to him” (Gen 12:1, 13:14, 15:4, 15:7, 15:9, 15:13), twice the text says “the Lord appeared to Abram” (Gen 12:7, 17:1) and once it was in a vision (Gen 15:1). In chapter 12 it was a one-way disclosure by God but by chapter 15 they had a two-way discussion. In this chapter the Lord made a personal visitation to Abraham to see if Abraham was ready to be the father of many nations.

How would you respond knowing your neighbor is doomed? How do you respond to a world that is lost and dying? How do you respond to ungodly, unashamed and unrepentant sinners?

Be Hospitable in Service
1 The Lord appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day. 2 Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground. 3 He said, "If I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, do not pass your servant by. 4 Let a little water be brought, and then you may all wash your feet and rest under this tree. 5 Let me get you something to eat, so you can be refreshed and then go on your way — now that you have come to your servant." "Very well," they answered, "do as you say." 6 So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah. "Quick," he said, "get three seahs of fine flour and knead it and bake some bread." 7 Then he ran to the herd and selected a choice, tender calf and gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it. 8 He then brought some curds and milk and the calf that had been prepared, and set these before them. While they ate, he stood near them under a tree. (Gen 18:1-8)

A student in the second month of nursing school was given a pop quiz by the school professor. The conscientious student had breezed through the questions until the last one, which read: ‘What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?”

“Surely this was some kind of joke. How would I know her name?” remarked the student who had seen the tall, dark-haired cleaning woman in her 50s several times. So sheI handed in the paper, leaving the last question blank. Before class ended, one student asked if the last question would count toward the quiz grade. Absolutely, said the professor. “In your careers you will meet many people. All are significant. They deserve your attention and care, even if all you do is smile and say hello”. The student learnt the janitor’s name - Dorothy and had never forgotten that lesson.

Abraham’s hospitality before God will later be contrasted with Sodom’s hostility to God. It was a hot day (v 1), far worse than the normal burning, blazing and baking desert day. Abraham jumped into action the moment he saw the strangers, even though he had his suspicions. He did not wait to be asked, bringing the three men water (v 2) to wash their feet and then providing them shelter (vv 4-5), wisely resting them under a tree for shade (v 8). The patriarch then called himself “your servant” twice (vv 2, 5) and selected the finest flour (v 5) and choicest calf for a feast (v 7). He did not sit with them but stood in respect (v 8) while they ate. By the way this is the first instance of “bowing” (v 2) in the Bible and also, surprisingly, the only mention of a person “bowing to the ground” before God

Abraham’s actions were amusing and amazing even to God. He did his share of running that day, He not only “hurried” (v 2) to act; he “ran” to act in Hebrew, also according to the KJV, RSV and NASB translation. He not only “ran/hurried” from the entrance of his tent to meet them (v 2), he also ran (v 7) to select a choice, tender calf for the meal – the two “hurried/ran” words are the same in Hebrew. Three other words describe his determination to serve the Lord , which are “hurried” and “quick” in verse 6, and “hurried” again in verse 7 –meaning “sped, quicken” - the three words are the same in Hebrew. So there are two comparable words occurring five times, expressing Abraham’s passionate desire to serve the Lord, to make an impression, to Gen 18:3

The complication in translating is there should be a “I pray” after “if” and “not” in verse 3, and another one after “let me bring” – the first verb - in verse 4. Abraham’s thoughtfulness is hard to rival with. His choice of oxen is a calf (v 7) – remarkably this kind of preferred offering was later stipulated in Leviticus (Lev 1:5, 4:3, 4:14, 9:2, 16:3, 23:18); his pick of a calf is tender; his marinade is curds, translated as cream in Job (Job 20:17, 29:6) and butter in Proverbs (Prov 30:33) – take your dressing To make meat digestible, milk was provided.

Be Heightened in Sensibility
16 When the men got up to leave, they looked down toward Sodom, and Abraham walked along with them to see them on their way. 17 Then the Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do? 18 Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all nations on earth will be blessed through him. 19 For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just, so that the Lord will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him.” 20 Then the Lord said, “The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous 21 that I will go down and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has reached me. If not, I will know.” 22 The men turned away and went toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing before the Lord. 23 Then Abraham approached him and said: “Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked? (Gen 18:16-23)

When a man whose marriage was in trouble sought his advice, the Master said, “You must learn to listen to your wife.” The man took his advice to heart and returned after a month to say that he had learned to listen to every word his wife was saying. Said the Master with a smile, “Now go home and listen to every word she isn’t saying.” Anthony de Mello

What was more remarkable to Abraham’s hospitable service was his heightened sensibility toward God. Upon biding farewell to his tent guests after meal and some rest, Abraham made the initiative to walk along with them (v 16) to see the three men on the way, as a good host should. Yet Abraham also walked with them for a reason, to see where they were heading and to check out a hunch. Previously, he seemed to notice the men looking down toward Sodom (v 16); presently they made a sudden U-turn (v 22) to the direction of Sodom (v 22).True enough, his worst fears were realized. It was too late to warn his nephew Lot who was living in Sodom.

The Hebrew expression “stood before” the Lord (vv 22, 27), or “standing” in NIV, applies only to three specified individuals in the Bible, including Moses and Samuel in Jeremiah 15:1, but with a difference. Abraham did not just stand before the Lord; he “remained” standing before the Lord – “more” and “again” in Hebrew. The word describes Abraham’s intercession, his intensity and his insistence of not letting God go so soon and not letting Lot perish like that.

Also, the word “approach” (v 23) makes its debut in the Bible. Approach is to draw near. How near? Near enough to show his serious side, to talk face to face, to get full attention. Readers are not told if the three men were talking to themselves or to Abraham in verse 20 since there is no direct object. Two experts in Genesis - Alan Ross (Creation and Blessing) and Gordon Wenham (Word Biblical Commentary) - say it is a soliloquy, a self-address, so Abraham most likely did not hear it, but nevertheless Abraham made the move to clarify.

Be Heartfelt in Supplication
24 What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you really sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people in it? 25 Far be it from you to do such a thing — to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?” 26 The Lord said, “If I find fifty righteous people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake.” 27 Then Abraham spoke up again: “Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, though I am nothing but dust and ashes, 28 what if the number of the righteous is five less than fifty? Will you destroy the whole city because of five people?” “If I find forty-five there,” he said, “I will not destroy it.” 29 Once again he spoke to him, “What if only forty are found there?” He said, “For the sake of forty, I will not do it.” 30 Then he said, “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak. What if only thirty can be found there?” He answered, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.” 31 Abraham said, “Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, what if only twenty can be found there?” He said, “For the sake of twenty, I will not destroy it.” 32 Then he said, "May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak just once more. What if only ten can be found there?"He answered, "For the sake of ten, I will not destroy it." 33 When the Lord had finished speaking with Abraham, he left, and Abraham returned home. (Gen 18:24-33)

What do you do when a crisis is at hand?

During a recent ecumenical gathering, a secretary rushed in shouting, “The building is on fire!”
The Methodists gathered in the corner and prayed.
The Baptists cried, “Where is the water?”
The Quakers quietly praised God for the blessings that the fire brings.
The Lutherans posted a notice on the door declaring the fire evil.
The Roman Catholics passed the plate to cover the damage.
The Jews posted symbols on the doors hoping the fire would pass.
The fundamentalist proclaimed, “It’s the vengeance of God!”
The Episcopalians formed a procession and marched out.
The Christian Scientists concluded that there was no fire.
The Presbyterians appointed a chairperson who was to appoint a committee to look into the matter and submit a written report.
The secretary grabbed the fire extinguisher and put the fire out.

Abraham’s determination to save Sodom is admirable. He dared to provoke the wrath of God (vv 27, 30, 31) by bargaining, negotiating and arguing back and forth six times with the Lord (vv 24, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32), asking for increasing discounts from the modest 10-12% range (from 50 to 45, from 45 to 40), to another 25% discount (from 40 to 30), then a further one-third discount (from 30 to 20), and finally twice asking for a further 50% (20 to 10, 10 to 5). Altogether he had asked for a whopping 80%, till it was too embarrassing and too awkward to ask anymore. Yet the Lord did not regard Abraham as arrogant, angry or antisocial. To the Lord, Abraham’s request was respectful, not rude; rational, not ridiculous; radical but not reckless.

In fact, God would have been disappointed if Abraham did not ask. In asking, he knew more about God’s nature and His attributes. The Lord openly invited Abraham to discover and appreciate the truth of His divine mercy. God would not sweep the righteous with the wicked, not with five left standing. In the end, He did sweep the city, but not the righteous. In the end, four were spared – Lot, his wife and two daughters (Gen 19:16). In truth, only one was righteous – Lot, even though he was unwise. God was more merciful and reasonable than Abraham thought; He would spare the city for the sake of the 2% present (1 out of 50).

While Abraham went back and forth with God on numbers, he did not repeat his “Judge of the earth” (v 25) remark again. His remark makes complete sense since God had promised him to be the father of many nations (Gen 17:4) and that all nations on earth will be blessed through him (v 18). Abraham intervened for God’s cooperation. As the father of many nations he appeals for humanity as a whole, not wanting to see a soul lost.

In stating that God is the Judge of all the earth (v 24) Abraham is appealing to God’s judgment (v 19), which occurs the first time in the Bible. Of course, Abraham did not know the “outcry” against Sodom and Gomorrah was so great and their sin “so grievous” (v 20) – this is the first time the word “outcry’ occurs in the Bible and the only time sins are described as “so grievous” in the Bible.

A Parent's Impossible Dream (Mark 9:15-29)

A PARENT’S IMPOSSIBLE DREAM (MARK 9:15-29)
In one of my favorite Broadway musicals “Man of La Mancha,” the puzzled and flabbergasted prostitute asked Don Quixote why he wanted to help her, what he was trying to achieve in trying so hard to change and turn her into a noble lady. In response he sang the theme song:
To dream the impossible dream
To fight the unbeatable foe
To bear with unbearable sorrow
To run where the brave dare not go
To right the unrightable wrong
To love pure and chaste from afar
To try when your arms are too weary
To reach the unreachable star

This is my quest
To follow that star
No matter how hopeless
No matter how far

To fight for the right
Without question or pause
To be willing to march into Hell
For a heavenly cause

And I know if I'll only be true
To this glorious quest
That my heart will lie peaceful and calm
When I'm laid to my rest

And the world will be better for this
That one man, scorned and covered with scars
Still strove with his last ounce of courage
To reach the unreachable star.

Mark 9 tells the story of a father of a demon-possessd man whose dream for his son’s healing almost grounded to a halt but for his awakening to faith. No one but Jesus could help him. Jesus rebuked the evil spirit and commanded the spirit to come out of the boy. How was his faith awakened? What stirs and not sinks a person’s faith? How does faith surface and shine against the greatest odds and obstacles?

Dare to Invite Yourself in Hope
15 As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him. 16 “What are you arguing with them about?” he asked. 17 A man in the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. 18 Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not.” (Mark 9:15-18)

Sophie Tucker the dog must have nine lives. The grey and black cattle dog fell from a yacht on a rough trip in poor weather. After searching for an hour off the Queensland coastal town of Mackay, the owners regrettably and reluctantly expected the worst, but the dog had a mind of its own.

The determined pet swam six miles of shark-infested waters and landed on an island, where she survived for more than four months on wild goats for food. Before too long, a handful of people living on the island reported seeing a dog running around. When the bodies of several young goats were found, locals contacted wildlife rangers and word of a dog on the island reached the ears of Miss Griffith and her family.

When the owner heard that a dog had been caught in an island, they went to have a look. They waited at the marina as the rangers’ boat came in - and there in the cage was a grey and black dog. Miss Griffiths said, “We called her name and she went crazy - whimpering and banging on the cage, so they let her out and she ran over to us and almost knocked us over with excitement. She was a house dog and look what she's done, she has swum over five nautical miles, she has managed to live off the land all on her own. We wish she could talk, we truly do.”
“The castaway dog who swam SIX miles through shark-infested waters, then survived FOUR months on a desert island,” 07th April 2009
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1167967/The-castaway-dog-swam-SIX-miles-shark-infested-waters-survived-FOUR-months-desert-island.html

The man, first of all, is an uninvited guest who refused to take no or failure for an answer, so he barged in unsolicited and made himself heard. Verse 15 reveals that the multitude is “all the people” - “a great crowd” in Greek, not just any crowd or an average crowd. The only other time a great crowd of this size shows up in Mark is in Mark 4:1-2, where a great crowd forced him to teach the great crowd from a boat. The parallel account in Luke 9:37, too, says the exact thing in Greek, translated as “a large crowd” in English.

The drama heightened and the stakes increased with the debut of the words “overwhelmed” and “ran” (v 15), occurring for the first time in the book. The word “overwhelmed” is exclusive to the book of Mark and no other; it is used three more times in the book to describe Jesus’ “deep distress” in the garden of Gethsemane (Mark 14:33) and the women’s “alarm” at the tomb on resurrection day (Mark 16:5, 16:6). It is almost impossible to speak over a large crowd so highly strung. The word “run” occurs two more times only in the Bible, once describing Philip running up to the chariot of the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:30).The chance of getting an audience and making an impression with the Lord among the excitable, emotional and edgy crowd was downright bleak and impossible. Numbers (large crowd), emotions (overwhelmed) and activities (running) were in convergence that day.

The man’s cause was not helped by a breakout of theological proportions, with the scribes or teachers of the law and the disciples engaging in a full-blown argument that also occupied Jesus’ attention. “Argue” is also translated as “question” (Mark 8:11, Luke 22:23) and “debate” (Mark 12:28, Acts 9:29) in the Bible. This word is used in the context of an intense and a passionate dispute, not a minor or lightweight skirmish, including the Pharisees “questioning” Jesus (Mark 8:11), a scribe “debating” Jesus (Mark 12:28). Jews of Cyrene and Alexandria “arguing” with Stephen (Acts 6:9) and Saul debating with the Grecian Jews (Acts 9:29). Since the word shows up three times in the chapter (vv 10, 14, 16), the man’s chance of getting heard was slim and slipping. He was caught between a great crowd (v 15), the scribes (v 14) and the disciples (v 14), yet the man managed to make his way through, make his presence felt and make his case matter.

Praise the Lord, He is occupied with the crowd but never distracted by the crowd. He is aware of our needs, our cries, and our presence.

Dare to Ignore Others with Honor
19 “O unbelieving generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.” 20 So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth. 21 Jesus asked the boy's father, “How long has he been like this?” “From childhood,” he answered. (Mark 9:19-21)

It was high noon in midtown Manhattan. The streets were buzzing with activity—crowds of people scurrying to lunch, car horns honking, brakes screeching, a siren wailing. Two men were making their way through the throng of noon-time lunch-goers. One was a native New Yorker, the other a Kansas farmer on his first visit to see his city cousin.

Suddenly, the farmer stopped and said to the city dweller, “Hold on! I hear a cricket!” His cousin replied, “Are you kidding? Even if there was a cricket around here, which isn’t likely, you would never be able to hear it over all this noise.”

The farmer remained quiet for a few moments, then walked several paces to the corner where a shrub was struggling to grow in a large cement planter. He turned over several leaves and found the cricket. The city dweller was flabbergasted. “What great ears you have,” he said.

“Not at all,” the farmer replied. “Your ears are as good as mine. It’s a matter of what you’ve been conditioned to listen for. Here, I’ll show you.” Whereupon, he pulled a handful of coins from his pocket and let them clink to the sidewalk. As if on signal, every head on the block turned. “You see,” said the farmer, “you hear what you are tuned in to listen for.”

Next, the father did the impossible by ignoring the disciples’ failure and pressed on for an audience with Jesus when the disciples were stuck. When the supply was failing and the suppliers were wanting, what did he do? He went to the source. The students failed, but not the Schoolmaster. The pupils failed, but not the Principal. The learners failed, but not their Leader. He was not insulted, indignant or irritated; Jesus question was directed at the disciples (v 16) but the man answered. He did not wait for his turn; he grabbed the opportunity and ran with it.

Note that the disciples did not notify Jesus; the father had to do it himself. They did not review or revisit his case but kept their ineffectiveness and incompetence a quiet matter. No reason was given in the text why they did not disclose the matter to Jesus, but the reason given in the text was why they failed - the absence of prayer (v 29).

Maybe the disciples thought Jesus could care less or was not bothered. Maybe they were distracted by the lively debate with the scribes. Maybe they were more interested in pointers from Jesus to set the scribes straight and prove them wrong. The point is they had no time for the man and had given up on him, but they were not without resource, which the father knew. The father had two choices – to scram or to stay; he chose the other. He did not wait for the crowd to thin out or for the debate to die down.

What the father did definitely caught everyone’s attention, because the account is recorded in all the gosels – Matthew (Matt 17:14-20), Mark and Luke.

Dare to Implore God in Haste
22 “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” 23 “'If you can'?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for him who believes.” 24 Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” 25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the evil spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” he said, “I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” 26 The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, “He's dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up. 28 After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn't we drive it out?” 29 He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer.” (Mark 9:22-29)

Three pious Jews wanted to spend the high holy days with a famous rabbi. Without food or money or horse, one of them disguiseg as a rabbi to obtain food at the next village, from rapturous villagers who greeted them with excited cries of joy. When the meal was done, however, the innkeeper approached the “rabbi” and pleaded with him pray for his dying son.

The two men motioned to the shocked counterfeit rabbi for him to continue with his act. town before their deception was discovered. In the morning, the grateful innkeeper loaned horses to the men who were eager to leave. After the blissful holy days under the famous rabbi were over, the three companions had to return to the same village to return the borrowed carriage and horses.

Terrified, the mock rabbi resumed his disguise. Approaching the village, he saw the innkeeper running toward them, waving his arms furiously. To the pretender’s surprise, the innkeeper embraced him with joy, exclaiming, “Thank you, rebbe. Only one hour after you left our village, my son arose from his bed well and strong.”

The two companions looked with astonishment at their phony “rabbi” companion. When they were alone, they questioned him. “What did you do at that boy’s death bed?” He replied, “I prayed, ‘Master of the universe, please; this father and son should not be punished just because they think I’m a rabbi. What am I? I am nothing! A pretender! If this child dies, his father will think a rabbi can do nothing. So, Master of the universe, not because of me, but because of this father and his faith, can it hurt that his son would be healed?’”

As you might know, Mark used the word “immediately” 40 times in his gospel, in contrast to the most occurrences of the word elsewhere - three times each in John and Acts. In fact the occurrences in Mark (40 times) are four times the sum of the rest of New Testament occurrences altogether – 40 times in Mark and 10 times elsewhere. The prompt action of the father in the unfavorable setting and surroundings is the evidence and exhibition of his faith. Note how he had to exercise and extend his faith. First, “as soon as” or “immediately” (Mark 9:15) when the people saw Jesus they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to meet him. If that not was not enough, the evil spirit “immediately” threw the boy into a convulsion upon seeing Jesus (Mark 9:20), but to the father’s credit, he responded to Jesus “immediately” (Mark 9:21). The difference between the demon’s action was out of fear and the large crowd’s action for fun, but the father’s immediate action was in faith. The first was alarm before Jesus, the second was attracted to Jesus and the third was assurance in Jesus.

In the corresponding account in Luke, the father pleaded not just once, but twice (Luke 9:38, 40), the only person twice associated with the word “plead” in Jesus’ ministry. In Mark’s account here, the father cried for “help” not once, but twice, too (Mark 9:22, 9:24). This “help” plea occurs merely three times in the gospels, the other time uttered by the Canaanite woman Jesus credited with great faith (Matt 15:25, 28). In fact, the word”help”ties and compares the man to the great faith of the Canaanite woman. How is the father’s faith similar to the Canannite woman’s great faith? There are at least five similarities besides the starting point of pleading for “help”: Their actions happen (1) both have children (v 17 – father, Matt 15:22 – Canaanite woman), (2) “immediately”( v 24, Mark 7:25), (3) they addressed Jesus as “Lord” (v 24, Matt 15:25) and (4) asked for “mercy” (Matt 17:14, Matt 15:25) (5) and (6) fell to the ground (Matt 17:14, 15:25).

NIV’s interpretation of verse 23’s “'If you can’?” – with a question mark - is very weak. NASB and RSV translates it as “If you can!” with an exclamation mark and KJV “If thou canst believe,” with a comma. The first translation as a question poses a challenge to Jesus, the second one portrays Jesus’ challenge to the father. The father humbly took the unbelief upon himself (Note: the words are not from Jesus), even though I am sure Jesus meant the disciples’ unbelief. The unbelief of verse 19 correspionds to that of verse 24, but Jesus addressing the disciples, because the two “you” in verse 19 is plural.

Jesus saw the potential and not the poverty of the father. How? Well, he never speaks to one without faith. Jesus always converse with all the biblical characters that had faith in Him (Matt 8:10, 9:2, 9:29, 15:28, Mark 10:52, Luke 7:9, 7:50).

Conclusion: Are you easily disappointed, discouraged and defeated? It’s been said, “Suffering is a comma, never a period.” An exclamation or a question mark. Is your faith distracted by the circumstances, the complications and the commotions around you? Is your faith awakened by Chrsit, assured and abiding in Christ?

No Pain, No Gain (Rev 2:8-11)

NO PAIN, NO GAIN (REVELATION 2:8-11)
A farmer said to God, “For 50 years I have not stopped praying…” The Lord replied, “5o years you have been praying, what did you actually pray for?” The farmer said, “I always pray that the winds and rains be smooth, pray that there would be no rain or wind this year, no snow, no earthquake, no drought, no hail, no pests, but no matter how I pray, nothing turns out according to my requests.”

The Lord replied, “I created the earth, the winds and the rains, the droughts, the pests and the birds. What I created is not to man’s wish.” The farmer knelt and kissed the feet of God, “Almighty Lord. Can You grant my wish concerning next year? Just for one year, no wind no rain, no hot sun and disaster. Other people’s land I don’t care. Can you give me just one year?” The Lord replied, “OK, just as you wish for next year.”

The next year, the fields of the man in fact produced lots of stalks due to the absence of any strong wind and rain, hot sun and disaster. The grain doubled its usual; the farmer was beside himself. By harvest time, an unusual thing happened. The stalks did not produce even a grain. The farmer sought God and asked, “Merciful God, how can this be, are you mistaken in this matter?” God said, “I did not make nay mistake. Once a plant avoid all the tests, the grains are powerless. To a grain, persistent struggling is unavoidable. Wind and rain are necessary, hot sun is necessary, pests are necessary, they awaken the inner spirit of the grain. A man’s spirit and a grain’s spirit are alike; without tests, man is but a husk.” ( 歷練與考驗, 林清玄)

Notable in the passage is the fact that there is no rebuke whatever for the faithful, suffering Christians of Smyrna. This is in striking contrast with Christ's evaluations of five of the other six churches, which He rebuked. Smyrna's sufferings, though extremely difficult, had helped keep them pure in faith and persistent in life. The irony of the Smyrna church’s poverty is that it was a large and wealthy city, a seaport 35 miles north of Ephesus. Smyrna is still a large seaport with a present population of about 200,000.

Be Trustworthy in Character
8 “To the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again. 9 I know your afflictions and your poverty — yet you are rich! I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. (Rev 2:8-9)

Carly Fiorina, otherwise known as the first woman CEO and former CEO of Hewlett-Packard, was once asked who her favorite composer was. Without hesitation she replied, “Beethoven,” remembering her preference for Beethoven’s music whenever she was troubled.

The follow-up question was “Why not Mozart?” Fiorina wrote in her book “Tough Choices”: “I had to think. It was a good question. Mozart's music was angelic and otherworldly in its beauty. I could imagine divine inspiration, but I couldn't hear human struggle. I could hear angst and fear in Beethoven. His music was sublime, and ultimately triumphant in its suffering and humanity.” (Carly Fiorina, Tough Choices, 5-6)

A church without suffering is a church without substance and strength. The church in Smyrna faced three tests of character: afflictions, poverty and slander.

First of all, let me clarify that, grammatically, “afflictions” (v 9) is actually singular in Greek, not plural. Traditionally, KJV, RSV and NASB translate it as “tribulation.” I am not playing down Smyrna’s suffering but God promised them the strength to overcome their present affliction/tribulation, but not the oncoming “great tribulation” (Rev 7:14), which nobody can withstand, so God will spare us of that in the future. Tribulation (singular) is bearable, but the great tribulation is unbearable, more than anyone can handle. The great tribulation, which is recorded four times in the Bible, is mentioned twice in Revelation (Rev 2:22, 7:14), once in Jesus’ prophesy and once in Acts. Jesus foretold its fury: “For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be.” (Matt 24:21). The closest thing to the great tribulation is recorded in Acts, when great affliction came in the form of a famine throughout all Egypt and Canaan (Acts 7:11) – not merely a recession – which is finance-related, but a famine that is food-related.

Also, while affliction is trying, this singular noun form in verse 9 is nothing like the plural noun describing Christ’s “afflictions” for us (Col 1:24), Joseph’s “troubles” in Egypt (Acts 7:10), and Paul’s “hardships” (Acts 20:23) – all plural usage of the same singular Greek noun “tribulation.” God, in His wisdom, has given us strength to suffer and but also to survive and surpass some form of opposition, obstruction and offense.

Poverty (noun) is not a dead end or a lost cause, but a turnaround, an about face and a reversal of fortune in the Bible. It is an opportunity in giving, generosity and growth, not an occasion of gloom, grief or grumbling. This Greek noun “poverty” occurs merely three times in the Bible, all ending in contradiction, challenge and cross-examination. In the first instance, the church in Corinth gave offerings and provided relief when they themselves were in extreme poverty (2 Cor 8:2), not merely poverty. Another verse reveals that though Christ became poor for our sake, so that we through His poverty might become rich (2 Cor 8:9). Poverty is not a shame, a sentence or a sin. Out of poverty, people rise to the occasion, reach out to others and realize their full potential.

Unlike the other six churches in Revelation, the church in Smyrna alone underwent slander, or the more popular “blasphemy” (blasphemia) in Greek, translated once as “malicious talk” (1 Tim 6:4). I have no answer for this! The only consolation is that, unlike Christ, we are merely charged with slander or blasphemy – singular and not plural. Christ was charged with speaking blasphemies – plural (Mark 2:7, Luke 5:21). Revelation, where the Greek word for blasphemy is most found, records that blasphemy is the beast’s name (Rev 13:1), and he opens his mouth saying great things and blasphemies against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven (Rev 13:5-6).

Be Triumphant with Courage
10 Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. (Rev 2:10a)

Artist Auguste Renoir suffered so from rheumatism that just holding a brush in his hand was enough to make him wince.

“Why do you keep painting?” a friend once asked.

“The pain passes,” replied Renoir, “but the beauty remains.” (Bits and Pieces)

“Do not” in verse 10 is not the regular “not” that occurs 18 times in Revelation, but the irregular, emphatic “never” that occurs the first time and only one other time in the book, which is “I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that ‘no one’ will take your crown.” (Rev 3:11) Even the first “do not” admonition in the book, Revelation 1:17’s “do not be afraid,” uses the regular “not” and not this prohibition. This is the only “fear not” equation in the Bible using the emphatic “never” and not the regular “do not.” The advice on fear is The only rightful fear should be offered to God (Rev 14:7), not Satan or things (Rev 2:10). Why?
Because God alone is holy (Rev 15:4) has the power to judge (Rev 14:7). Even death is not to be feared because God i\judges the dead (Rev 11:18).

The kind of suffering Smyrna faced is worth our study and scrutiny. Verse 10 has all the five W’s and 1 H, a journalist’s favorite questions:

“Who”: The source of suffering is the devil, whose favorite and familiar weapons are doubt, deception, dishonesty, distrust and distortion. While he is not fair nor fiction, he is finite, fearful and flawed. The Bible tells us he is destined to fail, to fall and to fry. The last record of him in the Bible: “And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.” (Rev 20:10).

“What”: “Put” is the verb “throw” or “ballo” (ballistic) in Greek. Don’t get thrown off by the word “throw” that occurs an astounding 28 times in Revelation. The first “throw” verb in Revelation is actually in verse 10, where the devil, true to his nature, is the heavyweight who throws people around, throws them into jail, throws them to lions historically. The devil’s literal name is “thorough thrower” (dia-bolos); he will not only be thrown out of the game in the end, he will be thrown into the lake of fire. In Rev. 12:9 alone, three throw’s are recorded: “The great dragon was hurled down (throw) — that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled (thrown) to the earth, and his angels (were thrown) with him.”

“Where”: Many people in the Bible have been in prison: Joseph, Daniel, Peter and John (Acts 5:21, 23), Paul and Silas (Acts 16:26). Even today, people like Charles Colson, Nelson Mandela and Alexander Solzhenitsyn did not let prison chain them, compromise or consume them, but challenge them, clarify and complete them.

“How”: Suffer persecution. Note that “some” and not all will be imprisoned and suffer persecution for 10 days. Let me tell you more about the “persecution” of verse 10. It is same in Greek with “afflictions” in verse 9, both singular. Also, the church in Symrna is the only one of the seven churches in Revelation 2-3 that will experience persecution/afflictions/tribulation, the word is not mentioned at all for the other six churches. Why does God allow the faithful and not the faithless to suffer tribulation? Because the faithful will suffer tribulation, but the faithless will suffer the GREAT tribulation, which we will escape but the faithless will endure.

“When”: 10 days. 10 days, while not 10 minutes or 10 hours, are not 10 months or 10 years. The days, while not harmless, are not hopeless and helpless. God will promised us His strength, salvation, shelter, steadfastness and sufficiency in the midst of our suffering and shame.

“Why”: To test you. In seminary, we are very good at tests, specifically at testing students in dead languages. Some see tests as a way to gauge if students pass or fail. I see it as another way to increase and intensify their learning. I never fear for my students when they take the mid-term or the final examination. I have prepared them well; they should pass with flying colors, at least get a B! No one has taken a marginal C in my class, not even in my Greek or Hebrew class. They always do well, not great, but good nevertheless. Why? Because I have prepared them well. I give them enough time, practice and information. The goal of testing is not to pain the students, but to progress, to pass and prove the students.

Be True Unto Death
Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life. 11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death. (Rev 2:10b-11)
Our modern society is desensitized by the continual and common display of violence and death that is offered on books, television, videogames and movies.

US Airways’ plunge into the Hudson River made me think more about people’s response to death and dying, even though no one actually died. The plane that ingested a flock of birds, landed in the Hudson three minutes after takeoff. Within an hour, the terrified passengers were rescued from the cold 18 degrees air and 35 degrees water.

Passenger Jeff Kolodjay, who saw the engine blow up, said: “There were fire and flames coming out of it (the engine) and I was looking right into it. We hit the water pretty hard – hard enough for some people to hit their heads on the ceiling.” Dave Sanderson also gave an eyewitness report: “It was controlled chaos. People started running up the aisle. People were getting shoved out of the way.” Passenger Alberto Panero revealed, “There was a mixed emotion of yelling and crying.” Another traveler, Bill Zuhoski, confessed, “For a second, I thought I was just going to die right there in the plane. I was going to drown of death.” (“Pilot Hailed ‘Hero of the Hudson,’” South China Morning Post, Jan 17, 2009)

64-years old Elizabeth McHugh testified, “I prayed and prayed and prayed. Believe me, I prayed. As soon as we hit, we all jolted frontward and sideways, and then the water started coming in around my feet.” Vallie Smith Collins, shaken but grateful to be reunited with her three children, said, “You realize all the things you would have missed out on if it hadn’t been a perfect landing.” (“Pilot Is Hailed After Jetliner’s Icy Plunge,” The New York Times, January 15, 2009)

Fred Berretta described the landing: “We knew there wasn't a lot of time because we were quite close to the ground, and it felt as though the descent was somewhat rapid. People started praying, and there was a lot of silence, and the realization that we were going in was really hard to take in at that moment. I think that [it] certainly went through my mind that this probably very much could be it. It seemed like it lasted an eternity.”
“$5,000 to Each Passenger on Crashed Jet for Lost Bags,” CNN.com January 19, 2009)

An elderly lady decided to take a short railroad trip through an especially beautiful section of the country. It was to be her first experience of this kind, so she looked forward to it with great anticipation. After boarding the train, however, it took her quite a while to get settled. First she couldn’t find the right seat, then she spent a long time arranging and rearranging her baskets and parcels on the rack overhead. After they were finally in place, she took great pains to adjust the shade on the window until it was just right. When at last she was ready to sit back and enjoy the scenery, the conductor called out the name of her station and she had to get off the train. “Oh, my!” she lamented, “If I’d only known we would be here so soon, I wouldn’t have wasted all my time fussing about those little things that really weren’t important.”

Concerning faithfulness, it is really a surprise, almost a shock, for me to discover that God commanded (“to be” faithful - imperative) something from the church in Smyrna not demanded of others: to be faithful. “To be faithful” is a charge applied only to Smyrna and not to the other six churches. Why? For the same reason it is the only church to suffer persecution/tribulation. Trials are bested by faith, not fear; by trust, not timidity.

“Be faithful even to the point of death” is not lightly given. Faithfulness and death are linked for the first time in the Bible, because desperate and difficult times call for defiant and die-hard tenacity.

The word “crown” (stephanos) makes its debut in the New Testament in the gospels, with a disastrous ending in the account of Jesus, who wore a crown of thorns. In fact, all four occurrences of the word in the gospels tell the same story - Jesus wearing a crown of thorns (Matt 27:29, Mark 15:17, John 19:2, 19:5). If the gospels are the tragic and heartbreaking side of crowns, Revelation is the triumphant and heartwarming side of crowns. There are more crowns mentioned in the book of Revelation than any New Testament book in the Bible – more than its mention in all the Gospels put together, or all the Epistles recorded. Included in the mention is the crown of life for the Smyrna faithful (Rev 2:10), the crowns of gold on the twenty elders (Rev 4:4, 10), a woman (nation of Israel) with a crown of twelve stars on her head (Rev 12:1) and, saving the best for the last record, a crown in the Bible – Christ with a crown of gold on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand. (Rev 14:14).

More than any other book in the Bible, Revelation tells us more about the meaning of the phrase “second death,” which occurs three other times in the book. In fact, Revelation is the only book with that information, with a difference in each occasion. Revelation 20:6 tells us who will escape the second death: “Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.” Then Revelation 20:14 is what is expected: “Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death.” Finally, Revelation 21:8 mentions who will encounter the second death: “But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars — their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.” Death is not most fearful thing in life; the second death is the most scary. There is no suffering like the second death, and there is no shelter, solace or sympathy from the second death. Death destroys the body, but the second death burns the soul. One ends, but the other is endless. The only lake in Revelation (Rev 19:20, 20:10, 14, 15, 21:8) is not picturesque and peaceful by any stretch of imagination. Hell is not only a place no one can endure, possible to enter but impossible to escape and no one can extinguish. Death is not the end of all things; it may be the end of living but certainly not the end of life. More horrifying than death is dying, which is the lake of fire that burn but never burns out, consumes but never consummated, flaming but not fanning out, blazing but not reduce down de. Hell is not annihilation or obliteration, but Why is this fire so fearsome? Because it is associated with sulfur, a mineral emitted from volcanic eruptions (ISBE), and volcanoes are known to erupt spewing 500 degrees Fahrenheit heat.

Overcoming is the one true expectation expected of all seven churches (Rev 2:7, 2:11, 2:17, 2:26, 3:5, 3:12, 3:21). Overcoming, in Greek, is nikao, derived from the popular commercialized noun “nike,” or conquest in English. In Christ, we are overcomers, not overwhelmed or underachievers. The church in Smyrna, however, is the only church that receives all commendation and no condemnation, all approval and no disapproval, all acclamation and no disclaimer.

Conclusion: Christians should not overrule, overvalue or overstate suffering. We suffer not because God arranges it, but because God allows it. God understands and promises us strength for the journey. His presence goes with us.

Arguing with God (Jonah 4)

ARGUING WITH GOD (JONAH 4)
What is a missionary? Here are some traditional and non-technical definitions from the web:
“A missionary is a person who, in response to God’s call and gifting, leaves his/her comfort zone and crosses cultural, geographic or other barriers to proclaim the Gospel and live out a Christian witness in obedience to the Great Commission.”
“A missionary is one who gives up everything that they have and love to further the cause of Christ.
“A missionary is one who never gets used to the sound of heathen footsteps on their way to a Christless eternity”
“A missionary is one who is thrust into a strange culture, a strange people, a strange language and then comes to the realization that he is the strange one and everyone around him is normal.”
“Becoming a missionary is like majoring in philosophy - no matter how good your intentions are, you’ll never be rich.”
“A missionary is a person who is sent to say something or do something, which the person who sends him either cannot or does not choose to go himself to say or do.”
“A missionary is a person who teaches cannibals to say grace before they eat him.”
“A missionary is a person who knows two languages and can’t speak either one.”

While everyone should participate in missions by joining a long-term or short-term mission trip, it is best to be informed than to be inspired before you go. Why do we go? What can we do? More importantly, what is our attitude?

The story of a resentful, rebellious and runaway prophet and missionary is an oxymoron, a contradiction, but that is the story of one of the most beloved biblical characters. Jonah prophesied in the northern kingdom of Israel (2 Kings 14:25) more than 50 years before its destruction in 722 B.C. at the hands of the Assyrians, the very enemies whose capital is at Nineveh, the city where Jonah was presently. Bear in mind Jonah’s attitude mirrored that of Israel towards Gentiles and, in application, the attitude of the local church to foreign missions. Would you save a nation that will ultimately be responsible for exiling your nation? What is our responsibility to nations and people that are richer and mightier than us, farther than where we want to go?

Turn from Your Self-Righteousness
1 But Jonah was greatly displeased and became angry. 2 He prayed to the Lord, “O Lord, is this not what I said when I was still at home? That is why I was so quick to flee to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. 3 Now, O Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.”

Charles Darwin was a chronic complainer who was happiest when he had something to gripe about.

One night, he and his wife were guests at a banquet at which everything went wrong. The speeches were dry; the champagne was hot; the food was inferior; the service even more so, and worst of all, the naturalist was given a seat in a draft, about which he had a phobia. Throughout the meal, he grumbled and swore.

Later, the sponsor of the affair came over to Mrs. Darwin and said apologetically: “I do hope your husband will forgive us. We wanted so much for him have a good time.” “He had wonderful time,” she assured him. “He was able to find fault with everything.”

It’s been said, “Some people aren’t really happy unless they complain.”

Jonah was not a happy camper. The phrase “greatly displeased” is a syrupy, soft and sparing translation of its original in Hebrew, which is more sinister than merely “displeasure.” Its few occurrences in the Bible are “evil,” a translation that is very unflattering to Jonah. Similar and comparable statements include Joseph’s rejection of his master’s wife, calling it “a wicked thing” (Gen 39:9), Nehemiah weeping for the Jews in “great trouble” (Neh 1:3) and calling marriage with unbelieving Gentiles a “terrible wickedness” (Neh 13:27).

Further, describing Jonah as “greatly displeased” and “became angry” – the two phrases - is comparing him chiefly with the bloodthirsty and vindictive Saul, who was “very angry” and “galled/displeased” – in reverse order with Jonah - when the ladies sang David’s praises. (1 Sam 18:8)

Jonah’s anger was out of control. So far he prayed twice. The previous time he prayed was out of distress when he was inside the fish (Jonah 2:1-2), but now it was in and from anger, which has no chance or place in prayer. His passionate “O Lord” plea in Hebrew was a poor imitation of and a disgraceful tribute to passionate prayer warriors such as Hezekiah at the announcement of his death (2 Kings 20:2-3, Isa 38:3), and Nehemiah (Neh 1:5, 1:11) and Daniel’s (Dan 9:4) prayer for the Jews to survive exile and even the sailors who attempted to save him (Jonah 1:14). Unlike Hezekiah, Nehemiah and Daniel, Jonah’s prayer was not life and death.

In his self-righteous unbelief, Jonah justified his “fleeing” to Tarshish (v 2), but both instances in the past (Jonah 1:3, 1:10) indicate he was fleeing from the Lord, not fleeing to Tarshish, and he confessed as much to the sailors. Jonah was honest but hypocritical, because he was humble and happy in his first prayer when the Lord forgave him but hotheaded and hardhearted in his second prayer when the Lord forgave others.

Trust in God’s Sovereignty
4 But the Lord replied, “Have you any right to be angry?” 5 Jonah went out and sat down at a place east of the city. There he made himself a shelter, sat in its shade and waited to see what would happen to the city. 6 Then the Lord God provided a vine and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about the vine. 7 But at dawn the next day God provided a worm, which chewed the vine so that it withered. 8 When the sun rose, God provided a scorching east wind, and the sun blazed on Jonah’s head so that he grew faint. He wanted to die, and said, “It would be better for me to die than to live.”

“I will not believe anything that I do not understand,” said a man in a hotel one day.

“Neither will I,” said another. “Nor will I,” said a third.

“Gentlemen,” said one who sat close by, “on my ride this morning I saw some geese in a field eating grass; do you believe that?”

“Certainly,” said one of the three listeners.

“I saw the pigs eating grass; do you believe that?”

“Of course,” said the three.

“I also saw sheep and cows eating grass; do you believe that?”

“Of course,” was again the reply.

“Well, the grass turned to feathers on the backs of the geese, to bristles on the backs of the swine, to white wool on the sheep, and to hair on the cow; do you believe that, gentlemen?”

“Certainly,” they replied.

“But do you understand it?”

Jonah’s actions and attitude were louder than his words upon hearing the Lord’s challenge. The prophet left without a word or an acknowledgment. He did not trust the Lord’s sovereignty, His judgment or His omniscience. Truth to be told, Jonah was not jealous for God but judgmental of others. While God was slow to anger, Jonah was quick to accuse. The salvation of the Ninevites was a greater miracle than the survival of Jonah. In fact, they had a far better understanding of anger than Jonah. Previously, they stated, in their repentance: “Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish.” (Jonah 3:9) Unlike Jonah, they understood that God’s anger (Jonah 3:9) serves a bigger purpose, which is for man’s repentance. God’s anger is directed at man’s sin and shamelessness, never at man’s sorrow for sin and surrender to Him. We are not told the object of Jonah’s anger. Was it at people or at God? One thing for sure, it was not at himself.

God gave Jonah every right and all the time in the world to sort out his feelings, but he held his tongue (v 4-5) to a more provocative and passionate form of protest. He did not return to his country or leave the country, but chose a prime location, made himself a shelter and sat in its shade to watch the show and fireworks that did not happen. Jonah refused to believe that was the end of that, stubbornly choosing instead to sit there the next 39 days or so (Jonah 3:4), if he had to, which the Lord interrupted the next day.

Note that the second time Jonah expressed his willingness to die (v 8), it was not directed to the Lord anymore or uttered in prayer; it was out of fatalism, futility and frustration, and not of faith.

Think of Others’ Salvation
9 But God said to Jonah, “Do you have a right to be angry about the vine?” “I do,” he said. “I am angry enough to die.” 10 But the Lord said, “You have been concerned about this vine, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. 11 But Nineveh has more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left, and many cattle as well. Should I not be concerned about that great city?”

St. Francis of Assisi one day said to several of his followers. “Let us go to the village over the way and preach.” As they went, they met a humble pedestrian who was greatly burdened. Francis was in no hurry and listened carefully to his tale of woe.
When the village was reached, Francis talked with the shopkeepers, spent time with the farmers at their fruit and vegetable stalls, and played with the children on the streets. On the way back, they met a farmer with a load of hay, and Francis spent time with him. The morning gone, the group reached the monastery from where they had set out in the early morning.

One of the followers, who was greatly disappointed, said to Francis. “Brother Francis, you said you were going to preach. The morning is spent and no sermon has been given.” And the saintly Francis replied, “But we have been preaching all the way.” (Tan #3104)

Jonah’s anger was misplaced. He should be angry at the worm. Even then, God was not interested in whom he was directing his anger at, but why was he angry. While verse 1 and 4 do not tell us about the object of his anger, but verse 9 tells us more about the object and the extent of his anger. By the way, there is more anger per chapter in the book of Jonah than any Old Testament book.

“Concerned” (v 10) means “cover” literally. God did not expect Jonah to spare those who are indifferent, insubordinate and impenitent, but Jonah was unsympathetic, uncaring and unkind to contrite and confessing Gentiles. His concern for the plant or vine was not really for the plant, but for himself, for the shade the plant provided for his head.

Note that Jonah had little happiness in the Ninevites’ change of heart. They were not saved by Jonah’s impassioned plea, which never happened. The adverb “very” (v 6) perfectly contrasts Jonah’s upbeat and downbeat moments and motives. From “greatly/very displeased” (v 1), Jonah became “very happy” about the vine. Jonah’s priorities, passion and prejudice were all wrong.

The minimalist prophet barely mouthed five words in Hebrew to minimize effect (v 4). To his horror and helplessness, a spiritual outbreak ensued. The king did not just declare and a national day of mourning, but a national season of mourning (Jon 3:6-7).

The word “know” that occurs six times in the book is quite ironic. Jonah knew that God was a gracious and compassionate God (Jonah 4:2), knew he was running away (Jonah 1:10) and knew that he was at fault (Jonah 1:12) but, alas, he did not care that Nineveh has more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who does not “know” (v 11, “tell”) their right hand from their left (Jonah 4:11). He knew about God and himself, but not about Gentiles.

Conclusion: What are you angry about today? Do you see past people’s color, culture or class? Do you present God’s commission and compassion in a positive or pathetic light, in a right or self-righteous way, with a joyful or a judgmental attitude? Do you love God and others, or do you just love yourself?

Crisis & Choice, Pt 1: “Sufferers on Trial”

SUFFERERS ON TRIAL (LUKE 13:1-5)
On the day the terrorists struck New York and Washington D.C., I received an e-mail from a friend that hinted strongly that America was under attack for forsaking God. Two days later, Jerry Falwell commented harshly: “I really believe that the pagans, and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays and the lesbians who are actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle, the ACLU, People for the American Way--all of them who have tried to secularize America--I point the finger in their face and say, ‘You helped this happen.’” (Los Angeles Times 9/20/01) http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-000075439sep20.story

Before the week had passed, Falwell apologized for his comments, admitting that his remarks ran counter to his lifelong theological conviction that it was impossible to know whether an event reflected God's judgment. In an interview with New York Times, he corrected himself, “I am saying that no human being has the knowledge that any act is an act of God's judgment and any person is responsible for God's judgment. If the terrorist attacks did reflect God's judgment, then that judgment is on all of America — including me and all fellow sinners.” (New York Times 9/18/01) http://www.nytimes.com/2001/09/18/national/18FALW.html

Saying that an individual, a group or a nation is under divine punishment for sin is nothing new. It is as old as Scripture. As a pastor quipped on Fawlell’s remarks, “Isn’t that what Job’s friends said to him?”

In Luke 13, Jesus was asked an age-old question on current events; specifically, why do people suffer? Jesus addressed the issue of intentional and unintentional deaths or Pilate’ premeditated slaughter of the Galileans at the altar and the unwitting death of eighteen men who were unwittingly crushed by a collapsing wall by the Pool of Siloam. These two situations cover most victims of death – planned or unplanned death, famous or unknown individuals, innocent or culpable.

Why do people suffer? Do good people or bad people get the worst of it? Why did God not protect godly people from suffering?

Do Not Equate Physical Violence with Moral Character
13:1 Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 2 Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? 3 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. (Lk 13:1-3)

The worst form of atrocity, wickedness and barbarity comes to the nicest, the most friendly and likable man or woman on earth. A talk show host correctly called what happened to New York and Washington not a tragedy, but a travesty, because it was not an unfortunate freak accident, but an orchestrated act of evil. The terrorists’ actions were a crime against humanity, an assault on innocent lives and the epitome of the worst kind of evil.

After the September 11 travesty, part of the Christian world went nuts, too. A caller to a Christian talk radio called New York the Babylon of Revelation 18, the city that was fallen, overthrown and doomed for destruction by God. Another caller said she had received a message from God that morning as she was reading a verse from the Bible. The problem was that she got her inspiration not from the Bible, but traced to a different source. It was widely known that a North Carolina pastor, Rick Joyner, had came out with an e-mail bulletin days after the strike, proclaiming a prophetic message that quoted the same verse - Isaiah 30:25 - referring to “the day of the great slaughter, when the towers fall.”

A careful reader will surely see the danger of taking a verse out of its context, toying with biblical prophecy and playing God with people’s lives. The judgmental attitude of some Christians mirrored the same narrow finger-pointing, Scripture-quoting, judgment-passing attitude Christians displayed toward California, especially San Francisco, the gay capital of the world, when a 7.1 earthquake hit Northern California in 1989.

In Jesus’ day, the topic of conversation was the death of a group of Galileans at the hands of Pilate, probably throwing them into a fire for revolting against his rule. Jesus’ answer was contradictory, unexpected and final. He did not agree with the consensus of the day, that is, the belief that Galileans got what they deserved.

Jesus was protective and respectful of dead people’s reputation, honor and memory. He was not harsh, cold or insensitive to the deceased’s character, their families’ grief and the loss of life. In fact, he used an unusual word to describe their suffering. The word “paschal” is the same word Luke’s gospel applies only to one other person’s suffering – the six-fold reference to Jesus’ suffering on the cross (Lk 9:22, 13:2, 17:25, 22:15, 24:26, 46).

Jesus took suffering very hard, very personally and very deep. Jesus asked, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way?” and answered it himself, “I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.” The original Greek construction reverses the order in the English and Chinese translation that says “I tell you, no!” The more forceful reply Jesus gave was: “No, I tell you.” Jesus strongly shouted “no” before anything else: No, no, no. No way. It’s not like that; not at all.

The independent phrase “I tell you” is a unique expression of Luke not found in other gospels. It is Jesus’ way to announce truth, maintain accuracy and provide full disclosure (Lk 17:34, 18:8, 14, 19:40). The fact is one cannot judge one Galilean from another by their background, their livelihood or demise.

Jesus’ answer was a sharp rebuttal to those who brought him news. Jesus had used the command “Repent,” (Mt 4:17) with the pronouns “They” (Mt 11:20, 12:41, Lk 16:30) and “He” (Lk 17:3), and the impersonal “one sinner who repents” (Lk 15:7, 10), but not with “you” elsewhere in the Bible. Jesus took things personally by using the unique second person pronoun when he continued, “You too will all perish,” not the third person “he” (Matt 10:39) or the indistinct “whoever” (Matt 16:25, Mk 8:35, Lk 9:24, 17:33) for the verb perish or lose.

Do Not Equate Natural Disasters with Divine Punishment
4 Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them--do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.” (Lk 13:4-5)

Conspiracy theories victimize innocent victims the second and third time, and countless times subsequently. Did he or she sin? Did their parents sin? Did their kids sin? That’s when self-appointed, self–taught and self–proclaimed experts add their two cents, dispense their views and inflict the punishment upon others a second time.

When freak accidents, natural calamities and disasters happen out of our control, we call it unintentional, haphazard and random. However, if we let them shape and govern and terrorize our lives then we are fatalistic and victims the third time round. Fatalism is the perfect way people blame themselves and others, live in fear and self-condemnation, entrapping the next generation and generations to come.

This is the Asian mindset, the Islamic way, as well as the European existential approach, but not the biblical truth. The Chinese say it is “yuan” or fate: if it’s yours, it’s yours; if it’s not, it’s not. Death has a crippling, enslaving effect on one’s psyche, sub-conscious and will power. The Muslims were half right when they opposed George Bush’s usage of the word “infinite justice.” Yet they have confused infinite justice with ultimate justice, which comes from God, and have fatalistically rejected any justice system. The Europeans are just as pessimistic about life.

Some years ago my wife and I rented an old French movie “Jean de Florette,” starring Gerard Depardieu. Depardieu was a hunchback who aspired to be a farmer and gave himself three years to cultivate the land. Before too long, a drought devastated the land, but as the situation grew from bad to worse, the optimistic farmer still did not give up. He, along with his donkey, carried water from a faraway well that nearly broke his spirit.

When rain finally fell on the parched land, the outcome was depressing. The sky grew dark, thunder and lightning flashed across the sky and rain poured from the heavens. The hunchback and his family stood outdoors to soak up the falling rain, except that the rain deluged the other side of the mountain. The hunchback shook his fist to the sky, and thundered, “I’m a hunchback! Have you forgotten that? Do you think it’s easy? Isn’t anybody up there? There’s nobody up there.”

Later, the hunchback dug a well and dynamited it for water and, in the process, was killed by the flying rocks. The last scene of the movie underscored the reason for his failure. After the farmer had sold the farm cheaply to his neighbors, the farmer’s daughter saw what her neighbor and his nephew were secretly doing, as she took a last look at the farm and saw their neighbors, who couldn’t wait for the family to leave, were up to. They unclogged a running spring in the farm they had blocked with cement that could have saved the crops, the farm and the family. The last image of the family in the movie was that of a screaming girl and tears welling in her eyes.

A member who heard me talking about the movie asked me, “Do you know there’s a sequel to the movie?” Before I could reply, he interjected, “But it doesn’t get any better.”

No wonder Hollywood favors testing a movie on an audience before it is released nowadays. Nobody likes to pay for an expensive movie ticket to see a depressing ending.

Jesus’ second question broached the subject of accidental walkers: “Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them--do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem?” (v 4) He brought up Jerusalem for a reason. From Galilee in the north, Jesus switched to Jerusalem, which is to the south of Galilee and located in the middle of Israel, the center of Jewish life. Freak accidents happen whether you are in the north or south, in the east or west, in the center or at the edge. Another way of putting it: mishaps happen whether you are in North America, Europe, Africa or Asia; whether you are standing still, walking by or lying down; whether you are on your own, with seventeen others or in a big crowd.

The word guilty is the same word for “debt” and “debtors” from the Lord’s prayer (Mt 6:12). Jesus said the unfortunate dead were no more responsible for their death than they were for their existence. They were not indebted - doomed, cursed or fated to die.

Jesus could not have thundered, objected and retorted more strongly the second time. He hammered at, ripped apart and sliced through the burdensome, oppressive, cruel and heartless argument of divine punishment. Again, he emphasized “no.” This is the only instance in the Bible that Jesus had twice said no. It was a twofold unmistakable, unparalleled, unequivocal no.

Do Not Equate Temporary Respite with Everlasting Life
In other words, do not count on your luck, talk like an expert or think you are untouchable, invincible, superior or favored. Without eternal life, you are in danger no matter where you are, where you live and where you go.

At the end of his answer, Jesus had spoken four times the word “all”- the most “all” used in a similar short passage, tying its occurrences in the Great Commission.

After the 9-11 terrorist attacks my wife and I were in a dilemma whether we should proceed with our trip to Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia at the end of the year. Though the trip was three months away, we had to purchase our tickets earlier for the busy Christmas and school holidays. After calling a friend from Toronto, Canada, who was also heading to Hong Kong during the holidays, we decided to switch from United Airlines to Cathay Pacific, but not for the fear of our safety. We had wanted to buy United Airlines to accumulate frequent mileage miles but United Airlines had canceled all direct flights from Los Angeles to Hong Kong and all travelers from Los Angeles had to first fly into San Francisco before leaving for Hong Kong. We did not envy the extra travel for what was already a long trip to Asia, so we decided to go with Cathay Pacific.

Our Toronto friend, however, freaked out after the terrorist attacks and immediately changed her air travel plans. Originally she booked a cheaper ticket from the American carrier Continental Airlines before the incident, but then opted to pay more for a safer local airline, Air Canada. On Sept. 27, after she had bought her tickets from Air Canada, the first air plane scare was from an Iranian man on an Air Canada flight who reportedly was livid after being caught smoking in a lavatory and uttered an anti-American threat to the crew members who responded to the smoke alarm that went off in the bathroom. The 145 people aboard the jet bound for Toronto returned to Los Angeles International Airport escorted by F-16 jets.

Jesus said, “Unless you repent, you too will all perish.” Repentance is the change in thinking that affects life. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia says repentance is “to have another mind,” to change the opinion or purpose with regard to sin. This means changing the discussion from “them” to “you,” turning from sin and running to God, and putting one’s house in order before calling the kettle black.

Jesus spoke often about his mission to those who are “perishing,” which is the same Greek word for the word “lost”: “The Son of Man came to seek and save what was lost” (Lk 19:10) and “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.” (John 3:16)

Conclusion: On the subject of suffering, Forrest Gump, whom town-folks called the local idiot or the naïve optimist, makes more sense than most philosophers, scholars, or religious teachers: “Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.”

Do we have sin in our lives? Of course. Is disaster a sign of God’s punishment for deliberate sin in people’s lives? Not true. Casting aspersions on others make us feel good about ourselves, make our understanding of God manageable and put things neatly in a package. The Chinese say four things are unavoidable: birth, aging, sickness and death.

Don’t live life believing that God is punishing you for every thing you have done wrong, condemning you for your past and exacting revenge for all you owe. That is Eastern religion, existential philosophy and inconsistent with and alien to Scripture. Be on your toes and guard against draconian theologians, false teachers and religious abusers, manipulators and bullies.

Crisis & Choice, Pt 2: “More Than Conquerors”

MORE THAN CONQUERORS (JOHN 9:1-39)
One embarrassing game day, after giving up nine home runs in a row, Charlie Brown cried out in despair, “What can I do?!!” He complained to his catcher, “We’re getting slaughtered again, Schroeder. I don’t know what to do. Why do we have to suffer like this?” Schroeder turned around, walked away, and quoted to a bewildered Charlie Brown: “Man is born to trouble as the sparks fly upward.”

Linus, who overheard the quote, explained to Charlie Brown, “He’s quoting from the book of Job, Charlie Brown…seventh verse, fifth chapter,” but added, “Actually, the problem of suffering is a very profound one.” But before Linus could continue, Lucy interrupted, “If a person had bad luck, it’s because he’s done something wrong, that’s what I always say!” Schroeder corrected her, “That’s what Job’s friends told him, but I doubt if…” Again, Lucy quipped, “What about Job’s wife? I don’t think she gets enough credit!”

By this time, Charlie Brown’s head was turning left and right, straining to hear what everyone had to say as all the players had gathered at the mound and were speaking out of turn. Schroeder opined, “I think a person who never suffers, never matures. Suffering is actually very important.” Lucy yelled, “Who wants to suffer? Don’t be ridiculous!” A newly arrived kid turned to Charlie Brown: “But pain is a part of life.” And Linus voiced to Snoopy, “A person who speaks only of the “patience” of Job reveals that he knows very little of the book!” The last frame has Charlie Brown resigning to himself, exclaiming: “I don’t have a baseball team. I have a theological seminary.”

Suffering is a prominent subject in the Bible, an unavoidable topic for Jesus, and a staple of life. As someone said, “Preach on suffering and you will never lack an audience.” In John 9, Jesus met a blind man who was never short of hearing theories on suffering, usually negative ones from people who hardly knew him at all. On this occasion, the disciples postured on the cause of suffering. They were not the only ones who believed that the blind man had some explanation to do or something to hide; the Pharisees, too (John 9:34). In one episode, Jesus rejected the popular theology of suffering, overturned the suffocating view of Sabbath work and alienated religious officials.

What kind of attitude, behavior and mission characterized Jesus when He was around people who suffer? Jesus saw them as vessels for God’s work- made to conquer and not suffer, and cared for their mind, body and soul.

How did Jesus view suffering? Does God delight in man’s suffering? What is the way out for those who suffer? Let us examine Jesus’ reply to the disciples, then his contact with the blind man and, lastly, his conversation with the blind man.

God Cares for Sufferers’ Personal Dignity
9:1 As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life. 4 As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. 5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” (John 9:1-5)

First, in Jesus’ reply to the disciples’ question, He gave dignity not only to the blind man but to all who has suffered mental anguish from a weakened physical condition.

For the disciples the blind man on the road was a foregone theological, moral and philosophical conclusion. The blind man was a freak of nature, his existence a sore to the eye and his condition a judgment from God. From the way the disciples posed the question, they seemed to have no conceivable answer except the culpability of the victim or his parents. They could not have picked on a better target, a worse man or an easier prey: the man was born bind, not made blind, half blind or almost blind. It was a proof of guilt, but who was the black sheep - parent or child? Who in the family did it? Was it nature or nurture?

Jesus replied, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.” He emphatically, dogmatically and categorically rejected the judgment call and resolved him from guilt. The first Greek word Jesus uttered meant neither, none of the above, not even. This is the only instance Jesus had ever answered a question, began a sermon or initiated a conversation with an exclusive “No.” He repeated the negation in Greek to make sure the disciples get the point: “Not” this man sinned, “not” the parents. Not individual sin, collective sin or any outstanding, living or unknown sin. Not what the parents did to others, what the blind man brought upon himself or what is merited from God.

What a wondrous declaration of hope, what glorious words of comfort and what a thrilling defense Jesus offers to those who suffer, those who are afflicted and those in pain. Once and for all He had lifted the unnecessary burden, the second curse and the mental torture of the disabled, the ailing and the helpless.

The blind man had no burden to prove his innocence, no need to apologize for his condition or feel guilty about himself or feel ashamed before God and others. Jesus advised him to do the only thing he could: to allow and invite God to work in his life. The passive verb “be displayed” meant that the man could be on the receiving end of God’s work in a wonderful relationship. Jesus did not talk about finding the cause of suffering, but choosing the course in suffering. Our mind cannot explain the reason for our suffering, but our attitude can determine the outcome of the suffering.

A water-bearer carried two large pots on each end of a pole to his master’s house every day. However, one of the pots had a crack and could only deliver half a pot, in contrast to the perfect pot. The poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfections and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do.

The water pot said to the water beater one day by the stream, “I am ashamed of myself and I want to apologize to you.” “Why?” asked the bearer. “What are you ashamed of?” “For these past two years I have been able to deliver only half of my load because of the crack in my side that causes water to leak out on the way back to your master’s house. Because of my flaws you have to do all of this work, and you didn’t get full value from your efforts,” the pot said.

The bearer felt sorry for the cracked pot, and said to the pot: “Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of the path, but not on the other pot’s side? That’s because I have always known about your flaw, and I took advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back from the stream, you’ve watered them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my master’s table. Without you being just the way you are, my master would not have flowers to grace his house.”

God Cares for Sufferers’ Personal Welfare
6 Having said this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man's eyes. 7 “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means Sent). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing. (John 9:6-7)

Jesus did not come just to care for the mental health of the blind man, but to care for him as a real person.

The word “saw” in verse 1 implied that Jesus had already known of the man’s presence, condition and need before the disciples posed the question to Jesus. After answering their question, Jesus demonstrated that the blind man was a person to love, not a topic to discuss.

Though Jesus had used saliva to heal a deaf man (Mark 7:33) and another blind man (Mk 8:23) before by touching their ears or eyes, He did the unthinkable this time: He healed on the Sabbath (Jn 9:14), redefined the law and, in the process, angered the legalistic Pharisees. Jesus not only broke the Sabbath, He took his time, repeated his motions and tended to the patient. The word “anointed” or “put on,” meaning “smear” or “make contact,” occurs nowhere else in the Bible. Jesus rubbed, massaged and touched the blind man’s eyes lightly, patiently and compassionately. He was in no hurry to heal, the blind man was not a person to avoid and the disciples had a lesson to learn.

The risk of meeting, offending and angering religious leaders did not stop him from healing. Previously in John’s gospel, the Jews were already seeking to find Jesus, to kill him for healing a paralyzed man on the Sabbath day (John 5:14). In this final Sabbath day account in John’s gospel, would Jesus risk antagonizing the Pharisees and heal another suffering soul on Sabbath day again? Couldn’t Jesus heal from a distance? Could he not wait till the day was over, the time was right or the coast was clear? Jesus’ answer was obvious: “As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world (Jn 9:4-5).

A short while later, Jesus was accused of not keeping the Sabbath (John 9:16) and the blind man was banned from the synagogue for acquiescing to healing (Jn 9:22, 34). For the Pharisees, Sabbath day meant inactivity, even if it included hunger (Mt 12:1-2, Lk 14:1), danger (Mt 12:11) or sickness (Jn 5;10). So anything physical, including physical healing (Lk 13:10-14, 14:3), was out of the question.

A Jew was on his way home one Friday night. It was past midnight when he passed the house of his pious grandparents. To his surprise they were still up, the Sabbath candles burning brightly, so he went in. “Why aren't you asleep?” he asked. “It's past midnight.” His grandparents looked sad, and replied, “We can't go to sleep because of the candles. If we let them burn out, the house may catch fire; and we can't snuff them out because it's the holy Sabbath.”

Several years ago, an Israeli institute that specialized in inventing devices for religious Jews to use on the Sabbath without violating the biblical command that forbade work came up with a $10 Sabbath pen that it claimed fit the bill. The institute's director said that the pen was invented for doctors and patients and was kosher because the ink it uses disappears after a few days, becoming literally “nonexistent,” meaning no work was involved in the first place! Among the institute's popular invention is an electric timer - or Sabbath clock- that turns lights on and off since that action is considered work by the religious (San Gabriel Valley Tribune 5/24/91).

Jesus cared too much for the blind man to care for what others think of him, say about him or do to him. Jesus came to alleviate suffering, not debate suffering; he would rather put himself in danger than to leave others without hope; he was a physician, not a politician or a philosopher.

God Cares for Sufferers’ Personal Salvation
34 To this they replied, “You were steeped in sin at birth; how dare you lecture us!” And they threw him out. 35 Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” 36 “Who is he, sir?” the man asked. “Tell me so that I may believe in him.” 37 Jesus said, “You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.” 38 Then the man said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him. 39 Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.” (John 9:34-35)

Jesus has come to give dignity to those who suffer and to care for people in affliction. Not only that, He has come to find and save those who are lost. He is
the Lamb of God, who has come to take away the sin of the world (John 1:29)!

Do you know the line from the song “Amazing Grace” that says “I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see” was taken from this passage. I had always thought it was taken from the parable of the prodigal son, except that the lost and found phrase was not uttered by the prodigal son, but twice by the father (Lk 15:24, 32). But if you look at what the blind man’s words in verse 25, he said he was once blind but now he could see. But how was he lost? Later the Jews “threw him” literally in Greek out of the synagogue and when Jesus returned to find the blind man when He heard about the injustice, mistreatment, and plight (v 35).

More importantly, Jesus returned for the salvation of the blind man. The blind man had heard about and heard from Jesus, but had never talked to and with Him. The blind man’s three simple words - “Lord, I believe” - were an extraordinary statement of faith. There is no stronger, firmer or clearer way to express one’s belief in Jesus in the gospels though there were two other similar “I believe” utterances of faith: from the father of a demon-possessed who exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mk 9:24) and from Mary whose actual words in Greek to Jesus at the death of her brother Lazarus was, “Yes, Lord, I have believed that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world.” (John 11:27) Note that the demon-possessed man’s father did not call Jesus “Lord” and needed help to overcome unbelief and Mary’s belief was basically doctrinal creed- “I have believed”- and not critical faith.

Jesus, however, was not surprised by the blind man’s confession of faith but the Pharisees’ persistence in blindness. Spiritual blindness, separation from God, stubbornness of the heart is worse than social rejection. Being dead in sin is worse than being marked a pariah. Being Jesus’ captive was compensation enough for being society’s outcast. The blind man, to his surprise, discovered that the mean streets were not over, the unkind labels would not go away and a cold reception was not a thing of the past. He thought he would be treated better, nicer, kinder, but exclusion, ill treatment and facts of life remain.

However, there was a difference in the man. The blind man confessed Jesus in the face of religious persecution, repression and discrimination. He could not remain quiet, be a yes man, or play the role of victim anymore. Now, sitting alone and begging others were replaced by believing Jesus and worshipping Him. Beneath the defective eyes of this man was a seeing soul. This is what Jesus meant in John 6:29 when he said, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”

Conclusion: You can lose your health, your job or your money, but never lose your dignity! Blindness of heart and the loss of one’s soul is more scary than the blindness of eyes and the loss of sight. Are you a darkened and empty soul or are you a seeing and believing soul? Jesus Christ has come to judge the world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind. The blind man’s journey began with clarity of the mind, sight to his eyes and then faith in his heart. Are you willing to give, trust and live your life for the One who cared for your emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being? As the blind and deaf writer Helen Keller says, “There are none so blind as those who refuse to see.”

Crisis & Choice, Pt 3: “Choice and Consequence”

CHOICE AND CONSEQUENCE (GEN 3:1-15)
The mythical story of the Pandora's Box tells of how Greek god Zeus’ plotted to ruin man, seal his fate and cause suffering on earth. Zeus created the beautiful Pandora, sent her to humans and gave her a mysterious chest or box, along with a warning not to open it. Of course, curiosity got the better of her. She knelt in front of the box, took a peek inside and out flew the all the evils and miseries into the world to inflict the world.

Critical questions often surfaced after a disaster or a tragedy. People ask, ‘What are the roots of evil?” “Why do bad things happen to good people?” and “Why me?” Genesis 3 introduces the doctrine of original sin, the downfall of man and God’s divine grace. Satan tempted man with the same deception and temptation that caused his own fall: to be like God, not just with God. Man’s sin severs fellowship with God, but Christ’s death reconciles us to God.

However, the foremost questions on everyone’s minds are not moral questions, but religious ones: “Did God make a mistake in creating humans or the world? Couldn’t He do better or right? Why does He still persist or bother with humankind today?”


The Creation of Man was Very Good
3:1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?" 2 The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 but God did say, 'You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.'" 4 "You will not surely die," the serpent said to the woman. 5 "For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." 6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. (Gen. 3:1-7)

One of the most acclaimed movies of 1998 was Jim Carrey’s “The Truman Show,” an inside look at the life, the mind and choice of a man whose every move, word and breath were monitored. Truman was born, raised and kept for 30 years, from the day he was born to be the star of an unedited 24-hour hit TV show watched by cameras, sponsors and audiences all round the world. It was the highest rated show and the biggest commercial success. Everyone loved the Truman Show, except Truman, who did not know his life was a fake, a show and a joke.

When Truman finally realized that his wife, his best friend and even his father were actors to keep him from leaving the movie set island he was born into, he escaped in a sailboat across the man-made ocean. Before he exited the door for good, the creator of the show spoke from the control room, “Truman. You can speak. I can hear you.” Truman asked in disbelief, “Who are you?” The voice replied, “I am the creator of a television show that gives hope and joy and inspiration to millions.” Truman inquired, “And who am I?” “You're the star,” was the answer. Truman questioned defiantly: “Was nothing real?” The voice admitted, “You were real. That's what made you so good to watch.”

The dilemma of creation is to create real people. A person, by definition, is a human being with personality – thoughts and feelings, flesh and blood, fully human, fully alive. God gave us charm, wits and disposition. He did not create us from wood, stone or metal. He also gave us a free will, the capacity to make choices, which is the sheer essence, the chief distinctive and the purest definition of a human being.

God did not make us a robot, a dummy, a puppet on a string, a bird in a cage, or a fish in a bowl. He did not put us in a fake environment, an artificial setting or an imaginary world. The irony of creating free human beings is that He cannot force us to obey or follow Him nor can He completely shield us or stop us from encountering danger, making mistakes and feeling regret; neither can we erase, undo or cancel the past. He gave us the freedom to love or hate, heal or hurt, build or destroy. We can choose to obey or disobey Him, receive or reject Him, run from Him or turn to Him. God doesn’t want us to come to Him because we have to, but because we want to, we choose to or like to.

C. S. Lewis said, “God created things which had free will. That means creatures which can either go right or wrong. Some people think they can imagine a creature which was free but had no possibility of going wrong; I cannot. If a thing is free to be good it is also free to be bad. And free will is what had made evil possible. Why, then, did God give them free will? Because free will, though it makes evil possible, is also the only thing that makes possible any love or goodness or joy worth having.” (Mere Christianity p. 48)

God cannot create us as free human beings and control us like robots. Either you
are free or not free; either you have a choice or you do not; either you are in a real world, or you are in a simulated world. God cannot do injustice to or contradict himself. In other words, God has made the best possible and the most conceivable human being. After God had made man, He considered all that He had made very good (Gen 1:31).

Sadly, man chose the only thing forbidden to him. God’s creation did not go wrong, but man made the wrong chose (v 6) and the wages of sin is death.

The Wages of Sin is Death
8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the LORD God called to the man, "Where are you?" 10 He answered, "I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid." (Gen. 3:8-10)

A few years ago, while I was vacationing at a relative’s apartment in Hong Kong, I listened to a musical from his CD collection. The Broadway musical was adapted from Robert Louis Stevenson's famous story of Jekyll and Hyde. The story began in London, 1885, with a brilliant doctor’s inability to save his own father from madness. The distraught Dr. Henry Jekyll therefore experimented with a way to isolate and rid the evil nature of man from his good nature. When the hospital authorities prevented him from the dangerous research and from experimenting on a live human being, he tested the serum on himself and became the changed, but violent and deadly Edward Hyde. Instead of extracting the evil nature permanently from man, he replaced the dual nature that coexisted in man at the same time with either the good or bad nature for a certain block of time.

Dr Jekyll then distanced himself from his closest friends and fiancée, too. When the bad nature surfaced, the sinister Mr. Hyde killed mercilessly. He killed five members on the Board of Governors at the hospital that had blocked his dream research and, bizarrely, a prostitute who had fallen in love with Dr. Jekyll.

The good doctor realized the murderous nature and acts of Hyde, whose voice now haunted him, were overpowering him. Dr Jekyll battled for control over his alter ego, which he failed miserably. At his wedding, the evil Hyde appeared and threatened the fiancée after killing one of the guests. Mr. Hyde, however, froze when his fiancée spoke lovingly and tenderly to the good nature within him. When his lawyer friend could not bear to kill the pleading Mr. Hyde, Hyde ran to the man’s sword and killed himself.

Fallen man has become a monster, a predator and a terrorist. Without God, man is conflicted, unrecognizable and genocidal. Separation from God was difficult, painful, sad, bleak and unbearable. Further, man was bent on destruction, thrilled with destroying and hurling towards self-destruction. He is a ticking time bomb, a raging maniac and a threat to his own species. Ironically, the capacity to make choices, as Rick Warren said, is “our greatest blessing and our worst curse.”

Since then, the world has always been on the brink of a disaster, a plague or a war, and the primary and the usual suspect is man. We have war against drugs, civil wars, war against civilians, war against nations and military, biological and chemical warfare. No amount of vaccine, inoculation and antibiotics can save us from ourselves. Our water, air and food are suspect; our streets, schools and kids are not safe. In the area of our moral lives, we are no longer shock by depravity, perversity or abnormality. In politics we come to expect deception, corruption and hypocrisy. Theologians call it the total depravity of man. The truth is none of us is immune from sin’s stain, infection and contamination. No glove, mask or suit can distant us far enough from sin’s reach. You cannot quarantine, radiate or sterilize man’s heart. Surveillance, intelligence and enforcement do not work. Nothing can stop man from generating sores and spores, releasing anthrax and smallpox, conjuring and concocting evil. There is no protection, security or firewall from the virus of sin.

We are separated from God, torn within, disconnected from others and a threat to society and creation. We reject, blaspheme and deny God. Emotionally, we are on the verge of a psychological, mental and relational meltdown. We blame, discriminate and covet. We rob mother nature, plunder her wealth and poison her resources. No wonder Paul the apostle said, “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? (Rom 7:24)

The Free Gift of God is Eternal Life
14 So the LORD God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this,
"Cursed are you above all the livestock and all the wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life. 15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel." (Gen. 3:14-15)

A few years ago at the Promise Keepers in Los Angeles, a speaker told the story of a wealthy man and his son who had collected some of the paintings in the art world. The winning tandem, however, was interrupted when the son was sent to combat in Vietnam, where he died while rescuing another soldier, leaving a grieving father whose interest in art disappeared with the loss.

One day, the young man whom the old man’s son had rescued in the latter’s death visited the old man with a gift in his hand: a portrait of the old man’s son that the visitor had painted. The father couldn’t stop staring at the painting, with tears wetting his eyes and face, beaming with pride and love, thinking of and longing for his son. From that day on, that was his favorite portrait and the first one he would show to visitors.

When the old man died, art collectors from around the world came to bid for the man’s legendary collection. However, the first auction was the painting of the son. Everybody was anxious to see the famous paintings, but they were exasperated by the amateurish painting and horrified at its inclusion in the high-class auction. The bid for the son’s painting went lower and lower until the old man's former gardener happily offered $10 for a piece of his master’s collection that he could afford.

After the bid was accepted, the auctioneer immediately announced that the auction was closed and the paintings were no longer for sale, to the howls and protests of the crowd. “What is the meaning of this? We want a formal explanation,” they yelled. The auctioneer said, “I am sorry. The old man had secretly stipulated that whoever bought his son’s painting would get his entire estate, too!” (Revised by writer)

The story of God’s creation has a happy, surprising, but long ending. God knew that man had sinned and fell short of God’s glory. The indictment is swift: “There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.” (Rom 3:10-12)

However, at the same time, God’s plan of redemption, forgiveness and righteousness were set forth in history. What man has done and cannot redo, Jesus Christ has undone. When we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly (Rom 5:6); while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Rom 5:8). Rom 5:18-19 says, “Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.”

Jesus, the promised offspring of Eve, came as the Suffering Messiah, whose crucifixion on the cross was a joyful celebration to Satan, but a decisive whack on his head, so that we are no longer slaves to the world, but children of God in Christ Jesus. Gal 4:3-5 says, “So also, when we were children, we were in slavery under the basic principles of the world. But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.”

Conclusion: Have you accepted the salvation that Jesus offers? Have you experienced non-condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus? Do you know that through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set you free from the law of sin and death (Rom 8:1-2)? That our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us (Rom 8:18)?

Small Group Discussion:
1. What is your idea of a perfect person? If you were to have a say in creating man, what would you add and subtract to man’s being (Gen 1:31)? What characteristics does the original man possess before the Fall? Do you think there is anything to add or subtract?

2. List what man is free to do and not to do (Gen 2:16). Is giving man free will a good or a bad decision, wise or an unwise? What are the pros and cons? Do you personally prefer to have a choice? Explain.

3. How was Eve tempted? Why did she listen to Satan (Gen 3:1-4)?

4. Did surrendering to temptation reap its promised rewards and benefits for man (Gen 3:5-7)? What were the unintended consequences?

5. How does sin affect man within (Gen 3:10)? His relationship with God (Gen 3:10), others (Gen 3:12) and creation (Gen 3:17-19)? How does sin affect man’s relationship with 1) Himself, 2) God, 3) Others, 4) Creation.

6. How does Satan enslave man in sin today? How do we resist temptations?

7. Who is woman’s offspring? What did Jesus’ death on the cross accomplish (Hebrews 2:14)?

8. Did God abandon sinful man? How did God demonstrate His care for sinful men (Gen 3:20-21)?

Crisis & Choice, Pt 4: “When Life Seems Unfair”

WHEN LIFE SEEMS UNFAIR (JOB 1:1-2:10)
The year 2001 was a sad year for a family I had known for more than ten years. The family was a staunch Christian family and for four generations the tight-knit family had served tirelessly in church. The matriarch of the family was a widow and her two sons and only daughter were pioneers of two churches and, including their daughters-in-law, the family counted five deacons who were actively involved in three churches.

Things began to unravel at the beginning of the year. The matriarch of the family died in April and even though she died at a ripe old age, the death was a shock the family. Three months later, her daughter-in-law, who had suffered a stroke and had spent more than a year in a convalescent hospital, also died. And in a cruel twist of fate, the matriarch’s daughter Sue suffered a mysterious illness about the same time her sister-in-law was buried.

I visited Sue ten days before she passed away. For a long time, she kept the news of her illness from friends. She was uneasy about how she looked but was happy to see me. She was literally just half the person she used to be. Three months after the last burial in the family, Sue passed away and I was invited to give the benediction at her funeral service the weekend before Thanksgiving. The family told me how happy they were that I saw her before she passed away and revealed that Sue had actually seen me at a restaurant when she could still walk, but felt too embarrassed to approach me.

Such is the inner guilt, social stigma and endless suspicion that sometimes befall godly Christians and their families when faced with suffering.

One of the most mesmerizing, puzzling and unpopular passages in the Bible is, no doubt, the story of Job. Job was a moral, wealthy and godly man. As the story unfolds, his life was likened to a bad movie script, in which his children were like extras that died in the first scene and the plot that followed resembled a boring screenplay of all dialogue and little action – with two chapters on tragedy and forty chapters on philosophy. Scholars largely agree that Job was a contemporary of Abraham and lived before the Jewish nation was founded. Therefore, Job’s account is the only biblical account of an individual stripped of cultural, national or even Jewish ties. Job is a universal and personal story, too, a story too close to home. It is easy to cry for Job, to sympathize and identify with him, because you may have gone through or know of someone who has gone through or is going through unspeakable pain and extreme suffering.

Job is a profile of courage in the face of adversity, because Job did not give up on his character, give in to his pain and give way to Satan. What are we to do when encountering adversity? How can we help others who are suffering? Why does God allow and not banish difficulty and even danger from our lives?

Be True in Adversity
20 At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship 21 and said: “Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised.” 22 In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing. 2:1 Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD. 2 And the LORD said to Satan, “From where do you come?” So Satan answered the LORD and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.” Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil. And he still maintains his integrity, though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason.” (Job 1:20-2:3)

The first thing Job did when life seemed unfair was to be true to his character and belief. He remained true to himself, true to form and true to the end. Unknown to Job, God defended Job’s innocence, praised his integrity and flaunted Job’s determination, feistiness and toughness to Satan.

The Chinese have a saying: “True gold is not afraid of fire.”

Do you know why gold is so expensive? Olympic athletes compete for the gold for a reason. I did a little research on gold and discovered some interesting facts on gold. Gold is a hedge against inflation, a popular form of savings and a reliable asset during the worst times of economic uncertainty or political upheaval.

Gold has a fairly high melting point of 1945 degrees Fahrenheit. It is valuable because it is almost indestructible and has been used and then reused for centuries to the extent that all gold that is in existence today is almost equal to all the gold that has ever been mined. Gold is also a great medium metal for jewelry, as it never rusts or tarnishes.

Gold appreciates in value when more of it is present in the material. For example 10K gold is the least expensive and there is more gold and value in every additional 2K gold, from 10K up to 24K gold, which is 100 percent gold. http://www.beejeweled.com/metals.htm

Job was as good as 24K solid gold. He did not bend in his character, deviate from his character or part with his character. The Hebrew word for the verb “maintain” (2:3) has been used in a negative sense to describe the “hardening” of Pharaoh’s heart (Ex 7:13), but in the positive sense for “strong” in the famous “Be strong and courageous” assertions in the Bible (Deut 31:6 Josh 1:6, 1 Chron 28:20, 2 Chron 32:7).

In a sense, Job was as headstrong and as thick-skinned as an ox. He was stubborn, uncompromising and indomitable in faith. He did not move, budge or retreat from his position, viewpoint or stand. That was what drove Job’s wife nuts in chapter 2 verse 9. The same word for Job’s determination to “maintain” his integrity is next translated as “holding on” (2:9). His wife said to him, “Are you still ‘holding on’ to your integrity?” When his three friends accused him of harboring known and deliberate sins in his life, Job had the same fighting words for them: “I will never admit you are in the right; till I die, I will not deny my integrity. I will “maintain” my righteousness and never let go of it; my conscience will not reproach me as long as I live. (Job 27:5-6)

God used an unusual word for Job’s “integrity,” or the Hebrew word for “innocence,” to describe Job’s character (2:3). This word is found only in Job and Proverbs – four times in Job and once in Proverbs (11:3). Job upheld, pleaded and maintained his innocence to the intimidating end: “Let me be weighed in an even balance, that God may know mine integrity.” (Job 31:6) The root word for “integrity” is derived from the Hebrew word for “blameless” in the same verse (2:3). No matter what others said, Job claimed innocence – he had an unyielding grip and a choke-hold on his own innocence.

The three words Job’s friends could not believe that he continually muttered were “I was innocent.” Job meant that he was morally innocent, not just ethically and legally innocent or not guilty. Job’s claim infuriated his friends, caused a debate, and made others lose sympathy for him. His friends did not believe him nor did they think it was possible, so they threw the book at him. Whether Job had a good attitude was beside the point.

Be Tenacious When Afflicted
4 “Skin for skin!” Satan replied. “A man will give all he has for his own life. 5 But stretch out your hand and strike his flesh and bones, and he will surely curse you to your face.” 6 The LORD said to Satan, “Very well, then, he is in your hands; but you must spare his life.” 7 So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the top of his head. 8 Then Job took a piece of broken pottery and scraped himself with it as he sat among the ashes. (Job 2:4-8)

It’s been said, “Every winner has scars.”

I read that Romans, at their peak, distrusted most of the foreigners they had conquered and foreigners who wanted to fit in, but they admire battle scars and yet despise cowardly scars. The manly thing was to have battle scars on the front. To have scars on your back was a mark of shame – it showed that you had turned your back in battle and run away or worse, that you had been whipped – only slaves were whipped.
http://www.channel4.com/history/microsites/H/history/a-b/ancientsurgery6.html

Alexander the Great (356—323 B.C.) was one of history’s most courageous and charismatic leaders. Any man in his army would lay down his life for Alexander in a heartbeat. In those days, soldiers faced their enemies on the battlefield to the advantage of the great conqueror. As his enemies watched, Alexander would stand in front of his thirty-five thousand troops before battle. Without saying a word, he would drop his toga to complete silence.

Alexander was a strong and handsome man, but the front of his body was covered with battle scars because he always led his troops into combat. After displaying the scars on the front of his body, Alexander would turn around to show that he didn’t have a single scar on his back, proof that he had never retreated in battle. Following this display, his soldiers would let out a deafening cheer while hammering their shields and swords together in a frenzy. The enemy would quake and the battle was won before it even started. http://www.acgpress.com/tam_coins.html

The obstinate Job did not give in to his pain. Though he had painful sores from head to toe eating into his flesh and bones and waking him morning till night, but he still did not give in or caved in to his pain.

Pain was an enemy but never a stranger to Job. Job did not ask for suffering nor did he despise his suffering. Nobody has a higher tolerance of pain than Job. He did not hide his pain nor grovel in his pain. With courage, he scraped himself with a piece of broken pottery to relieve the pain, the sore and the itch in his body, through the process not letting out a murmur or a whimper from his mouth, not displaying a growl or a frown on his face or shedding a tear from his eye.

The Hebrew word describing Job’s “sores” (2:7) are similar to the plagues in Egypt (Ex 9:10, Deut 28:27) and for leprosy in the Law (Lev 13:18-20). Job had become like dust and ashes (Job 30:19). Rather than moan and groan, fuss and fret, he’d rather use the energy, muster the courage and still the body to save his strength, dull the pain and quiet the mind, so that when the next sore stirred his body, pinched his nerves or weakened his bones, he could still muster the last ounce of his strength to turn to his side, apply some pressure and relieve the pain.

Job demonstrated remarkable courage under the circumstances, under the weather and under the onslaught. He passed the school of hard knocks with flying colors and graduated with the highest honors, making him the valedictorian to speak to all sufferers. Nobody understood him; not his wife or his friends. Job cried out in his pain, but he did not give in to the pain. He was alone and lonely in his pain, yet he refused to buckle or break. He was discouraged with things but not despondent of life. The patient Job was not bitter to the end or devoid of hope. He clung on to life and hope even though he longed for death. When staring at death in the face, he did not blink. He cringed, but he did not cry, bravely fighting back tears of rage, pity, or shame. That’s the essence of courage –an uprising against fear, pain and suffering. Courage is a virtue that faces its sternest test against evil, injustice or grievances.

Be Thankful Under Accusation
9 His wife said to him, “Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!” 10 He replied, “You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” In all this, Job did not sin in what he said. (Job 2:9-10)

Lucy the wannabe, moneymaking psychologist from the Peanuts gang once put up her advice booth with the slogan “Flawless Advice” written on it. Before too long, Charlie Brown walked in, sat down, and opened up: “My trouble is I never know if I’m doing the right thing. I need to have someone around who can tell me when I’m doing the right thing.” Lucy had a ready response to his problem: “Okay, you’re doing the right thing. That’ll be five cents, please!” Charlie Brown vacated the chair, paid the money and left the place, but returned after a short while.

Lucy was surprised to see him so quickly, and said, “Back already? What happened?” Charlie Brown admitted, with a downtrodden face, “I was wrong, it didn’t help. You need more in life than just having someone around to tell you when you’re doing the right thing.” Lucy jumped up and eagerly concluded, “Now, you’ve really learned something! That’ll be another five cents, please!”

It’s been said, “Life is a test. It is only a test. If it had been an actual life, you would have received instructions on where to go and what to do!” (Bits and Pieces 1/2/97)

Finally, resist Satan when you are tested. God called Job, who passed the sternest test with flying colors, “my servant” six times (Job 1:8, 2:3, 42:7, 42:8, 42:8, 42:8). God gave Job the highest honor: “There is none like him in all the earth” (1:8), a statement reserved for God alone on the heavenly plane (Ex 9:14). Job was sorely tested like no other. Satan’s accusations have not changed much since: “Do people fear God for no reason? I don’t think so! What if godly people are not wealthy, what if they no longer have plenty, if natural disasters leave them friendless, their enemies get to them, they lose people dear to them and the money they have saved? What if they lose the biggest wealth of all - their health? Would they still love You?”

Of course, definitely Job did not serve God because God had put a hedge around him at all times, sheltered him from harm, or kept watch over him, his household and his business, property, and livestock. He had feared and served and loved God unselfishly and unflinchingly, not for fame or reward, but for better and for worse.

Satan was wrong. Job did not merely fear God; he avoided evil, too. At the point when God withheld his blessings, not only did Job not spout evil, he said good things. He blessed the Lord, praised His name and declared God’s goodness. Job was steadfast, stable and single-minded in thanksgiving.

There is an intentional play on the word “take”. The Sabeans and the Chaldeans were the ones who “took away” or carried off Job’s livestock (Job 1:15, 1:17), but Job saw the Lord’s hand upon his life: “The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised.” (Job 1:21). Job had a positive attitude. He was grateful for what he had, rather than what he had lost. At least he was rich and powerful once!

Job wrestled and argued with God, but he never blamed or challenged God. He was vocal but never defiant. He lamented for God and not lambasted against Him. Job railed for help but not railed against God. He tore his robe, shaved his head and fell to the ground, but in a reverent, humble and urgent worship. Job 1:22 concluded that Job did not sin or charge God with wrongdoing. Job did not consider God his true enemy, blame Him for innocent suffering, or fault Him for not helping. He did not consider God’s ways cruel, offensive or irresponsible. He did not blame God for taking away what he had. In fact, he thanked God for giving him the opportunity to have had something before; Job’s emphasis was on God’s gifts before God’s repossession. Job asked, “Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?”

Conclusion: In the cosmic battle of good versus evil, when everything seems out of your hands and life seems unfair, unbearable and unacceptable, we still do have ample choices. We are not bystanders. With courage, we can participate actively with God to overcome evil with good, live triumphantly over obstacles and reject the devil’s lies. Notice it was God who initiated the discussion with Satan (Job 1:8). In the end, Job was naked and alone to the human eye, but guarded and guided by God’s watchful eye. Do you know God tempts no one with evil (Jas 1:13)? That He we can cast all our cares upon Him? That He is faithful and He will not allow you to be tempted beyond your limitations? (1 Cor 10:13) Have you asked the Lord for humility, help and honor when undergoing affliction and meeting antagonism?

Crisis & Choice, Pt 5: “The Lord of All the Earth”

THE LORD OF ALL THE EARTH (ISAIAH 40:15-24)
One day a man goes to a pet shop to buy a parrot. The assistant takes the man to the parrot section and asks the man to choose one. The man asks, “How much is the yellow one?” The assistant says, “$2,000.” The man is shocked and asks the assistant why it's so expensive. The assistant explains, “This parrot is a very special one. He knows typewriting and can type really fast.”

“What about the green one?” the man asks. The assistant says, “He costs $5,000 because he knows typewriting and can answer incoming telephone calls and takes notes.”

“What about the red one?” the man asks. The assistant says, “That one’s $10,000.” The man says, “What does he do?” The assistant says, “I don’t know, but the other two call him boss.”

Who runs the world? Who is in charge? The President of the United States? The Premier of China? The Prime Minister of England? Whose power on earth is unquestioned, unequaled and unchanging?

During the dark days before Judah’s exile to Babylon, the Israelites complained that God was not doing anything, nothing was working for them and things were an absolute mess. The Israelites then forged foreign alliances, worshipped pagan gods and forsook the Lord. Isaiah reminded Israel that not all was doom and gloom, all was not lost. God would preserve a faithful remnant and return them to the Promised Land to rebuild the nation. He comforted and warned the Israelites, reminding them that God is the Lord of all the earth and He would punish the nations, uproot her leaders and show His power.

Why is God so slow to act? When is He ever making His move? What is His response to charges against Him and His reign?

The Rulers are Powerless
15 Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket; they are regarded as dust on the scales; he weighs the islands as though they were fine dust. 16 Lebanon is not sufficient for altar fires, nor its animals enough for burnt offerings. 17 Before him all the nations are as nothing; they are regarded by him as worthless and less than nothing. (Isa 40:15-17)

God’s first question to Israel was, “What are the nations to me?” Nations come and go, empires unite and disintegrate, governments change hands and philosophies.

The glories of the Roman, British, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Turks, Austro-Hungarians and Dutch empires are nothing but a faint and distant memory today. It’s been said that only the British Empire ended decently. The most unbelievable and unforgettable event of the last century must be the unimaginable and impossible breakup and the fragmentation of the powerful Soviet and East-European bloc in 1989.

War, hunger, ambition, corruption and decay will continue to undermine, destabilize and topple even the latest superpowers of today, whether they be the current economic superpowers today known as G7 (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States) or G8 – including Russia, the two military superpowers in the world (United States and Russia), or the five veto countries in the United Nations Security Council (US, UK, China, France, Russia).

Please note the progression from “drop (water)” to “dust (powder)” in verse 15 and finally “nothing” in verse 17. All the nations of the world are like a “drop” in the bucket. This drop, which occurs only once in the Bible, is not the measurable type, like a drop of rain that falls to the ground as a result of gravity. This particular drop is the finest existing particle or the tiniest conceivable droplet - not big enough to see or heavy enough to drip. It is as light and as miniscule as a single molecular unit of vapor, mist or steam. God considers all countries, empires or kingdoms as nothing but mere fizzle and hot air.

The biggest and strongest nations are as substantial as dust on scales (v 15)! Their land is merely dust or powder — a speck of dust or a glob of dirt, no bigger than a ping-pong ball or a golf ball. It is not oversized, nor is it really that big or heavy to God. Next, He weighs the islands (v 15), scoops and lifts them like feathers or air.

Islands (v 16) are pristine, unspoiled and beautiful shores and perfect tourist spots, but God sneezes at the worth of these paradises in the sun. The “fine dust” (v 15) of island is more exquisite than the “dust” of the nations in verse 15. The word “fine” means refer to skinny, thin strips of material, no more impressive than a strip of bacon, a shoestring or a piece of mouth floss. This is the same word that describes the skinny cows and the thin heads of grain Joseph saw in his dream (Gen 41:3, 6). Islands are not the stuff of dreams, but just child’s play or small stuff to Him.

If islands are merely a drop in the bucket, mountains are less stirring and impressive to God. Lebanon (v 16), known for its hilly slopes and rugged terrain, is synonymous with mountain ranges (Deut 3:25, Judg 3:3), thick forests (1 Kings 10:17) and choice timber and wood (2 Chron 2:8, 16), notably from cedar trees, fir trees, and algum trees (2 Chron 2:8). King Solomon and the post-exilic Ezra chose the world-renowned cedar trees for the construction of the temple (1 Kings 5:6, Ezra 3:7). However, the Lord considers even Lebanon’s cleared jungle is not wood or coal or fuel enough to warranty as burnt offerings.

The nations are not only nothing, they are described as worthless (v 17) or desolation or without form, from the Genesis 1:2 phrase where the earth was “formless” and void. They are not only nothing, but “less than nothing” (v 17), or the popular translation elsewhere as “the ends of the earth” (Deut 33:17, 1 Sam 2:10, Ps 2:8, 22:27, 59:13, 67:7, 72:8, 98:3, Prov 30:4, Isa 45:22, 52:10, Jer 16:19, Mic 5:4, Zech 9:10), the lowest of the low or the last on the list. Essentially, they have no shape (worthless) or significance (less than nothing).

The Residents are Puny
22 He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a canopy, and spreads them out like a tent to live in. (Isa 40:22)

A popular song years ago asked:
If God had a name, what would it be?
And would you call it to His face if you were faced with him in all his glory?
What would you ask if you had just one question?

Yeah, yeah, God is great
Yeah, yeah, God is good
Yeah, yeah, yeah yeah yeah

What if God was one of us?
Just a slob like one of us?
Just a stranger on the bus
Trying to make his way home...

Well, God is not like one of us, any creature or anything in creation. The Lord sits majestically, gloriously, splendidly upon His throne (v 22). When the preposition “in” or “by” or “with” is added to the Hebrew word “sit,” the meaning changes to “dwell” - “dwell in,” “dwell by” or “dwell besides” (Gen 25:11) or “dwell with” (Gen 29:14). However, if the preposition “upon” or “above” is added to “sit,” the expression “sit above” then is commonly used for kings who are seated on the throne, emphasizing their reign, dominance and authority (Ex 11:5, Jer 29:16). The prepositions “in,” “by” and “with” added to “sit” refer to one’s dwelling place, but the added preposition “upon” or “above” refers to might and power. The former is for location, the latter is for lordship.

In contrast, the inhabitants are like scrawny grasshoppers (v 22). That was the same expression used by the ten spies who disobeyed the order to enter the Promised Land. In their eyes their opponents, the sons of Anak, were giants; the spies considered themselves as grasshoppers – weak, undersized and defenseless (Num 13:33).

Still, God cares and provides for humans, stretching the heavens – rolling, scrolling, paving, surfacing and straightening the skies, the heavens or the universe like a curtain or a long and flimsy piece of crumpled cloth. Not only does God stretch the heavens for our habitation, he spreads it out like a tent. The word “stretch” (v 22) is a one-way elongation of an object, like extending an arm (Ex 6:6), a hand (Ex. 7:5) or a finger forward, but the next word - “spread” - is a simultaneous extension to the sides. God has not only cut the world into form and spin the world into action, He has ordered and fashioned heaven and earth for our habitation. This planet is tailor-made and customized like a tent for our home or habitat.

Their Ruin is Predetermined
23 He brings princes to naught and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing. 24 No sooner are they planted, no sooner are they sown, no sooner do they take root in the ground, than he blows on them and they wither, and a whirlwind sweeps them away like chaff. (Isa 40:23)

One of the legends of Charlemagne (742-814), the first Holy Roman emperor who is considered the greatest of medieval kings for his success at uniting and Christianizing Western Europe, concerns his burial in his imperial robes inside a cathedral.

Charlemagne had previously given instructions that when he died he should be buried seated in the royal posture of a monarch ruling on a throne. Then he directed the Gospels should be laid on his knees, his sword beside him, the imperial crown on his head and the royal mantle on his shoulders. His body remained accordingly for 180 years.

About 1,000 A.D. the tomb was opened by Emperor Otto. They found the skeleton of Charlemagne dissolved and dismembered into various hideous postures. The skull was till wearing the crown but the bony finger of the skeleton was pointing to a verse from Scripture, “What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?” (Matt 16:26) (7,700 Illustrations # 5346)

Not long after Charlemagne’s death in 814 the empire collapsed. His descendants could not hold the vast empire together. His grandsons’ fierce rivalry hastened the division of the kingdom.

Princes (v 23) do not mean the sons of kings, but a generic term for kings, rulers and emperors. Again the same Hebrew term “not” or “naught” resurfaces in this Isaiah 40 for the sixth time — “not” and “nor” in verse 16, “nothing” in verse 17, “naught” in verse 23, “no one” in verse 28 and “weak/no might” in verse 29, not including another three “no” in verse 24 (different Hebrew word). The nations, their assets and, presently, her princes are nothing before God. They are just middle men. The law-enforcing rulers or, technically, the judges of the earth (v 23) are nothing or vanity, the same term for worthless, desolation or formlessness in verse 17.

The Hebrew meaning of verse 24 is even starker. Instead of the repeated “no sooner” translation – usually translated as “not” and never translated as “no sooner” in other texts, which suggests that the princes and rulers are blown away the moment they are planted, sown or rooted, the original text suggests that the princes and rulers did not get that far. It says, “YEA, NOT shall they be planted; YEA, NOT shall they be sown; YEA, NOT shall their stock be rooted in the ground…” God blows on them and they wither and die like grass, flowers, plants, herbs and vegetation. Isaiah 40:7 echoes the same thought, using the exact words “blow” and “wither”: “The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the LORD blows on them. Surely the people are grass.”

The princes and the rulers wither, dehydrate or evaporate like poor, depleted and arid soil. The whirlwind (v 24) or hurricane sweeps or carries them away like dry straw, empty huskers or hollow nutshells. The up and down or the rise and fall of godless puppet leaders is as sure as God’s word. The only thing yet to come is their complete disappearance and final judgment, which God has promised.

Conclusion: God is all-powerful all-knowing and all-wise. Nothing escapes His mind, eye and grasp. All the isms, the movements and their founders, tenets and declarations are just blowing in the wind. Phillip Brooks said, “The true way to be humble is not to stoop till you are smaller than yourself, but to stand at your real height against some higher nature that will show you what the real smallness of your greatness is.” Have you given praise and submitted yourself to God, who is the Lord of all the earth. He is sovereign, dependable and unchanging. Do you believe in God’s word? Do you trust the plans the Lord has for you and do you walk in His way?

Small Groups:
1. Name a powerful in history? How is it faring today? Why do nations rise and fall? How do Christian faith and values relate to the country’s rise and fall?
2. What criteria are important to determine how powerful a country - size, wealth and international status?
3. To whom does one compared God (v 18)? List some attributes of God.
4. Complete this line: “If I were in charge of the world, I would _______________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
5. Who do you regard as the most powerful person in the world or in history? Why? How do you measure his or her power?
6. Is God active in world (political) affairs? How is He involved in the world’s current affairs? What are some signs of His involvement? What evidence is there of His involvement?
7. What is our role in society? Do you feel like you can make an impact? Name a few specific areas you can contribute or a few things you can do.

Crisis & Choice, Pt 6: “Easy Come, Easy Go”

EASY COME, EASY GO (LUKE 12:13-21)
From figures acquired from New York Times, I have broken down the worst financial losses from Oct 9, 2007, to September 12, 2008, according to percentage:
JP Morgan - $18.8 billion, or 11.7%
Bank of America - $86.3 billion, or 36.5%
Morgan Stanley - $32 billion, or 43.8%
Citigroup - $138.9 billion, or 58.7%
Merrill Lynch – $39.7 billion, or 62.1%
Wachovia - $67.5 billion, or 68.6%
AIG - $147.5 billion, or 82%
Washington Mutual - $28.2 billion, or 90.7%
Lehman Bros. - $31.9 billion, or 92.6%
Fannie Mae - $64.1 billion, or 98.9%

According to capital:
Bank of America - $86.3 billion, or 36.5%
Citigroup - 138.9 billion, or 58.7%
AIG - $147.5 billion, or 82%
(“A Year of Heavy Losses,” New York Times, September 15, 2008) http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2008/09/15/business/20080916-treemap-graphic.html

For major markets in 2008, New York was down 33.84%, London was down 31.3%, Sydney 41.3%, Hong Kong 48.3%, Singapore 49.2%, Shanghai a whopping 65.2%.
(“Record stock market falls in 2008,” 31 December 2008, BBC News) http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7805644.stm

In Luke 12 Jesus was addressing thousands of people in the crowd (Lk 12:1) when a man interrupted his public and rich discourse with a private and selfish request. Naturally, Jesus denied the petitioner’s request to arbitrate and settle a sibling dispute over money. Jesus refused to act as a money manager, a family lawyer, a funds investor, an expert negotiator or a skilled mediator. He warned hearers against greed in any form. In fact, he called a person who is obsessed with money, goods or property a fool.

Why was the rich farmer in Jesus’ riveting story a fool? Did he like to sleep? Was he a big spender? Did he lose his savings? Did he spend others’ money? None of the above. One who gains and earns the riches of the world but loses and empties his soul in the process is a fool and a loser in God’s eyes.

Why is a greedy person considered a fool in the sight of God? Why is mindless devotion to wealth a worthless pursuit to God and a loss of one’s soul? Is there something more to life and in life than eating, drinking and merriment?

A Fool’s Boasting is Bankrupt in God’s Eyes – Your Treasures are Earthly
13 Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” 14 Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” 15 Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” 16 And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. 17 He thought to himself, 'What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.' 18 “Then he said, 'This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. (Luke 12:13-18)

The fool’s little world is summarized by two words: “more” and “me.”

Someone once asked John D. Rockefeller, the 19th century kerosene and oil king who was the Bill Gates of his times, the question, “How many millions does it take to satisfy a man?” Without hesitation, he answered, “The next million.”

In the nineties, insider-trading arrests were the biggest business news. A main player arrested named Dennis Levine disclosed why he and his famous partner Ivan Boesky traded illegally with the information they had as insiders, buying stocks of soon-to-be-announced announced merging companies and then selling them for profit when the stocks rose upon the completion of the deal, implicating big names Michael Milken and Drexel Burnham Lambert in the crime.

Levine explained to Fortune magazine (5/21/90): “People always ask, ‘Why would somebody who's making over $1 million a year start trading on inside information?’ At each new levels of success I set higher goals, imprisoning myself in a cycle from which I saw no escape. When I became a senior vice president, I wanted to be a managing director, and when I became a managing director, I wanted to be a client. If I was making $100,000 a year, I thought, I can make $200,000. And if I make $1 million, I can make $3 million.”

Greed (v 15) is a craving, an obsession, a demand for more and more things, goods, property - more than what we need. It has been said, “Money is a good servant, but a bad master.” Greedy person can never have enough of physical or material things. They think of making more money, creating more wealth and becoming more prosperous. They dream of money in their sleep and bring up money in their conversation, believing that money talks, money makes money and money makes the devil his employee. The void in their heart becomes a hole and, if unchecked, a crater. Note that the rich man was already a well-off landowner (v 16) with money, land and barns - plural, but his appetite for wealth was insatiable. In today’s business terms, barns will have to make way for warehouses and depots, stores will have to give way to chains and franchises, and land to open the way to trucks and bulldozers.

The other word known to a greedy person is the word “me.” Incredibly, the rich man began to converse with himself. The word “thought” in verse 17 is derived from the single Greek word dialogizomai, or the English word “dialogue.” However, the rich man’s dialogue was a cover. He asked and answered his own question. He did not need any counsel but his own. The only opinion that mattered was his. He was his own personal adviser and financial consultant.

Further, the rich fool’s speech in Greek was peppered with incessant “I” and “my.” He uttered two I’s in verse 17 ('What shall I do? I have no place…), 4 I’s in verse 18 (I will do…I will tear…I will build…I will store), and a last I in verse 19 (I'll say to myself…). It was all about himself (v 17): my crops - literally fruits (v 17), my barn, my grain, my goods (v 18) and my soul (v 19). In fact, the only “you” in his speech in verse 19 was addressed to himself: “You have plenty of good things...” The rich fool’s selfish motto in life is “What is yours is mine, and what is mine is mine!”

A Fool’s Bliss is Blind in God’s Eyes – Your Thrill is Elusive
19 And I'll say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.” '(Luke 12:19)

On a trip to Asia at the end of 2001, I learned the wisdom of restraint, selection and prevention. I had my fill of Hong Kong dim sum, wanton noodles and milk tea the five days I was there and then headed to Singapore, where my mother bought me all the mouth-watering fruits that I had missed. In three days, I had eaten five durians. On day one I ate two durians. On the next day another two and on the final day the last durian, plus a mango and a dozen rambutans right after dinner before I was to take an overnight train hours later to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. In the middle of the night – around 3 or 4 a.m., nature called and I bolted to the nearest available restroom. However, the men’s restroom was occupied and I deliberated whether to use the ladies’. Looking left and right and at all the sleeping passengers, I couldn’t wait and quickly darted into the booth–like ladies lavatory. At that time, I couldn’t care if it was toddlers only!

On the return trip to Hong Kong, the six families on my wife’s side – 3 returning from U.S. and three in Hong Kong - had a gathering at a fancy restaurant for a reunion! We were served a sumptuous dinner at Peking House, a restaurant located in Hong Kong’s Central Station subway station. The menu was impressive. The HK $4000 meal included shark fin soup, two Peking Ducks served with tortilla wrappings and my first taste of Beggar’s Chicken. Again, my stomach churned when everyone was sound asleep at night and I couldn’t sleep until I took care of business!

Unfortunately, a person can only stomach one meal at a time. The stomach has no respect for first-class chefs, five-star treatment or ten-course dinner!

Forrest Gump pointed out, “There is only so much fortune a man really needs - and the rest is for showing off.”

The rich man did not understand the dilemma of happiness: it can be pursued but not caught. He had earned, saved and kept a lot of things. He counted his chickens before they were hatched, thinking he had caught a break and was set up for life. The man could afford to break a leg, live like a king and eat like a pig. The Greek repetition of the word “plenty/many” in verse 19 was pointed. The rich man congratulated himself: “You have much good things laid up for many years.” Actually what he had were fruits, crops and grains - all meant to be seasonal, perishable and temporary things.

The problem of the rich man was equating riches with the Greek word “rest,” translated as “take life easy” in NIV (v 19). This word is used five times in the gospels, all exclusively by Jesus, who never associated riches with rest but often contrasted the word “rest” with tiredness, weariness or drowsiness (Mt 26:45, Mk 6:31, 14:41). We can rest when there is peace, calm and quiet, and we should rest when we are tired, sleepy or exhausted, but rest is never equated with money. Actually, a rich man will tell anyone who cares to listen that his last luxury is rest or relaxation. Jesus alone has given us the only option for rest. In Matthew 11:28, Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

The rich and the wise make merry in the Bible for two opposing reasons. Jesus has exclusive use of the verb (“be merry”) in the gospels, specifically for his three parables in Luke (Lk 12:19, 15:23-32, 16:19). Twice, it describes the celebration of the rich - the rich in this parable and the parable of the rich man and Lazarus (Lk 16:19) - who both made merry over luxuries and possessions and food, and once describing the celebration of the wise father in the parable of the prodigal son. Jesus contrasted the celebration of the two foolish rich men with the father of the prodigal son to a powerful effect. The wise and loving father celebrated for spiritual, eternal and priceless reasons: the return and finding of his lost son (Lk 15:23, 24, 29, 32). The only true cause of celebration disclosed in the Bible was never over the gratification of the flesh, but the salvation of lost souls.

A Fool’s Break is Brief in God’s Eyes – Your Time Will Expire
20 “But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?' 21 “This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God.” (Luke 12:20-21)

In the early nineties I was happy as a lark with my nest egg. My cousin had convinced me to put in $2,000 a year to a tax-deductible Roth IRA account and recommended the popular low-cost Vanguard US Growth Mutual Fund. I watched the savings grow as the mutual fund giant delivered an average annual return of 15-20% for a few years.

Just after I had stopped investing in the fund in 1998, the bubble burst and it nose-dived with the economic downturn in 2000. The healthy $20,000 figure listed in my account at the end of the third quarter in 2000 was reduced to $15,000 at the end of the year in three short months. If that was not bad enough, the giant fund plummeted by another 31% to $10,700 at the end of 2001 and another 22% in 2002 to $6,900. I read at the end of the year that the fund was the third highest investor in Enron, the energy company that went bankrupt in 2001. Later the events of September 11 dashed any hope of a quick recovery. I discovered that the stock market was like a bad monopoly game in the long run: I did not go anywhere and I did not collect anything!

My two Vanguard retirement funds were done 44% and 53% in 2008.

Many people who invested in stocks had suffered a worse fate. Darling stocks like Yahoo dropped from its high of over $240 to $17.74 at the end of 2001, in just two short years.

The rich man was a fool because he was not ready for the last chapter of his life. A fool is one whose life is invested in physical and material needs, but not spiritual needs. The Greek text is rich in detail. Twice he confused his body for his soul. In Luke 12:19 the man boasted, “And I will say to my soul, ‘Soul, you have much goods laid for years.’” However, the soul does not eat, drink, play or socialize; the body does. The rich man met the wants of the body, but not the needs of the soul (v 19). Before the day was over, God visited him with the truth about the soul: “Fool, this night your soul shall be required of thee.” The soul has a limited body life, expiration date on earth and an appointment with God.

Further, the soul was never the man’s to begin with. It could never be his if it could be taken away, or “asked back” (v 20) in Greek – the word appears only one other time in the Greek text (Lk 6:30). He could answer his own question (v 19) but not the question God posed; in fact, he did not even have a chance to answer! Life is a loan that is compounded with interest, a line of credit that cannot be defaulted and an independent future audit. Death renders everything we have useless, valueless and profitless. Unknown to the rich man, he had less than a day to live. “Night” (v 20), which is less than a day, is contrasted with “many years” (v 19). If credit had to be given for his riches, it should rightly be given to the fertile ground at work (v 16), not to the rich man at ease.

Famous Hollywood director Martin Scorsese echoed this emptiness: “From our culture in the early '80s on to now I think the emphasis has become the worst possible kind of materialism. You make a lot of money. You spend it. And then what? You still feel funny when you go to sleep. You still wake up. You still have a chill when you think about dying and the void. Don't you?” (Times Calendar 11/10/91).

Jesus warns: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.” (Matt 6:19-20)

Some people are wealthy and some are rich. The wealthy are those who have money in their pockets, bags or banks, but the rich are those who have God in their hearts, minds and lives.

Jesus is the greatest model of riches. Though he was rich, yet for our sakes he became poor, so that we through his poverty might become rich (2 Cor 8:9). In 1 Tim 6:17-19, Paul charged the rich in the world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. The only lasting riches for the coming age, Paul continued in verse 18, is to be “rich” in good deeds, using the same word “rich” as Jesus did at the conclusion of the parable of the rich fool (Lk 12:21).

Conclusion: Money is a false sense of security. Life is a roller coaster with its ups and downs. Are you the biggest fool in not preparing to give a credible account of yourself before God? People do not usually think that life will bottom out until it is too late. Are you a fool with money as the first thing on your mind and eternity the last thing? Are you a fool who gratifies the wants of the body but neglect the needs of the soul? Is your life all about acquisition and no attribution? Are you the fool who does not recognize one’s Creator, Savior and Lord?

Small Group Discussion
1. What is greed? What are the advantages and disadvantages of accumulating wealth?
2. Is the rich man a hardworking man? How and where did he get his money (v 16)?
3. Is the man surprised or calm at his sudden wealth ( v 17)? What does his reaction tell you?
4. If you suddenly gain or inherit a million dollars, how do you plan to use the money?
5. How do you describe the rich man’s mentality and what is wrong with it (v 18)?
6. What are the words associated with time in the passage (vv 19-20)? Are the words like or unlike each another, and why?
7. Why is the man considered a fool in God’s eyes (v 20)?
8. God said, “Who will get what you have prepared for yourself?” (v 20) Apply the same question to yourself.
9. Does wealth changes a person’s worth? If so, how?
10. How is a person rich towards God? What are the things you have or you’ve done that count or matter in eternity before your Creator?

Crisis & Choice, Pt 7: “The Origin and Destiny of Evil”

THE ORIGIN AND DESTINY OF EVIL (EZEKIEL 28:11-19)
The biggest winner after the events of 911 did not show up to claim the prize. Oddly, people stop noticing, blaming or challenging him once a war or disaster breaks out. He is not a Taliban official, an Al-Qaeda fighter or a suicide bomber. George W. Bush did not want him, dead or alive; America did not offer $25 million cash reward – as she did for Saddam Hussein - for information leading to his arrest or ratting on his hideout, and America’s Most Wanted did not put his photo on TV. Who is he? The biggest winner was undoubtedly the devil, Satan himself. He seemingly took a vacation, ducked out of sight and the citizens of the world were left attacking one other and calling one another names.

To the Arab coalition, America is the Great Satan and Israel is the Lesser, Small or Little Satan. To the Americans, Hitler was the embodiment of Satan. The senior Bush demonized Saddam Hussein in the 90s.

Two passages in the Bible point to the devil’s origin, undoing and condemnation. Ezekiel 28 is one of two passages that give us the clearest understanding of the Satan; Isaiah 14 is another. Ralph Alexander, the commentator of Ezekiel in the Expositor’s Bible Commentary, says that this passage is the hardest passage in the Bible to understand. The chief problem is the debate on the identity of the subject in this passage. The three possibilities are the devil, man himself and the king of Tyre. However, a regular reader of Ezekiel 28:11-19 may not see the devil in the details. The probable answer may be that the rise and fall of the king of Tyre is emblematic of Satan’s downfall and doom, and the passage is a restatement and reenactment of the devil’s fate.

Tyre was an eye-catching, a breath-taking and a well-watered city by the coast northwest to the land of Israel. It was a unique city; part of Tyre was on an island a short distance from the shore and the other on the opposing mainland. The Bible refers to Tyre as the “strong” or “fortified” city (Josh 19:29). International Standard Bible Encyclopedia states that the city’s borders on the mainland were protected by a 150 feet wall. Tyre was famous for her fertile land, her busy ports and her enormous affluence (Ezek 27:3-7).

What was the devil’s original status? Why was he rejected by God? When will God complete His judgment on the devil?

Satan was a Captivating but Created Being
11 The word of the LORD came to me: 12 “Son of man, take up a lament concerning the king of Tyre and say to him: 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: “'You were the model of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. 13 You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone adorned you: ruby, topaz and emerald, chrysolite, onyx and jasper, sapphire, turquoise and beryl. Your settings and mountings were made of gold; on the day you were created they were prepared. 14 You were anointed as a guardian cherub, for so I ordained you. You were on the holy mount of God; you walked among the fiery stones. (Ezek 28:11-14)

A young woman who had recently undergone somewhat of a religious transformation sought the advice of her pastor on a matter of great urgency. Previously she had lived her life occupied and obsessed with the latest beauty secret, the newest fashion and the best weight loss program.

The woman said, “Reverend, I need advice to overcome grievous sin.” The minister asked, “What is it, child?” The young woman confessed sheepishly, “I have committed the sin of vanity. Twice a day I gaze at myself in the mirror and tell myself how amazingly beautiful I am. I can’t help it. It is an ungodly preoccupation. Now that I have found God, I know that this is not the way to live. Will you please pray for me?”

The preacher turned to her, took a good look at the girl and replied, “My dear, I have good news. That isn't a sin - it's only a mistake.”

It’s been said, “The devil entangles youth with beauty, the miser with gold, the ambitious with power, the learned with false doctrine.”

Satan himself had three fascinations: good looks, bright lights and fine things. The devil is infatuated, captivated, attracted, possessed and lovesick with none other but himself. He does not need make-up or touch-up, a supporting cast or an adoring public; all he needs is an endless supply of mirrors. Of course, the devil’s biggest admirer, promoter and believer is also himself.

The devil, originally, was the closet thing to a heavenly celebrity or celestial superstar. His obsessions were fame, vanity and power. Originally, he was a guardian cherub (vv 14, 16) with outstanding qualities. He was “the model of perfection” (v 12), or in the NASB: ““You had the seal of perfection…” (Ezek 28:12). Satan was also “full of wisdom,” the kind that not even Solomon’s relative “wisdom” (1 Ki 4:30) or any person’s practical wisdom could match (1 Ki 7:14). Satan’s wisdom was considered “full” of wisdom, not just “filled” with wisdom; the two words differed slightly in Hebrew.

Finally, Satan’s beauty was celebrated in verse, singing and poems. God extols his beauty in Hebrew song as “perfect beauty,” (Ezek 27:3), “perfected beauty” (Ezek 27:4, 11) and “perfect in beauty.” (Ezek 28:12) No individual had that kind of perfect beauty, not even the “lovely to look at” Queen Vashti (Est 1:11). Further, precious stones covered this creature (v 13). By the way, the devil was gold-plated (v 13)! God gave him the highest compliment among angels. The word anointed (v 14) is an offshoot of the word Messiah (Isa 61:1).

However, twice in this passage, Satan was described as a created being (vv 13, 15). Unlike the Creator, Satan did not have a divine nature; he was not preexistent and had no power to create out of nothing. Satan was brought, fashioned and ordered into existence by his Creator. Satan did not speak, will or evolve himself into existence. Whatever he had was given. The Hebrew verb “gave” is the word for the translation “ordained” (v 14), “made a spectacle” (v 17) and “reduced you” (v 18) – the three words contrast his condition before, during and after the fall. His role was to be the guardian angel, his place of assignment was God’s holy mountain and his authority was to walk back and forth in the fiery stones (v 14). Though Satan had some powers, he was never omnipotent, omniscient, or omnipresent. Instead, he was envious of God’s power, knowledge and sovereignty.

Satan was a Conceited and Cunning Being
15 You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created till wickedness was found in you. 16 Through your widespread trade you were filled with violence, and you sinned. So I drove you in disgrace from the mount of God, and I expelled you, O guardian cherub, from among the fiery stones. 17 Your heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor. So I threw you to the earth; I made a spectacle of you before kings. (Ezek 28:15-17)

A young, gifted, outstanding young preacher was once asked by the renowned nineteenth century Puritan preacher Alexander Whyte to preach in his place at Whyte’s church in Edinburgh. The young man went up to the pulpit to great expectations from the crowd that was gathered to hear the bright, promising young man.

However, when the invited speaker took his place on the lectern, his worst nightmare occurred: his mind went blank, he was speechless and could not think of what to say. It was a disaster none expected, an embarrassment to the church pastor and a shock to the church. A hushed silence fell on the crowd as he came down from the pulpit after the broken-hearted man’s further attempts to continue yielded the same result.

The dejected young man privately confided with the more experienced pastor, “What went wrong, sir?” Whyte said gently, patiently but truthfully to him, “Well, laddie, if you have gone up the way you came down, you would have more chance of getting down the way you went up.” (Adapted, Eric Alexander, 1985 Keswick Convention “Giving God the Glory” STL Publications)

Do you know who committed the first sin in the Bible? Adam and Eve were not the first transgressors in the Bible. Who is the first violator in the Bible and what is the worst sin of all? Satan is, and his sin was pride. Adam and Eve’s disobedience was not original with them; it wasn’t their brainchild. Satan’s favorite tool is not discouragement, godlessness or riches; his best-liked, most powerful and all-too-familiar tool to tempt humankind in the garden is to dangle the carrot of god-likeliness before Eve, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” (Gen 3:4-5) Pride in Hebrew is a verb, meaning “to lift up, to mount up, to raise up” - the flight of the heart to lofty and unprecedented heights. Instead of planting our feet on the ground, proud people have their head in the clouds, their nose in the air and a chip on their shoulders. Satan’s heart was proud, exalted, raised or lifted up to great heights. The Chinese characterize a proud person as having eyes placed on their heads, instead of their face. Pride is the covert, hidden and underground operation that leads to the devil’s fall.

How did pride lead to Satan’s downfall and kings’ destruction (2 Chron 26:16, 2 Chron 32:25)? God created Satan blameless (v 15) or undefiled, without spot or blemish, but wickedness (v 15) was found, appeared or showing in him. The word wickedness in Ezekiel’s usage, unlike other books of the Bible, refers not to the inward state of the heart, but the outward act of sin. Most translators translate this word “wickedness” elsewhere in Ezekiel as committing “sin” or doing “wrong” or ‘evil” (Ezek 3:20, 18:8, 24, 26, 33:13, 15, 18). He was created unblemished, but wickedness was found in Satan when he was caught harboring secret ambition in his heart and open rebellion in his behavior. The wickedness that was a quiet affair led to brazen pride and violent insubordination – he actively sinned against God (v 16). Of all prophets, Ezekiel was the prophet who condemned pride most severely – 10 times. Tyre alone accounted for three references (Eze 28:2, 5, 17).

1 Timothy 3:6 says conceit or pride is the snare or trap of the devil; it leads to his downfall. The conceited falls under the same judgment as the devil (1 Tim 3:6).
Satan, who was perfect in beauty, full of wisdom and radiant in brightness, became the personification of pride. Pride in what? Beauty, wisdom and “splendor” or grandeur (Eze 28:17). The devil’s beauty descended to vanity, his wisdom led him to think he was omniscient and his grandeur made him a grandiose or grandstanding creature. 1 John 3:8 reveals that the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The devil’s trademark violence (v 16) or cruelty, tyranny and oppression appears the next time and the first time in the Bible in Noah’s generation that incurred God’s wrath and destruction (Gen 6:11-13).

Satan is a Culpable and Condemned Being
18 By your many sins and dishonest trade you have desecrated your sanctuaries. So I made a fire come out from you, and it consumed you, and I reduced you to ashes on the ground in the sight of all who were watching. 19 All the nations who knew you are appalled at you; you have come to a horrible end and will be no more.'“ (Ezek 28:18-19)

The widely-respected Gallup organization (gallup.com) conducted a poll in the new millennium to determine people’s belief in God, heaven, angels, hell and the devil. A high 90% of those who responded expressed belief in God. In the same poll, 83% said they believe in heaven and 79% believe in angels.

When it came to the question on hell and the devil, 71% said they believe in a literal hell and 68% said they believe in the existence of the devil.
Satan is God’s unforgivable, impenitent, and overthrown enemy. Satan was superior, but not sinless; glorious but proud; awe-inspiring but power-crazy, power-corrupting and power-grabbing. The devil’s true face is an undomesticated beast who cries crocodile tears and is hell-bound with his allies (2 Pet 2:4). Even Judas can be forgiven, but not Satan.

The devil’s horrible end in verse 19 is described by the Hebrew word for terror. Satan, the first terrorist, will experience the last terror on earth (also Ezek 26:21, Ezek 27:36), the same terror that awaits the wicked (Ps 73:19). Satan was judged for the multitude, the gravity and the scope of his sins (v 18). God not only dismissed Satan, but evicted and banished him from his spot; not only pluck, hurl and smash him to the ground, but make an example out of him.

Satan, with all wisdom, however, has no foreknowledge of the future. Not only is he not omniscient, he is not prescience and his information is second-hand. The devil and his demons do not know God’s next step nor do they believe in God’s revelation. Satan’s plan of events, judgment of character and opinion of things are flawed. His greatest joy and ultimate downfall was the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 2:7-8 states that the rulers of this age did not understand God's secret wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. For if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

Revelation records Satan’s defeat once again, at the hands of the angel Michael (Rev 12:7). Satan’s first judgment by a scorching fire that consumed, ate or burnt him – from inside to outside, not outside to inside (v 18 “fire come out from you”) - and reduced him to ashes, as recorded in Ezekiel, will be replaced by the lake of burning sulfur that welcomes him on the last days, found in Revelation 20:10. Satan’s origin and destiny is synonymous with fire (vv 14, 16, 18). He who despises walking among fiery stones (Eze 28:14) will be thrown into a sulfur lake or about 832 degrees F/444 degrees C literally (water boils at 100 degrees C), as a jokester remarked on the boiling point of sulfur. The truth is that not only Satan was second in command and that his information was second-hand, he also has no second chance.

Conclusion: Praise the Lord, God has an intimate relationship with humans that angels do not have. One of the theories for the angels’ rebellion is that they did not have fellowship with God nor had the capacity to love God. They were servants, but never children of God. They were awesome creatures, but not the object of God’s love.

It’s been said, “What causes any battles to be lost is the needless fear of the enemy’s strength.” The evil one cannot harm us (1 John 5:18). Are you submitting yourselves to God and resisting the devil? (James 4:7). Have you allowed Satan to outwit you (2 Cor 2:11) or give the devil a foothold (Eph 4:27-28)? It’s been said, “Avoid evil and the appearance of evil.” The devil’s fate and end is sure. Jesus Christ has appeared to destroy the devil's work (1 John 3:8). God will soon crush Satan under our feet (Rom 16:20). Christians will use him for a place mat! Have you done your part to open the eyes of the world and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness (Acts 26:18)?

Small Group Discussion:
1. Do people in today’s society believe in the existence of the devil? Why?
2. Is Satan perfect? In what aspect is he perfect and how is he not (v 12)?
3. Where did angels such as Satan come from? Where did they get their powers? How do you describe their powers?
4. What is the role of angels (vv 13-14)? What is God’s intent for them?
5. How could wickedness be found in beings “perfect in beauty” (v 15)?
6. How did the devil fall from grace (v 16)? What are the consequences?
7. What is pride (v 17)? How is it manifested (vv 17-18)?
8. What instrument of punishment does Satan fear most (v 18b)? How is Satan’s fate in his original fall (v 18) similar to his eventual doom, and how is it worse (Rev 20:10)?
9. How do you describe Satan’s existence, power and reign? Why is friendship with the devil a bitter loss and the biggest loss?
10. Do you fear the devil? Is it biblical? What are believers’ choices?

Crisis & Choice, Pt 8: “The Last Laugh”

THE LAST LAUGH (PSALMS 52)
On the cover of the May 21, 2001, Newsweek magazine was the full-size head of a man, except that the face of the man is indistinct because the print is in the form of a red X-ray film or an undeveloped photograph. The word E V I L in bold covers his nose and mouth, but not the sharp, hollow, piercing eyes that seem to stare right at readers of the magazine. Underneath the word E V I L is this question: “What makes people go wrong?”

When I saw the cover for the first time, I remarked, “What a choice for a model!” Little did I know, turning to page 3 I discovered that the cover was not a model, but a hated, vilified and controversial murderer. At the bottom of the page was an explanation of the cover design:

COVER: Photograph of Timothy McVeigh by Gamma. Colorization by Steve Walkowiak for Newsweek.

Tim McVeigh, you may recall, single-handedly blew up the Oklahoma City federal building to vent his anger at the government, killing 168 innocent victims, including 19 children. The Newsweek edition was published in conjunction with McVeigh’s original execution date, May 16. McVeigh’s execution by lethal injection was carried out a month later, June 11, after his lawyers had failed to delay the execution a second time.

Psalm 52 is an agonizing poem and prayer from a man who felt responsible for the evil that was thrust upon others, causing their death (1 Sam 22:22). David visited kind priest Ahimelech, who sheltered, fed and, unwittingly, armed him when he fled from King Saul (1 Sam 21:7-9). Doeg the Edomite, Saul's head shepherd, reported to Saul that the priest was harboring David, Saul’s sworn enemy. Saul then ordered Doeg to execute the priest, his family and other known priests in the town of Nob. Altogether eighty-five priests were killed. Only Ahimelech’ son, Abiathar, escaped. If that wasn’t enough, Doeg also killed the men and women of the town, its children and infants, and its cattle, donkeys and sheep. (1 Sam 22:18-22)

With the knowledge of what Doeg the Edomite, a descendant of Esau, had done, David penned this intense, wrenching and probing psalm. This is the only psalm that covers the massacre at Nob and only five of 150 psalms that begin with the agonizing “Why?” question (Ps 2:1, 10:1, 22:1, 52:1, 74:1).

What bothered David was not only the act of evil, but the arrogance of evil - the boldness, the heartlessness and the shamelessness of evil to boast, to argue and to champion its merits, which include causing trouble, creating havoc and challenging righteousness.

Why are people attracted to evil? What moral responsibility do we have to evil’s challenges? Will good or evil triumph eventually? How does evil work on people and cling to them?

Evil is a Choice
52:1 For the director of music. A maskil of David. When Doeg the Edomite had gone to Saul and told him: “David has gone to the house of Ahimelech.” Why do you boast of evil, you mighty man? Why do you boast all day long, you who are a disgrace in the eyes of God? 2 Your tongue plots destruction; it is like a sharpened razor, you who practice deceit. 3 You love evil rather than good, falsehood rather than speaking the truth. Selah 4 You love every harmful word, O you deceitful tongue! (Ps 52:1-4)

One of the most captivating stories of good vs. evil is Akira Kurosawa’s “High and Low.” A wealthy, ambitious and ruthless shoe executive who built his residence on top of a hill received news that his son had been kidnapped, except that his chauffeur’s son was the one wrongly kidnapped. Gondo, who had planned to use his funds for a hostile takeover, did not want to pay the ransom that would have bankrupted him, but relented for moral reasons after a titanic emotional battle.

After a lengthy and clever investigation the police tracked down the mastermind who had also killed off his partners. The kidnapper turned out to be a young man who had lived down the lowly, filthy and destitute hills, but had a promising future after completing his residency at the hospital.

The jailed kidnapper requested for Gondo and mocked the executive who bothered to appear: “Are you glad because I’m going to die?” Gondo replied, “Why should you and I hate each other?” The young man then gave a chilling, eerie but provoking reply: “I don’t know. I’m not interested in self-analysis. I do know my room was so cold in winter and so hot in summer, I couldn’t sleep. Your house looked like heaven, high up there. That’s how I began to hate you. That gave me a purpose in life. It’s interesting to make fortunate men unfortunate.”

Evildoers elect to draw the first blood. They strike first and they strike hard. There is no moderation, restrain or compassion in their schemes, system or soul. They are cold-blooded, thick-skinned and heavy-handed.

The word “boast” (v 1) is the same word for “hallelujah” in Hebrew or praise in English. Instead of praising God or boasting in the Lord (Ps 34:2, 44:8), the mighty man (v 1) blows his own trumpet, toots his own horn and sounds his own praise. Bragging about evil is the worst form of bragging in the Psalms. People have been known to boast of the cravings of their heart (Ps 10:2-3), to boast of their great riches (Ps 49:6) and even to boast in idols (Ps 97:7), but admiring evil is inexcusable, because admiring evil is the same as approving, commending and embracing it. And embracing evil is abominable to the Lord.

The evil (v 1) that David referred to is the most common word for evil in the Bible, outnumbering another, lesser word for evil three-to-one. This is the word that describes Noah’s generation (Gen 6:5), the men of Sodom (Gen 13:13) and the specific kings of Israel and Judah that “did evil in the eyes of the LORD” – altogether 14 times in 2 Samuel (2 Kings 8:18, 8:27, 13:2, 13:11, 14:25, 15:9, 15:18, 15:24, 17:2, 21:2, 23:32, 23:37, 24:9, 24:19).

The admiration of evil is intensified by the word “love” (v 3). The Hebrew usage for “love” is similar to English. One can love an abstraction such as evil the same way as one love a person or an object. There is only one other passage in the Bible on people who love evil -Micah 3:2: “You who hate good and love evil; who tear the skin from my people and the flesh from their bones.” The evil man concurs, connects and cooperates with evil. He believes, persists and delights in using evil to accomplish his goals.

The evildoer has a distortion that goes uncorrected, which includes deriving a twisted satisfaction, an inexplicable pleasure and a sickening gratification from evil. He conveniently practices falsehood and deceit to plot or devise the destruction and ruin of others (v 2). David compares the evildoer’s tongue to a sharpened knife that can wound, mutilate or kill. They have no qualms about causing financial loss, personal suffering, tragic disasters, bodily injury and even deadly consequences upon others. They do not care or feel for the victims. Innocent lives are collateral damage or acceptable losses to them. He loves “every” harmful word (v 4), or “all” words that are intended to gulp or swallow a victim whole (Jer 51:44). Biting, chewing and tasting are meaningless to evil people. An evil man has a voracious serpent-, beast- or monster-like appetite.

Evil Has its Consequences
5 Surely God will bring you down to everlasting ruin: He will snatch you up and tear you from your tent; he will uproot you from the land of the living. Selah 6 The righteous will see and fear; they will laugh at him, saying, 7 “Here now is the man who did not make God his stronghold but trusted in his great wealth and grew strong by destroying others!” (Ps 52:4-7)

A truck driver was driving a rig in a long line of tractor-trailers when a police officer pulled him over for speeding.

Astounded that he alone was caught, the driver asked, “Out of all these trucks that were going just as fast as I was, why did you pull me over?” “Have you ever gone fishing?” the officer asked.

“Yes,” the man replied. “Well, have you ever caught all the fish in the pond?”

The last of the wicked will not escape God’s capture and judgment. Psalms 37:10 says, “A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found.” The righteous, those who spurned, resisted and opposed evil, will have the last laugh (v 6). This is the only record of righteous laughter in the Bible. The righteous will laugh in the end because evil has met its match. The tables will turn on evildoers, evil is on its last leg and the other shoe will soon drop.

The righteous, according to Brown-Driver-Brigg’s Hebrew Lexicon, are those who are justified and vindicated by God. Rightly, the only fear in the heart of the righteous is the fear of God (Gen 42:18, Ex 1:17, Josh 24:14), not the fear of other gods (Judg 6:10, 2 Kings 17:35), the fear of evil or even the fear of evil news. Psalms 23:4 says “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” Another passage, Psalms 112:7, says the man who fears God will have no fear of bad or “evil” news.”

The unrepentant will experience a drastic and bitter ending. His greatest enemy is no other than God, who alone has the ability to crush its advance. The reign of evildoers is brunt, but it will be brief. They will make a lot of fuss and noise but will fall short of their goals; they will charm some supporters temporarily but will exhaust all goodwill eventually; they will win some wars but will surely lose the battle. They will not surrender unconditionally, but they will still succumb to the power of God.

The Hebrew word for “ruin” is used frequently for the ousting, the toppling and the smashing of idols (Ex 34:13, Deut 12:3, Judg 2:2, Judg 6:28, 2 Kings 10:27, 2 Kings 23:15, 2 Chron 34:4). Like the idols of old, evildoers will suffer a horrendous fate. God will beat them out of shape, smash them to pieces and grind them to dust.

The evildoers’ fate gets worse and worse. God will not only grab hold of him but will tear him away from the tent and uproot him from the earth (v 5). The word tear has the meaning of plucking, yanking, pulling and ripping evil from his tent or home. Next, God will strike into the ground, uncover its roots and sweep the remains. No struggle is possible, no protests are entertained and no stone will be left unturned by God.

Evil Must Be Countered
8 But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God's unfailing love for ever and ever. 9 I will praise you forever for what you have done; in your name I will hope, for your name is good. I will praise you in the presence of your saints. (Ps 52:8-9)

Admiral Jim Stockdale, the highest-ranking U.S military officer captured in the Vietnam War, in a book titled “In Love and War,” recalled how he survived his 8-year imprisonment before he was released. Besides enduring the brutal conditions there, he did not know his fate and had no means to escape. Jim Collins, a respected journalist, interviewed Stockdale for USA Today when the book he and his wife wrote was released shortly after September 11, asking Stockdale how he could survived the ordeal. Stockdale, who limps from repeated torture, answered, “I never lost faith in the end.”

Collins then asked, “Who didn’t make it out?” Stockdale replied, “Oh, that’s easy. The optimists.” The confused journalist quizzed, “The optimists? I don’t understand.” Stockdale explained, “Oh, they were the ones who said, ‘We’re going to be out by Christmas.’ And Christmas would come and Christmas would go. Then they’d say, ‘We’re going to be out by Easter.’ And Easter would come and Easter would go. And then Thanksgiving, and then it would be Christmas again. And they died of a broken heart.” Stockdale then turned to Collins after a long pause and said, “This is a very important lesson. You must never confuse faith that you will prevail in the end – which you can never afford to lose—with the need for discipline to confront the most brutal facts of your current reality, whatever they might be.” (USA Today 11/27/01)

Finally, good things happen to those who wait and trust in the Lord. But before we can laugh we will first have to trust (v 8). Our trust in God must withstand the test of time. Trust is not trust unless you are challenged, shaken, and persecuted. The Hebrew text uses two different words, accurately translated as “forever and ever,” to describe a believer’s unceasing trust in God. Trust is not an instance of devotion or an act of piety, but a life-long dedication and commitment to God. Make no mistake, David ended his psalm with a repetition of the word forever in the last verse (v 9). Those who believe fighting evil is a breeze is sorely mistaken.

Psalms has 46 references to “trust”, the most of all the books in the Bible (v 8). The reasons for David’s confidence and assurance in God are many. The Lord is our strength and our shield (Ps 28:7), our refuge and our fortress (Ps 91:2), our help and shield (Ps 115:9, 115:11). He never forsakes those who trust in Him (Ps 9:10), but delivers them (Ps 22:4). His unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in him (Ps 32:10).

Hope (v 9) or “wait” in Hebrew is not endurance, tolerance or resignation to the fact. Biblical hope is positive, never negative; is patient, never pessimistic; is persistent, not panicky. It is not folding hands and doing nothing in the meantime. David praises God while he waits. Those who wait on the Lord
possess integrity and uprightness (Ps 25:21). They are courageous and strong (Ps 27:14), keeping His way (Ps 37:34) and keeping His word (Ps 130:5).

Conclusion: Ps 37:19 says the righteous will not be ashamed in the time of evil. Christians have always been in the forefront of any battle against evil, from slavery to oppression. It’s been said, “All it takes for evil to succeed is for good folks to do nothing.” Godly people have no part or association or fellowship with evil and its forces. God has promised that He will keep His people from all evil (Ps 121:7), that He will recompense the evil to their foes (Ps 54:5) and that He will deliver his faithful ones from the hand of the wicked (Ps 97:10). Have you committed yourself to shun the evil path (Ps 119:101) and do you pray when you are tempted by evil (Ps 141:4)? Do you hate evil (Ps 97:10), plot its overthrow to replace it with good (Ps 34:14)?

Small Group Discussion
1. What are some evil things that trouble you?
2. Why does the psalm begin with a question?
3. Have people boasted to you about their evil deeds (v 1)? What did they boast about? What was your reaction?
4. How does the psalmist describe the tongue (v 2, v 4) and deeds (v 3) of the evildoer?
5. How is God going to deal with these evildoers? (v 5)?
6. What will righteous people come to realize (v 6-7)?
7. How does David describe the righteous (v 8)? Do you know of righteous people who match this metaphor? How are their lives a testimony?
8. How is the last verse a contrast to the first verse?
9. How can we counter evil? What choice did David make? How can you make a similar choice?

Crisis & Choice, Pt 9: “Hero Without Borders”

HERO WITHOUT BORDERS (LUKE 10:25-37)
A few years ago I saw a truck in front of me roaring fiercely about to turn the corner onto the freeway ramp. In the driver’s seat of the humongous truck was a man in his late 20s, ramming his engine and blasting his stereo. The guy had dark glasses and a black T-shirt – the type you associate with a rabid Raider fan. I had nothing but dislike, distaste and derision for his outward appearance.

As the man was turning into the freeway, he did not slow down but was traveling at his normal speed. He was in such a hurry that I thought he was putting his life and the life of others in danger. However, he made a U-turn into the opposite lane instead of entering the freeway ramp. Slowing his truck down, he jumped out of his truck at the same time it screeched to a complete stop. How dangerous, I thought to myself as I took a clearer look at the stocky man who was wearing shorts and spotting tattoos.

Then I saw smoke coming out of a car lying on the side of the road where the man had stopped. How wrong I was! Beside the car was a woman who was in need of help and it turned out that the young man was not a danger or nuisance to the public, but a good Samaritan and a hero to a damsel in distress.

In Luke 10, Jesus told a story to a smart-alecky man who challenged his teaching. The travel from Jerusalem to Jericho was as dangerous a travel zone as any. According to Walter Liefeld, robbers could easily hide on the rugged, bleak, rocky terrain that characterized the 17-mile stretch travel (Expositor’s Commentary, Vol. 8 pg. 943). The traveler in the parable was an easy target. He was traveling alone when he was preyed on, set upon and beaten up by robbers, not thieves. Thieves robbed at night, but robbers in broad daylight. The robbers were well-organized, well-equipped and well-informed gangsters and criminals, and they easily overpowered the unsuspecting travelers.

Who is a hero? A hero is one who sees a neighbor or stranger in need and whose help you can meet. Heroes are ordinary people who do what they can out of extraordinary compassion, mercy and kindness.

What motivates heroes and helpers? Why are they different from spectators and bystanders? How do they conquer their fears?

A Hero Does Not Close His Eyes to What is Happening
30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. (Luke 10:30)

Lost behind the story of Seabiscuit, the most celebrated racehorse of the 20th century, and the jockey played by Spiderman’s Tobey Macguire was the story of its peculiar trainer, Tom Smith. When a rich man decided to turn to horse racing, he needed to find a trainer for his horse. He stumbled upon an eccentric and old, but a talented and tender trainer whose chances of training a racehorse had all but slipped by.

When the owner Charles Howard first met his future trainer, he spotted the horse lover caring for an injured horse that was past its time and no longer in racing favor. Unlike other trainers, Smith did not have a barn or stable or home, living outside in the bushes with the one horse that he had rescued from owners that wanted to shoot the poor animal.

The shrewd and curious businessman then visited the trainer in the middle of the night to ask him why he was wasting his time on an out-of-favor and down-on-luck horse. Howard asked, “Will he get better?’ Smith replied, “Already is…a little” The owner then got to his point: “Will he race?” Smith acknowledged, “No. Not that one.” The curious owner exclaimed, “So why are you fixing him?” Smith spoke with candor and won the owner over with his answer: “Cause I can. Every horse is good for something. He could be a cart horse or a lead pony. And he’s still nice to look at. You don’t throw a whole life away just because it’s banged up a bit.”

The sufferer and victim lying on the road was not a thing, but a person; not an animal carcass, but a human body, not somebody known to the Samaritan, but dear to someone. The ghastly sight and the lifeless body did not accurately reflect or portray the person he was. The beating stripped him of his humanity. The robbers derived the man of his clothes (v 30) and possibly everything he had, including his money and his donkey. The verb “stripped” was used only on one other person in the Gospels – Jesus Christ (Matt 27:28-31, Mark 15: 20). The man had both an unwanted Messianic moment and Pauline moment; he was not only stripped the same way Jesus was (Matt 27:28-31, Mark 15: 20) and he suffered Greek “beating” the same experience as Paul’s flogging (Acts 16:23), wounds (Acts 16:33), and beatings (2 Cor 6:5).

The beating he suffered has been translated elsewhere in the Bible as “blows” (Luke 12:48), flogging (Acts 16:23), wounds (Acts 16:33), beatings (2 Cor 6:5), flogged (2 Cor 11:23), and lashes (2 Cor 11:24). The word can be singular or plural; in this case, the traveler, unfortunately suffered not a single blow, but numerous “blows” to the head, body, and all over that sent him crashing to the ground. The robbers beat him to the pulp, till he was unrecognizable even by his mother, for a reason. It was intended as such so that the man could not call for help, follow behind them, and as a warning not to try anything foolish or call the police.

Verse 30 says the man was half dead, or hemithanes in Greek – the word “hemi” (from hemsphere) is half and “thanatos” is death. He could hardly move a muscle, lift a finger, or bat an eye. The man laid there motionless, helpless, and friendless. The text did not say he was barely alive, but emphasized that he was half dead. The burden to help or seek help was on every pedestrian who saw the man who was slipping into coma, in such an extreme state of duress, and was defenseless against inclement weather, straying animals and further cruelty.

A Hero Does Not Turn His Back on What is Happening
31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. (Luke 10:31-32)

Social psychologists Latané and Darley did a classic experiment on how the number of people present in an emergency situation would influence the likelihood of them offering help. They discovered that the more people present, the less likely they are to help, and coined this unconcern the “bystander effect.”

In the actual experiment, when one bystander heard a voice crying for help and sounds of severe choking, 85% of the students who were alone rushed to help. When they thought another person besides them was present and can help, the percentage dropped to 65%. When they thought five were present, this dropped again to 31%.
http://changingminds.org/explanations/theories/bystander_effect.htm

The Chinese say, “When three monks are present, no one gets the drink.” It’s been said, “The sheep is stolen when two shepherds are present.”

The priest and the Levite represented the experts of the law – they were godly, religious, and moral but they were also realists, veterans, and dodgers. They could smell an upcoming moral dilemma, a Scriptural controversy and a trick situation in the making from afar. So they had to use their wits, look for loopholes, check their liability and cover their backs. The law was not blind to the needy, but the system was. Everyone knows of a second interpretation of a text, the room for flexibility in their profession, and the presence of ambiguity, vagueness and gray areas on an issue. The priest and Levite knew how to get around the letter of the law. No fine print or do’s-and-don’ts was too difficult to pick apart. They were like the law expert who was flawless in his answer and brilliant in his question to Jesus. The lawyer, who was schooled in the art of debate and rhetoric and of parsing words and dictionary meanings, asked, “Who is my neighbor?” Define neighbor (v 29)!

The attitude of the expert in the law was no different from that of the priest and Levite when they saw the loner writhing on the floor. The actions of the priest and the Levite are the same in Greek. They crossed the other way, or antipareélthen (anti=opposite + parerchomai=go) in Greek. They went the opposite way – they reversed course and turned around or they walked backwards as fast as their feet could carry them; they didn’t pass on the right or left side or even hop, skip, jump or step over him. The two men did not bother to come close, find out, know more or get involved. They did what was unspeakable, ingenious, and original – the Greek verb “passed by” (vv 31, 32) appears nowhere else in the Bible.

The poor man was somewhat unfortunate but the two had much at stake. The thought of having to cleanse themselves ritually if the man was dead and if the body was a corpse did not appeal to them. Corpses were considered unclean and defiling in the Old Testament. Whoever touches the dead body of anyone will be unclean for seven days. 12 He must purify himself with the water on the third day and on the seventh day; then he will be clean. But if he does not purify himself on the third and seventh days, he will not be clean. (Num 19:11-13) Too troublesome! After all, who wants to revisit Jerusalem for the ceremonial cleansing after just visiting there?

A Hero Does Not Harden His Heart to What is Happening
33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.' 36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” 37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.” (Luke 10:33-37)

On Aug. 8, 2004, the Vietnamese community of Westminster, California, celebrated one of the kindest and bravest acts performed by a stranger on them. On Nov. 13, 1985, ninety-six Vietnamese refugees despaired for their lives and their families’ when the engine of the boat carrying them across the South China Sea went dead. The boat people crammed onto the rickety boat could see a tropical storm headed their way. For four days they had watched the ships passed -1, 2, 3, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, but none would stop to rescue them.

When the 51st ship passed, the refugees waved, screamed, and clamored in vain as before. The South Korean fishing ship traveled on but turned around 10 minutes later to save them. On board the ship, Jeon, a captain employed by Koryo Wonyang Corp. for 16 years, was returning from the Indian Ocean with 25 sailors and more than 350 tons of tuna. As Jeon's ship, the Kwang Myung 87, approached them, the captain could see the dire straits the people were in. He called the sailors together because it was against company policy to pick up boat people, but Jeon told them he'd take responsibility. The sailors told Jeon they were with him. Many years later did the refugees know what had happened to Jeon. The shipping company fired him for picking up the boat people against the company’s rules. He couldn't find another captain's job and survived through his savings and by helping out at friends' businesses.

On Aug. 8, 2004, nineteen years after the dramatic boat rescue, hundreds of people in the Vietnamese community of Westminster paid back a debt they can never repay. They honored the ship's captain, Je Yong Jeon, after survivor Peter Cuong Nguyen managed to track him down.” Nguyen said, “He has the biggest heart. Without his rescue, there would be no today. We would have been dead.” Jeon, now 62, shrugged off the compliments, saying, “If I wasn't there, other people might have done the same thing that I did. As a fisherman for 25 years, I've caught a lot of fishes. And during the 25 years, it was with God's grace that we found the boat people and were able to save all of them.” (Los Angeles Times 8-9-04 “Fishing Captain Who Saved 96 Boat People in '85 Is Honored.”)

The one who finally helped the loner was a Samaritan. The parable has traditionally been called The Parable of the Good Samaritan for an apt reason. A good Samaritan was an oxymoron to the Jews. The Samaritans were the offspring of Assyrian settlers and Jewish northerners after Israel, the northern kingdom, fell in 722 BC. They were despised also because they were not considered the cream of the crop. The very bright or worth taking were exiled into the conquering nation’s service.

The Samaritan felt pity for the loner. The man was right in his way and right under his nose. He couldn’t help but felt a sick feeling; he was about to vomit and throw up at the sight of the foul-smelling blood-covered man. The Greek word for “took pity” or “had compassion” is splagchnizomai, or the movement or call of the bowels. The churning of bad diarrhea in the Samaritan’s stomach started when he saw the man. He couldn’t control or suppress his feelings and sympathy for the helpless stranger. When nature calls, one has to act on it.

So the Samaritan went to him, not away from the victim, stayed on and not strayed from the path, and bandaged his wounds. This is the only time the word “bandaged” or “bound” is mentioned in Greek. The Greek word is katadeo or bind up, not just “bind.” He wrapped the wound accordingly, taking care not to bind it too tight or too loosely but making sure the man’s bleeding had stopped. Next, he poured oil and wine on the wound to clean the wound.

Not only did the Samaritan have compassion and care on the man, he also had commitment. He could not do everything by himself, but he helped the nameless man as much as he could and did all that was in his power. He had run out of money to cover such an expense; so he promised the innkeeper to pay the bill on his return trip. The Samaritan committed his time, money, and attention to someone who despised him.

Conclusion: A hero conquers the mental fear he feels when he considers the actual fears the victims experienced. Faith without conscience or compassion or courage is weak and worthless and weakness. It’s been said, “One cannot define one's neighbor; one can only be a neighbor.” Haddon Robinson said, “Your neighbor is anyone whose need you see, whose need you are able to meet.” A neighbor is someone who says, “What is mine is God's and what is God's belongs to my neighbor because my neighbor belongs to Him.” (Bob Larson) Do you help based on a person’s merit or his need? Do you care about your well-being or the victim’s well-being? Do you contribute what you have or complain what you lack? Do you make the first move or wait for others to do so?

Crisis & Choice, Pt 10: “The Signs of the End Times”

THE SIGNS OF THE END TIMES (MARK 13)
Christians are often confronted with apocalyptic, millennial and eschatological expectations whenever a disaster occurs. On the morning of 9/11, a relative called from overseas, asked if we were alright and eventually ended the call with a sigh and an exclamation: “This is the end of the world!” When gas shot over $2.50 in 2005 I asserted the same thing. Nobody has done more to stroke this state of unease than Hal Lindsey, the popular writer of the 70’s bestseller “The Late Great Planet Earth” who suggested that Christ would return in 1988. On when Jesus was "at the door" ready to return, Lindsey predicts: "Within forty years or so of 1948, all these things could take place. Many scholars who have studied Bible prophecy all their lives believe that is so." (Late Great Planet Earth, p 54) San Antonio pastor John Hagee said sensationally, “I believe Word War III actually began September 11, 2001.”

On one occasion, Jesus shockingly predicted the destruction of the Jerusalem temple, which occurred later in A.D. 70, but yet warned the disciples against gossip and guesswork before His return. He revealed that widespread and intense persecution signals His return and that He will return in a great and glorious fashion. Jesus repeated the verb “Watch out” or “Be on guard” four times to drum the thought into them (vv 5, 9, 23, 33).

What are the signs of Christ’s return? When will it occur? How should we be prepared?

It Will be Weirder Like Never Before
5 Jesus said to them: "Watch out that no one deceives you. 6 Many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am he,' and will deceive many. 7 When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 8 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains. (Mark 13:5-8)

The first thing to guard against is false claims, false Christs and false prophets that will turn the teaching of Jesus’ return to their advantage, make the occasion a media circus, and cause confusion among believers. The interval before Jesus’ return is first of all a period of spiritual activity, ambiguity and apostasy. Contrary to doomsayers’ prediction, the advance of science, technology and modernity in the new millennium did not, has not and will not signal the death of religion, but progress coincides with the resurgence of religion. However, your father’s old religion will be replaced. The new brand of religion will be increasingly more sensational. Its sensational claims will result in a strong debate on theology, doctrine and orthodoxy. False teachers will be plentiful, their books will be bestsellers and their adherents, converts and supporters will be numerous at the end times. Jesus said, “Watch out that no one deceives you.” (v 5) The obvious target of these charismatic, affable and eloquent false teachers is Christians. Christians are naïve people. They are willing to listen, quick to believe and easy to fool. They easily fall prey to spiritual jargon, psycho- babble and emotional appeal.

The small church I led in the States has seen its fair share of visitors with cultic personalities, practices and profiles. One claimed the gift of discerning hidden sin and the power to read people’s past, but the catch was that believers have to surrender themselves conditionally to him who has the exclusive power to heal or deliver them. He visited church members one by one to uncover and confront them of their sin. His license credentials, reasonable deductions and emotional care wore down most resistance. Any hint of insubordination to his authority was dealt with mercilessly, any dispute provoked anger in him and any person who challenged him was labeled unspiritual. Technically, he operated like an unlicensed therapist, a fortune teller and a snake-oil salesman.

The supporters of this man were also hard to deal with. They ascribed to him unparalleled powers, elevated him to unknown heights and volunteered unbiblical and unhealthy submission to him. His followers gladly served lunch to his family during church luncheon, a privilege I do not recall having or asking! Worse, the leader did not object to all the attention and fuss.

Watch out for false Christs and prophets, Jesus said. They are predators, wolves, and cobras who cleverly smell and heartlessly strike lonely, neglected, isolated, needy or insecure people. The worst is the divisiveness that can happen to the church. Not only does it consume your time, people’s feelings could get hurt.

The word deceive (v 5) means feed error (Mt 22:29), mistakes (Mark 12:27) or inaccuracies. The word “he” is not in verse 6 of the Greek text. Consequently, false teachers do not claim “I am he” (“I am she” nowadays). They claim Jesus’ great “I AM” name. Cult leaders or false teachers are usually control freaks who claim power that is not theirs and draw people to themselves and not God. They do a lot of damage in Jesus’ name and in the guise of Christianity. They are usually unlicensed, unordained and unchurched. Often, they have no, little, poor or unfinished seminary training, and they have a history of problems attending, serving, or pastoring a church. The sad state of affairs in Christianity is that too many ministers are licensed and ordained not by a denomination, which has stricter policies, but by independent, obscure groups and leaders. The mushrooming of seminary mills does not help either.

Jesus later warned that the false Christs and false prophets will even extend their influence into the tribulation period: “At that time if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or, 'Look, there he is!' do not believe it. For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and miracles to deceive the elect-if that were possible.” (Mk 13:21-22)

Counterfeit religious leaders deceive by three things: the cloak of superiority, the excuse of ministry and the force of their personality. A stronger and more intense word for deceive in Greek is in verse 22 – the word “seduce,” which is more negative than the word “deceive.” These latter-day signs and wonders workers will stop at nothing to seduce believers. They dismiss the church, divide the body and disrupt the ministry eventually if they are not stopped.

A pastor friend told me how he dealt with a group of members who claimed to have the gift of prophecy and often disrupted the sermon to offer a word from God to the members. Eventually, a thought struck him: he told them to write what they had to say on a piece of paper. Lo and behold, their impulse to speak disappeared when they had to write it down. Later they left the church, unfortunately, for another!

Another thing Jesus warned against is speculation. Wars and rumors of wars, extensive earthquakes and widespread famine are not sufficient evidence for “end days.” Nostradamus, the Vision of Fatima, the Bible Code, chain letters and other scares are all nothing but smoke screens and human imagination. Do you remember the food, water and cash you reserved at home for Y2K? The sky did not fall. The world did not end. False alarms are what they are: birth pangs, the delivery is months away.

It Will be Worse Than You Think
9 “You must be on your guard. You will be handed over to the local councils and flogged in the synagogues. On account of me you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them. 10 And the gospel must first be preached to all nations. 11 Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit. 12 “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. 13 All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. 14 “When you see 'the abomination that causes desolation' standing where it does not belong-let the reader understand-then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 15 Let no one on the roof of his house go down or enter the house to take anything out. 16 Let no one in the field go back to get his cloak. 17 How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! 18 Pray that this will not take place in winter, 19 because those will be days of distress unequaled from the beginning, when God created the world, until now-and never to be equaled again. 20 If the Lord had not cut short those days, no one would survive. But for the sake of the elect, whom he has chosen, he has shortened them. 21 At that time if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or, 'Look, there he is!' do not believe it. 22 For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and miracles to deceive the elect — if that were possible. (Mark 13:9-22)

However, the true sign of Jesus’ imminent return is the widespread, vicious and irreversible persecution of Christians and Jews. The tribulation is a time of intense and pervasive persecution. It is a crisis - an age of danger and opportunity. The dramatic and escalating contempt for Christians, Jews and orthodoxy will climax shortly before Jesus returns. Believers will experience state-sponsored persecution, betrayal at home and hatred from all sides. Christians, specifically, will experience blatant discrimination, bear blame for intolerance and suffer intense persecution. The affliction or tribulation (v 19) is unbelievable, unprovoked and unequaled.

Surprisingly, the persecution is an opportunity for witness. Verse 11 says the Holy Spirit is present during this tribulation crisis. Therefore conversion of souls will still be possible then. Christians living at that time need not fear what to expect, what to say and what to do during the tribulation crisis due the Spirit’s presence, guidance, and utterance.

God works in our worst nightmare. 9-11 demonstrates how God works when a nation is wounded, grieving but awaken. A lot of people were stirred to consider or accept Christ, return to church and rethink their priorities. In May 2001, four months before the attacks, the percentage of Americans who told the Gallup Poll that they had attended church or synagogue the previous week was 41 percent. In the ten days after September 11, it climbed to 47 percent (New York Times 11/26/01). Though 9-11 alone was not enough to change a person, it was nevertheless a wake-up call.

USA Today (11/20/01) had an article two and a half months after 9/11 about how the events of 9/11 have shaken or affected people’s lives. David Townsend, who left his job in waste management to work in social services, said, “September 11 enforced in me the need to live a life that matters. Let's roll up our sleeves and give these people some hope. Let’s get rid of the stench of despair.” Frequent flier Debra Levin said. “I used to cut it at the airport really close to my time in the airport. Now I get up hours earlier, and if I hang out there for a couple of hours, for my own safety, that is fine.” Shopper Joseph Lewis said, “Once, my wife went grocery shopping, and she picked a regular brand of ice cream. We had been eating low-fat. Before, that would have bothered me. Now it doesn’t matter. We attend church on a much more regular basis now.” Psychologist Lisa Olsen said, “I’m still doing the same thing, but I am enjoying it more. Now I say that the work is for me, and I don’t let the extended hours bother me.” New Yorker Lisa Cohen said, “Now I put my career below family and relationships. I spend more time at dinner with friends and more time on the phone with my family.” Even a few famous Hollywood directors see the need to reduce sex, violence, and obscenities in the movies immediately after 911.

The coming persecution will separate the sheep from the goats, those who profess Christ and those who confess Christ and those who are churchgoers and those who are Christians. Our task is to stand firm to the end, not by ourselves but with the Spirit’s help.

The Jews will not be spared either. The abomination of desolation in verse 14 has often been interpreted as the forcible slaughter of a pig on the altar or the installment of an idol in the Jewish temple.

It Will Be Worth it After All
23 So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time. 24 “But in those days, following that distress, “'the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; 25 the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.' 26 “At that time men will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. 27 And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens. (Mark 13:23-27)

Three persons arrived at the Pearly Gates at the same time. St. Peter came
but said he had some pressing business and would they please wait? He was
gone a long time, but finally he came back and called one of the new arrivals in and asked if she had minded waiting. “No,” she said, “I've looked forward to this for so long. I love God and I can't wait to meet Jesus. I don't mind at all.” St. Peter then said, “Well, I have one more question. How do you spell 'God'?” She said, “Capital-G-o-d.” St. Peter said, “Go right on in.” He went outside and met another new arrival, told him to come on inside, and said, “Did you mind waiting?” The man said, “Oh, no. I have been a Christian for fifty years, and I'll spend eternity here. I didn't mind at all.” So St. Peter said, “Just one more thing. How do you spell 'God'?” He said, “G-o-d. No, I mean capital-G.” St. Peter said that was good and sent him into heaven.

St. Peter went back out and invited the third person in and asked her if she had minded waiting. “As a matter of fact, I did,” she replied. “I've had to stand in line all my life - at the supermarket, when I went to school, when I registered my children for school, when I went to the movies - everywhere - and I resent having to wait in line for heaven now!” St. Peter said, “Well, that's all right for you to feel that way. It won't be held against you, but there is just one more question. How do you spell 'Czechoslovakia'?”

At the climax of persecution, Jesus will return in a blaze of glory. His return will mark and signify the end and renewal of all things. The sun will be darkened, the moon will not give its light, the stars will fall from the sky and the heavenly bodies will be shaken. The Lord’s return is manifest in the skies. Matt 24:27 says, “For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.” All men will see him coming in clouds with great power and glory. The phrase “great power and glory” (v 26) is unique to the return of Christ. The apostles witnessed with “great power” to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus (Acts 4:33), because only the Lord’s return will be characterized by “great power and glory.” This is the glory Jesus had with the Father before the world began (John 17:4, 24). The Messiah will sit on his glorious throne at the renewal of all things (Matt 19:28). He will shun those who were ashamed of Him in life (Mark 8:38, Lk 9:26). A fascinating note: Verse 6 records His coming in the clouds (v 26), but Revelation reveals Him sitting on the clouds (Rev 14:14-15).

Jesus’ return is scarier than any weapon of mass destruction, any chemical or biological weapons and any army on the earth. He would call to reckoning not just your body but your soul. Matt 10:28 says, “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”

The end is really the renewal of all things. Jesus said that He will renew all things when He sits on his glorious throne (Matt 19:28). That means the restoration of Israel, the regeneration of the earth and the reign of the Messiah for a millennium or a thousand years reign. At His return, the nations will be judged for the way they treat Israel, Israel will be judged for their acceptance and rejection of the Messiah and Christians will be judged by the quality of their life and work. However, Satan (Rev 20:7), his fallen angels and the unsaved will be judged after the millennium (Rev 20:11-15).

Conclusion: Are you a victim to or a perpetrator of false teaching, bad theology or wild rumors? The most common reason why good Christians make bad judgment is they do not know or study the Scriptures for themselves (Mark 12:24). Do you have a systematic way of studying God’s word? Are you more afraid of what men will do to you than how the Holy Spirit will help you? C. S. Lewis was once asked the question, “Why should the righteous suffer?” He replied, “Why not? They’re the only ones that can handle it.” Finally, are you patient until the Lord's coming (James 5:7)? Will He say to you, “Welcome, good and faithful servant,” or will he say, “Depart from me: I do not know you?” Will you run to Him or run from Him?

1. List the signs of the Lord’s coming. List those which are not considered signs of His coming.
2. Why is the Lord’s return compared to birth pangs (v 8)? How are they similar?
3. What imperative (verb) is repeated in the passage? How often and why?
4. During the period of chaos and persecution as described in verses 9-11, what opportunities are there for the spreading of the Gospel?
5. How do false Christs and religious deception arise? Who are most susceptible, and why (v 22)?
6. What are the assigned tasks (v 34) you have been given? How have you taken personal ownership of these responsibilities?
7. What are the warnings for believers (v 35)?
8. What is the difference between “watch out” (v 5), “be alert” (v 33) and “keep watch” (vv 34, 35, 37), which are all imperatives?

Bible Couples, Pt. 1: Adam and Eve

THE PERFECT MARRIAGE? (GENESIS 3:1-20)
A while back, men and ladies alike received a tricky e-mail joke, which says:
“Once upon a time, a perfect man and a perfect woman met. After a perfect courtship, they had a perfect wedding. Their life together was, of course, perfect. One snowy, stormy Christmas Eve, this perfect couple was driving their perfect car along a winding road, when they noticed someone at the side of the road in distress. Being the perfect couple, they stopped to help.

There stood Santa Claus with a huge bundle of toys. Not wanting to disappoint any children on the eve of Christmas, the perfect couple loaded Santa and his toys into their vehicle. Soon they were driving along delivering the toys. Unfortunately, the driving conditions deteriorated and the perfect couple and Santa Claus had an accident. Only one of them survived the accident.

Who was the survivor? (Scroll down for the answer.)

The perfect woman survived. She's the only one who really existed in the first place. Everyone knows there is no Santa Claus and there is no such thing as a perfect man.

Women stop reading here, that is the end of the joke.

Men keep scrolling****. (Scroll down for the answer)

So, if there is no perfect man and no Santa Claus, the perfect woman must have been driving. This explains why there was a car accident. By the way, if you're a woman and you're reading this, this illustrates another point: women never listen.”

Even in the garden of Eden, the perfect marriage did not exist. It’s been said, “Adam and Eve had an ideal marriage. He didn't have to hear about all the men she could have married and she didn't have to hear about the way his mother cooked.” God created man, male and female, in his own image (Gen 1:27), called all that he had made “very good” (Gen 1:31), and placed them in a perfect environment (Gen 2:8-14). So what went wrong? How did “very good” things go so awfully bad and hopeless? Because God gave people a choice but man chose to go his own way. God did not make us as robots, puppets, or pawns. A person, by definition, has a personality, a choice to make and the freedom to decide to follow Him or deny Him.

How did man lose his way? Why did man and woman undermine each other and their relationship? What are the consequences to the family when man rebels against God?

Disregard for God’s Word Leads to the Path of Disobedience
3:1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?” 2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 but God did say, 'You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.'“
4 “You will not surely die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5 “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. (Gen 3:1-6)

A man wanted to go ice fishing. He'd seen many books on the subject, and finally, after getting all the necessary tools together, he made for the nearest frozen lake. After positioning his comfy footstool, he started to make a circular cut in the ice. Suddenly - from the sky - a voice boomed, “THERE ARE NO FISH UNDER THE ICE!”

Startled, the man moved further down the ice, poured a Thermos of cappuccino, began to cut yet another hole. Again, from the heavens, the voice bellowed, “THERE ARE NO FISH UNDER THE ICE!”

The man, now quite worried, moved way down to the opposite end of the ice, sat up his stool, and tried again to cut his hole. The voice came once more: “THERE ARE NO FISH UNDER THE ICE!”

He stopped, looked skyward, and said, “ Is that you Lord?” The voice replied, “No, I'm the Ice-Arena Manager!”

Failing and refusing to heed God’s word is the heart of all human and marital problems. At the heart of every failing human relationship is a failing spiritual relationship – the failure to follow God’s established rules of order. God has given us a manual of instructions – the Bible – but we make our own rules. Eve and Adam’s problem began when she did not trust God’s promise; she did not listen to the Wise One – God, but listened to the Wicked One – Satan.

God’s intention for Eve was to be Adam’s helper, not the final decision-maker. They were supposed to confide in each other, confer with each other and compare notes with each other. Eve did not call for a family meeting, ask for her husband’s whereabouts or talk to her spouse at the time she heard things contrary to the fact. She acted as the leader, took over the reins, made her own decisions and chose her own destiny.

The snake came to Eve when she was the most vulnerable. She was by herself when she took temptation lightly and decided for herself, not wanting to miss out on a good deal or bargain. Satan has been making the same sales pitch ever since: to have something for nothing, to have everything you ever wanted and to have the world at your feet. Eve could not resist the 0% down payment, 0% interest and no payment till next year sale. An opening question (v 1) and a false promise (vv 4-5) were enough to plant doubts in Eve’s mind and put wrong ideas in her head. She who had rule over every living creature (Gen 1:28) handed her authority over to one of the creatures. The snake had mastery over Eve when she listened to her lies. Eve wondered if God had told them the whole truth, if Adam had heard God’s instructions correctly and if there’s more to life than being married, being someone’s helper and being secondary in everything. To be fair to her, Eve also had her doubts because God gave the instructions to Adam, not her (Gen 2:15-16).

Eve strayed from God’s truth. She foolishly tampered with God’s word, added salt and vinegar to God’s command, and injected her own interpretation: “You must not touch it, or you will die.” (v 3) The devil appeals to our physical senses, sensual pleasures and intellectual snobbery to snare us (v 6). He works on man’s self-sufficiency, vainglory and self-centeredness. Entertaining him makes us vulnerable, foolish and weak.

Disregard for God’s Word Leads to the Pain of Disagreement
7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. 8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the LORD God called to the man, “Where are you?” 10 He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.” 11 And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?” 12 The man said, “The woman you put here with me--she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.” 13 Then the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” (Gen 3:7-13)

Marriage is a union, a battle and a test of wills. After years of marriage, my wife and I still squabbled over trivial things.

One issue we tangled over early in our marriage was whether cloth table placemats should be placed in the same wash with regular clothes. My wife would not mix the two, but I would wash them in the same load without a qualm, to save water! Knowing her touchiness on the issue, I threw the placemats into the washing machine without letting her know on a few occasions that I washed. Once, unfortunately, she had more clothes to put into the machine just when I was about to start washing the load. Of course, I asked her to hand her clothes to me but she extended her neck to see what else I have in the load. Instinctively, I closed the door and the door hit her head at about the same time she spotted the placemats inside. She yelped in pain but was more upset at what she saw, so much so that she was shaking as she spoke, “You…You lied to me!” I protested, “No, I didn’t lie; I just didn’t tell you!”

We did not speak that night until eventually she said to me: “I do not mind that you put the placemats there, but we only wash it once in a long while. You should wash it more regularly with the clothes so that the mats would not be so greasy, because the grease might ruin my working clothes, and you know I don’t have a lot of them.”

Unfortunately, many people’s squabbles do not end harmoniously, but painfully and miserably. The fallout from sin is a no-holds barred, a tooth-to-nail, an all-out dogfight between men and women that continues today. The conflict between the husband and the wife arrived quickly on the double, reached a boiling point and spilt into the open.

Shame, blame and game characterized their relationship. Man and the woman felt shame (7) in the presence of each other, they started blaming each other (12-13) and the game of domination began (16). An urge to blame others swept over Adam and Eve – he blamed his spouse and she blamed the snake. Adam pointed a finger to Eve: “The woman you put here with me--she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it” (v 12), but Eve deflected blame, saying: “The serpent deceived me, and I ate” (v 13). Both would not accept responsibility for disobedience.

The two also experienced something inside them they had not felt before (3:10): fear, panic and vulnerability swept over them for the first time (10). The two lovebirds who were joined in one flesh discovered they were far from the ideal soul partner for each other. Love has its limits, familiarity breeds contempt and sacrificing one’s partner was not far from reach or out of question for them. They who had had so far enjoyed each other’s company now couldn’t get along, stand each other and agree on anything. From now on, they contend with each other, contest each other’s opinions, decisions and viewpoint till the rest of their lives (3:16). They began to see the faults, weaknesses and imperfections in each other and were ruthless enough to expose them, embellish them and exploit them. Mark Twain once said, “Of all the animals, man is the only one that is cruel. He is the only one that inflicts pain for the pleasure of doing it.”

Disregard for God’s Word Leads to the Point of Disillusionment
14 So the LORD God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this,
“Cursed are you above all the livestock and all the wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life. 15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” 16 To the woman he said, “I will greatly increase your pains in childbearing; with pain you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.” 17 To Adam he said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, 'You must not eat of it,' “Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. 18 It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. 19 By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.”
20 Adam named his wife Eve, because she would become the mother of all the living. (Gen 3:14-20)

Here are some of the more popular jokes on marriage:
- Getting married is like going to a restaurant with friends. You order what you want, then when you see what the other fellow has, you wish you had ordered that.
- At the cocktail party, one woman said to another, “Aren't you wearing your wedding ring on the wrong finger?” The other replied, “Yes, I am. I married the wrong man.”
- Marriage is an institution in which a man loses his bachelor's degree and the woman gets her master's.
- In the first year of marriage, the man speaks and the woman listens. In the second year, the woman speaks and the man listens. In the third year, they both speak and the neighbors listen.
- A husband said to her wife, “You know, I was a fool when I married you.” And the wife replied, “Yes, dear, but I was in love and didn't notice it.”
- When a man opens the door of his car for his wife, you can be sure of one thing: either the car is new or his wife is new.
- Marriage is very much like a violin; after the sweet music is over the strings are attached.
- Marriage is love. Love is blind. Marriage is an institution. Therefore marriage is an institution for the blind.
- Marriage certificate is just another name for a work permit.

Marriage life was not previously a walk in the park or a chore in the garden of Eden, but definitely hard work after the fall. Note that Eve already had a mind of her own and man was not always on top of things before the fall!

The family, strong, stable and sweet as it is, without God’s presence and lordship, is in for a rude shock. Sadly, a lot of people have taken their eyes off Jesus and placed their hopes on the family, including spouse and children. This is so common even among believing families. By their actions, school, sports and shopping seem more important to families. Unfortunately, women will feel the brunt of emotional pain (v 16) and men will face the bleakness of physical toil (v 17). They eventually know how painful living together can be even though living apart was not an option and not in God’s plan. The Chinese say, “Falling in love is easy; getting along is hard.” Courtship is romantic love, but marriage is relational love.

The harshest words for women throughout the Bible is in verse 16: childbearing, affection and domination. She is pulled to man but he will push her around. The Hebrew language is more intense because it speaks of more than just pain in childbearing: “I will multiply, multiply your sorrow and your conception.” According to the Hebrew text, women’s pain AND childbearing, not merely her pain in childbearing, will greatly increase or multiply. Of course, men have sorrow, too. They are not men of steel, neither are they made of wood and stones; but women’s sorrow is greatly multiplied or increased (v 16). English does not do justice to the phrase “greatly increase.” Hebrew uses same word for “greatly” and “increase,” so that it should read “I will increase, increase your pain,” or “I will multiply, multiply your sorrow.”

Women will dwell on their pain, while men think of their work. They will feel they give more than receive in a relationship and that no matter how much they give they do not get back as much. Their lives are wrapped around their husband and children and family, while men’s identity is shaped by their success and achievement. The same word “pain” or “sorrow” in KJV has been translated as toil (Ps 127:2, Prov 5:10), trouble (Prov 10:22), hard work (Prov 14:23) and harsh (Prov 15:1) elsewhere. The word “desire” (v 16) occurs only twice elsewhere: to depict sin’s crouching at the door in its desire for the angry Cain (Gen 4:7) and the desire for Solomon’s lover for him (Song 7:10). The desire is not only physical, but emotional and relational.

The right use and meaning of the word “rule” (v 16) will go south and turn ugly. God rightly made the sun and moon to rule day and night (Gen 1:18). The Lord is the rightful ruler of our lives (Judg 8:23). A wise father rules over his son (Prov 17:2). But the wrong use of it is dangerous and fatal. Poor ruling examples in the Bible include the rich rule over the poor (Prov 22:7), the slave over princes (Prov 19:10), the wicked ruling over the helpless (Prov 28:15) and a fierce king ruling over the people (Isa 19:4). Women’s desire for her husband is unabated, regardless whether he is rich man, a menial slave, a wicked man or a bad king. Choosing wrongly could be her doom. It’s been said, “A man’s worst fear is to enter the wrong work, but a woman’s worst fear is to marry the wrong husband.” The possibility of his husband controlling, using or mistreating her is high and very real to a woman. Heartaches, wretchedness and headaches could well be her lot if she simply chooses any guy. Friction, debate and rebellion over who is in control will consume man and woman.

Conclusion: The earthly relationship cannot succeed when the heavenly relationship is weak. The horizontal or human or social relationship flattens out when the vertical relationship with God bottoms out. The greatest danger in the world is sin, and our worst enemy is ourselves. Temptation is not sin. God tempts no one (Jas 1:13), and man does have a way out of temptation (1 Cor 10:13). Marriage is hard, but not hopeless. God is skilled at repairing broken lives and marriages, provided the man and the woman are willing to acknowledge and follow Him as Lord and Savior. Sin and death entered the world through one man, and death came to all men because all sinned (Rom 5:12-14), but God’s showed his righteousness to sinners through Jesus Christ: “For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive (1 Cor 15:21-23). Is God the rightful head of your house? Are you a proving for your family and protective of their interest? Is your family based on love, trust, understanding and respect?

Bible Couples, Pt. 2: Abraham and Sarah

ENJOY FORTUNE TOGETHER, ENDURE MISFORTUNE TOGETHER
(GENESIS 12:4-5, 10-13:1)
Larry's barn burned down and Susan, his wife, called the insurance company. Susan told the insurance company, “We had that barn insured for fifty thousand and I want my MONEY.” The agent replied, “Whoa there, just a minute, Susan. It doesn't work quite like that. We will ascertain the value of the old barn and provide you with a NEW one of comparable value.”

Susan replied after a pause: “Then I'd like to cancel the policy on my husband.”

Even people of faith fail for lack of courage, conviction and commitment, making poor decisions and suffering untold consequences in the process. Abraham, the father of all who believe (Rom 4:11), was faithless on one occasion. He almost lost his family if not for God’s faithfulness. It’s been said, “Three things in life make a man: hard work, sincerity and commitment.” If that is true, Abram failed miserably. He could not tough it out in uncertain or harsh economic times; he was not sincere with the neighbors and foreigners he met and had no commitment to his wife in real or perceived threatening circumstances.

It’s been said, “Desperate times call for desperate measures,” but I beg to differ. Desperate times need not lead to the path of deceit, disloyalty and dishonesty.

How do married couples rise above desperate times? What if riches, resources and reserves are lacking? What do they need to do to hold on to the family?

Desperate Times Call for Dogged Determination
A young man, a Christian, went to an older believer to ask for prayer. “Will you please pray that I may be more patient?” he asked. The aged saint agreed. They knelt together and the man began to pray, “Lord, send this young man tribulation in the morning; send this young man tribulation in the afternoon; send this young man....”

At that point the young Christian blurted out, “No, no, I didn’t ask you to pray for tribulation. I wanted you to pray for patience.” “Ah,” responded the wise Christian, “it’s through tribulation that we learn patience.”

It’s been said, “Pain is nothing compared to the emptiness that comes from quitting.”

Every couple enjoys their fair share of fortune and suffers misfortune like any other couple. An article published several years ago in USA Today (11/14/95) about what most people say are the most difficult things to manage in the household still rings true today. 26% of the respondents said finances were the most difficult to manage; 21% claimed household member’s schedule was at fault; 20% blamed communication with family and friends; 17% attribute chaos in the family to household chores and errands; and still 17% said “others.”

After Abram and Sarai had settled in Canaan, external and internal forces soon bore down on them. Abram and his family and their entourage were on the right track initially, but a famine sidetracked them. A famine is an environmental and agricultural downturn at its worst. Abram’s confidence in God’s guidance and provision was shaken. Canaan, not Egypt, was the Promised Land. They were supposed to be in Canaan (v 5), but after dropping anchor there, they panicked and fled to Egypt at the first sign of trouble (v 10). The same Hebrew equation for “the famine was severe” reappears one other time in Genesis 43:1, characterizing the early days of the famine in Joseph’s time, a few chapters later at its worst when it became “very severe” (Gen 47:4: The Hebrew word “very” is missing from NIV).

The famine was as severe a test as any. God had commended Abram and promised the land to his offspring (Gen 12:7), in response the patriarch built two altars (vv 7-8) to mark the occasion, to pay his homage and to sink his roots. However, Abram really intended to stay in good times and had no intention to stay in bad or lean times. God specifically commanded Abram while he was in Haran (v 1), “Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you” and again on arrival in Canaan, “To your offspring I will give this land” (v 7). The Lord gave no instructions to Abram when the famine struck, but Abram took God’s silence as permission to leave. The interesting thing was that the famine did more damage than the Canaanites (v 6). The natives could not scare Abram away, but the famine did the job (v 7).

The aging Abram (v 4) probably thought staying was too much to ask of him at his age. Left to his own judgment, Abram’s survival instincts took over and he acted out of fear, not in faith. He failed to seek God’s presence, His will and guidance. Even though commentators like Derek Kidner felt it is unrealistic to regard Egypt as forbidden territory to God’s people at this stage, he, however, said, “In a famine it might well seem a providence that Egypt was near by, watered by the flooding of the Nile. Yet all the indications are that Abram did not stop to enquire, but went on his own initiative, taking everything into account but God” (Genesis, p. 116). The grass was literally greener on the Egyptian side. He was determined to leave his options open and open the back door in his commitment to God. It was not too hard to convince himself that it was a selfless move - he did it all for the sake of others, including his family and servants, or so he thought.

Desperate Times Call for Dependable Character
11As he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, “I know what a beautiful woman you are. 12When the Egyptians see you, they will say, `This is his wife.' Then they will kill me but will let you live. 13Say you are my sister, so that I will be treated well for your sake and my life will be spared because of you.” 14 When Abram came to Egypt, the Egyptians saw that she was a very beautiful woman. 15 And when Pharaoh's officials saw her, they praised her to Pharaoh, and she was taken into his palace. 16 He treated Abram well for her sake, and Abram acquired sheep and cattle, male and female donkeys, menservants and maidservants, and camels. (Gen 12:11-16)

There was a man who traveled the seven continents searching for a rare bird. The bird was special because it could speak five languages. The man found the bird in a pet store on the other side of the world. He told the owner to have it shipped to his house.

When finally he arrived home from his travels, he said to his wife, “Dear, did the bird come?” She smiled and answered, “Yes.” He then asked, “Well, where it?” She replied, “It’s in the oven.” “You’ve got be to be kidding,” he said in disbelief. “You put that bird in the oven? Don't you know that bird can speak five different languages?” Unimpressed, his wife curtly replied, “Than why didn’t it speak up?” (Ralph Spencer)

Abram was a selfish pig who did not speak up when he ought to, not for his wife or to Pharaoh. His fears were justified, but being self-serving and selfish was not. He thought he was smart and savvy when he asked his beautiful wife, Sarai, to feign as his sister. Sarai was Abram’s wife and sister from a different mother (Gen 20:12), but she was Abram’s wife by marriage legally and his sister only technically. The Hebrew word for “beautiful” (v 11) also describes Rachel (Gen 29:17), Abigail (1 Sam 25:3), two Tamars (2 Sam 13:1, 14:27), Abishag (1 Kings 1:4) and Esther (Est 2:7). Abram was seventy-five then (v 4), and Sarai was ten years younger (Gen 17:17), at a stunning 65! Abram’s calculations backfired from the start. Not only did he not value her wife, he did not know her value. As it turned out, Sarai was not only beautiful, she was “very beautiful” (v 14) in the eyes of the Egyptians. Sarai was not only one of the magnificent seven beauties of the Old Testament, she was the head of the class. Only she and Abishag (1 Kings 1:4) of the seven qualified as “very beautiful” in Hebrew, but the young Abishag (1 Ki 1:2) was very beautiful in her prime; in contrast, Sarai was still very beautiful past her prime.

Abram suspected from day one what the Egyptians would see in Sarai and how dangerous it would be for his neck. The word “when” (v 12) is comprised of two Hebrew words “And it will be” and “that.” Not “if.” He did not doubt it would happen, neither did he question if he could live without her, how to live without her or how the Egyptians – plural, would respond. His answer to the “your wife or your life?” threat was obvious without saying; the only thing left unanswered in his mind was who would take her. Verse 12 reveals that he predicted what the Egyptians would “see” in his wife and what they would “say” about her and what they would “do” to her husband if she was married. When push came to shove, he let others take his wife away (v 15) without a fight, a word or a murmur. How pitiful! At that point, Abram could still sweep Sarai off her feet, say no to such risks and brave the Canaan famine together. Immigrating to Egypt was worse than staying in Canaan. Famine in the promised land was replaced by famine in the human heart.

Wittingly or otherwise, Abram uttered a self-fulfilling prophecy when he said, “Say you are my sister, so that I will be treated well for your sake.” The Hebrew verb “treated well” reappeared in the most curious and suspicious circumstances when Pharaoh later “treated well” Abram. The Hebrew text said he “had” sheep and cattle, male and female donkeys, menservants and maidservants, and camels (v 16) – anything but his wife back. In other words, he had part of what Pharaoh had, but Pharaoh had all that he had. He was richer in things but poorer in life and empty at home. He gambled big and lost everything. Either Pharaoh helped Abram to be rich or Abram helped himself to be rich.

Desperate Times Call for Dignified Response
17 But the LORD inflicted serious diseases on Pharaoh and his household because of Abram's wife Sarai. 18 So Pharaoh summoned Abram. “What have you done to me?” he said. “Why didn't you tell me she was your wife? 19 Why did you say, 'She is my sister,' so that I took her to be my wife? Now then, here is your wife. Take her and go!” 20 Then Pharaoh gave orders about Abram to his men, and they sent him on his way, with his wife and everything he had. 13:1 So Abram went up from Egypt to the Negev, with his wife and everything he had, and Lot went with him. (Gen 12:17-13:1)

A woman came out of her house, and saw three old men, with long white beards, sitting in her front yard. She did not recognize them. She said, “I don't think I know you, but you must be hungry. Please come in, and have something to eat.” “Is the man of the house home?” they asked. “No”, she replied. “He's out.” “Then we cannot come in”, they replied. In the evening, when her husband came home, she told him what had happened. “Go, tell them I am home, and invite them in!”

The woman went out, and invited the men in. “We do not go into a house together,” they replied. “Why is that?” she asked. One of the old men explained: “His name is Wealth,” he said, pointing to one of his friends, and said, pointing to another one, “He is Success, and I am Love.” Then he added, “Now, go in and discuss with your husband which one of us you want in your home.”

The woman went in, and told her husband what was said. Her husband was overjoyed. “How nice!!” he said. “Since that is the case, let us invite Wealth. Let him come and fill our home with wealth!” His wife disagreed. “My dear, why don't we invite Success?” Their daughter-in-law was listening from the other corner of the house. She jumped in with her own suggestion: “Would it not be better to invite Love? Our home will then be filled with love!” “Let us heed our daughter-in-law's advice,” said the husband to his wife. “Go out and invite Love to be our guest.”

The woman went out, and asked the three old men, “Which one of you is Love? Please come in, and be our guest.” Love got up and started walking toward the house. The other two also got up, and followed him. Surprised, the lady asked Wealth and Success: “I only invited Love. Why are you coming in?” The old men replied together: “If you had invited Wealth or Success, the other two of us would've stayed out, but since you invited Love, wherever He goes, we go with him. Wherever there is Love, there is also Wealth and Success.”

Only divine intervention could save Abram and Sarai at this point when Abram refused to speak up and stand up for Sarai. The LORD inflicted serious diseases on Pharaoh and his household (v 17) to protect Sarai. This is the only biblical instance of reported “serious diseases” or “great plagues” in Hebrew. Not even the plagues on Egypt in Moses’ era could top that – Moses’ plagues were primarily “plagues” (Ex 11:1) with no superlatives attached. Poor Sarai. Sarai was almost exchanged for beasts and servants by the passive Abram who did nothing. She was not invited, but taken, taken not for a foreign dignitary but a foreign wife and not as a house guest but a palace concubine. Further, her weak, passive and cowardly husband was not going back to get her no matter what. No plan was made to climb the castle, tie a rope, lower the maiden and make a getaway. Abram literally sacrificed his wife on the altar of self-preservation. The text calls Sarai his wife (vv 11, 12), Abram’s wife (v 17) and your wife (v 18, 19), in contrast to Abram’s assertion of Sarai being “my sister” (vv 13, 19). Incredibly and ironically, Pharaoh was more honorable, if not more righteous, than the father of faith. In fact, Pharaoh did not have to utter the “your wife or your life” threat; Abram willingly tabled the offer, “my honey for your money.”

Also, Pharaoh knew he had incurred divine wrath even when Abram was clueless. Pharaoh had to figure out what had gone wrong in his kingdom and arrive at a conclusion on his own. The text indicated Abram was speechless in the midst of a crisis of epic proportions when he had a chance to speak up. Further, Pharaoh summoned Abram; Abram did not call on him. It’s been said, “Not admitting a mistake is a bigger mistake.”

Sarai was not as guilty as Abram but she was not innocent either and did not get off scot-free. Someone noted that Sarai, not Abram, told the lie to Pharaoh. Abram was the supplier but Sarai was the peddler! One of the maidservants they picked up in Egypt (v 16), Hagar the Egyptian, was to be Sarai’s constant menace, her thorn in the flesh, her rival for her husband’s attention and to the family name and fortune. The trip south unleashed a genie out of the bottle that refused to be bottled up again. Out of Hagar’s womb came Ishmael, the father of the Arabs (Gen 25:12-13). As a result, the fierce conflict between the Israelites and the Arabs remains unabated today.

Conclusion: Helen Keller said, “Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.” On another occasion, she said, “Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved.” Have you been faithful, devoted, true and loyal to your spouse? Don’t hang your spouse out to dry, compromise at your spouse’s expense or put God to the test. God puts the husband as the head of the house to make godly and God-pleasing decisions, and the wife as her helper to remind him to be more Christlike, not like himself or herself. Men, have you have been the good, godly and gallant husband God has intended you to be?

Bible Couples, Pt. 3: Isaac and Rebekah

A CHIP OFF THE OLD BLOCK (GENESIS 27:1-46)
To relatives and friends, guessing who is the favorite child in the family is not difficult. Growing up, my sister was daddy’s girl. The family included two boys and a sister in the middle, each a year apart, but my youngest son status was in vain.

The stark reminder in Asia of who the golden child is usually occurs during festive occasions. At the Chinese New Year dinner time, my saliva would drip at the sight of every child’s favorite part of the boiled fresh chicken – the drumstick – and but my heart would sigh knowing on whose bowl it would land on. My father would use his chopsticks, lift the first piece and the masterpiece from the plate before anyone could dig in, sticking to the same old text as he explained to the boys: “Sister is a girl, the middle child; so she deserves the drumstick.” The boys would alternate the other drumstick, but it usually ended up on my brother’s bowl, because he wore the eldest son mantle in the family and because I had no voice in the family. I would sit glumly, act brave but fume inside. The subtle rejection was another blow to a child whose parents were divorced by then. Drumsticks were not to blame, the lack of self-esteem, security and status in the family was.

Favoritism in the family is common, subtle, hurtful and destructive. Francine Klagsbrun in her 1992 book “Mixed Feelings” reported that 84% of 272 people surveyed said one or both of their parents had shown favoritism when they were growing up. Only 16% deny that. In the case of a perceived doting mother, 66% of the men compared to only 27% of the women felt favored by her. In the case of an accused father, 62% of women, compared to 49% of the men, felt they were favored. When respondents did not choose themselves as favorites, they tend to choose a brother over a sister as Mom’s favorite, and a sister over a brother as Dad’s favorite. 43% felt “secured” when favored by their fathers and 36% felt so when favored by mothers. The twist in the study is that 13% favored by father also felt “resentful” and an even higher 18% favored by mother resented the burden (p. 174).

The favoritism Isaac showed Esau and Rebekah to Jacob is one of the best-known stories in the Bible. The guilty party was the parents, not the children, but the burden was passed on the children and the behavior was picked up by the children.

What can parents and spouses do to raise healthy children? What kind of godly and moral character and example do you leave behind for your children? How are you preparing your children for their growth and independence?

The More Communication You have, the Least Concern There is
27:1 When Isaac was old and his eyes were so weak that he could no longer see, he called for Esau his older son and said to him, “My son.” “Here I am,” he answered. 2 Isaac said, “I am now an old man and don't know the day of my death. 3 Now then, get your weapons--your quiver and bow--and go out to the open country to hunt some wild game for me. 4 Prepare me the kind of tasty food I like and bring it to me to eat, so that I may give you my blessing before I die.” (Gen 27:1-4)

A reader who identified herself as Marlene’s daughter wrote to “Dear Abby” after she had just lost her mother to a lengthy illness and told the columnist of her parents’ beautiful marriage that sparkled through its almost fifty years of marriage. She never heard them say an angry word at each other. While sorting through her mother’s papers she came across the “Rules for a Happy Marriage” saying the mother had kept. She did not know how long she got it or when she had it, but she passed the advice to other readers:
1. Never both be angry at the same time.
2. Never yell at each other unless the house is on fire.
3. If one of you has to win an argument, let it be your mate.
4. If you must criticize, do it lovingly.
5. Never bring up mistakes of the past.
6. Neglect the whole world rather than each other.
7. Never go to sleep with an argument unsettled.
8. At least once every day say a kind or complimentary word to your life partner.
9. When you have done something wrong, admit it and ask for forgiveness.
10. It takes two to make a quarrel, and the one in the wrong usually is the one who does the most talking. (Dear Abby 2/1/96)

Isaac and Rebekah’s problems began long before this incident occurred and the episode began. Two chapters ago, the Lord told Rebekah that the older will serve the younger (Gen 25:23) and Isaac was witness to the grabbing instincts of Jacob at birth when he came out of his mother’s womb grabbing his brother’s heel (Gen 25:26). Bible commentators debated on whether Rebekah told his husband what the Lord had told her, but all agreed that their communication method was unhealthy, nonsensical and broke. Not only did they fail to keep the communication channels open on the welfare of their kids, their partisan and polarizing support for their favorite child forced the succession issue, poisoned the home environment, clouded the family’s future. Their communication was so unwholesome that Rebekah had to eavesdrop and spy on his husband’s talk with the older son.

Genesis 25:28 – two chapters ago - had already established the family dynamics and pattern of behavior: “Isaac…loved Esau, but Rebekah loved Jacob.” The fundamental parenting principle of fairly treating and loving all children was sabotaged by the parents themselves. Genesis 27 is merciless in depicting their continual bias towards one son with the gross neglect of another. Isaac doted over Esau, calling him “my son” as many as seven times (Gen 27:1, 18. 20, 21, 26, 27, 37) – five times mistaken identity though (vv 18. 20, 21, 26, 27) and Rebekah fawned over younger son, Jacob, calling him “my son” three times (Gen 27:8, 13, 43). Both parents have their favorite son, both sons modeled after their parent and the parents played one son against the other. Also, Esau was “his son Esau” in verse 5; Jacob was “her son Jacob” in verses 6 and 17; the text called the fake Esau (Jacob in disguise) “his son” in verse 20 to show who’s dear to Isaac and to end the name-calling with a bang or climax, twice in Hebrew Isaac lovingly called the pretender Esau “my very son Esau” (v 21, 24), the word “very” in Hebrew is missing in NIV.

Isaac’s irresponsibility as a parent and husband is signaled by the Hebrew word “love” (vv 4, 9, 14), translated as “like” in NIV. This word is mostly used for human love. Up to Genesis 27, this word is based on relationships, accounting for Abraham’s love for Isaac (Gen 22:2), Isaac’s love for Rebekah (Gen 24:67) and for the two parents’ love – Isaac’s love for Esau and Rebekah for Jacob (Gen 25:28). This word is viewed negatively in the Scriptures when love is showered on “things” and not people, such as loving pleasure (Prov. 21:17), loving a quarrel (Prov 17:19), and loving the untamed tongue (Prov 18:21). Loving children is not wrong, but loving only one child is bad.

Three times the text exposes Isaac’s love for tasty food, or “wild game” in Hebrew (vv 4, 9, 14). Isaac’s love was fleshly, carnal and worldly; not healthy, inclusive or unconditional. His strong craving, insatiable appetite and unbridled mouth for wild game made him pit one son against the other. His love for Esau (Gen 25:28) was compared in Hebrew with his ridiculous love for the wild (v 4). He pampered and spoiled Esau the same way he indulged on and hungered for the exotic. His ideal son was a Dirty Hairy kind of guy – dirty and hairy; a man’s man, not a girlie man; a hunk of a man, not a fraction of a man; and a chip of the old block, not or a Mama’s boy tied to her apron strings.

The More Conniving You are, the More Condemned You’ll Be
18 He went to his father and said, “My father.” “Yes, my son,” he answered. “Who is it?” 19 Jacob said to his father, “I am Esau your firstborn. I have done as you told me. Please sit up and eat some of my game so that you may give me your blessing.” 20 Isaac asked his son, “How did you find it so quickly, my son?” “The LORD your God gave me success,” he replied. 21 Then Isaac said to Jacob, “Come near so I can touch you, my son, to know whether you really are my son Esau or not.” 22 Jacob went close to his father Isaac, who touched him and said, “The voice is the voice of Jacob, but the hands are the hands of Esau.” 23 He did not recognize him, for his hands were hairy like those of his brother Esau; so he blessed him. 24 “Are you really my son Esau?” he asked. “I am,” he replied. (Gen 27:18-24)

It’s been said, “Sow a thought, reap an act; sow an act, reap a habit; sow a habit, reap a character; sow a character, reap a destiny.”

The Chinese say, “When the family is harmonious, thousand things prosper; when the family turns ugly, mouths will not stop.”

Jane Bluestein’s “The Parent’s Little Book of Lists” has a list of “22 of the Worst Things an Adult Ever Said to a Child” but also the best things adults said to them.

Some of the worst things submitted include:
“You’ll never amount to anything.”
“I wish I’d never had you.”
“How could you be so stupid?”
“You're useless (or hopeless).”
“I can't stand you.”
“You’ll never be college material.”
“You're lying.”
“You'll never be any good at that.”
“Why can’t you be more like your brother or sister?”
“You're fat and ugly.”

Some of the best things include:
“I love you.” (top of the list)
“How are you?”
“You are a good person.”
“You can do anything you choose to do.”
“I’m so glad we got you.”
“You are very special (or terrific).”
“When you make up your mind to do something, you always follow through.”
“You are number one.”
“Congratulations! You deserve this!”
“You’re beautiful.”
“You’re more responsible than a lot of adults I know.”
“I believe in you.”
“You'll go far. I'll never have to worry about you.”

Fundamentally, Rebekah did not trust his husband and his son Jacob’s way of doing things, so she took matters into her own hand and made things come true by herself. The worst indictment on Rebekah was not that she was an eavesdropper, a meddler and a handful, but that she pushed Jacob to help himself. Twice she ordered her son to obey her with the daring expression and direct command “Obey my voice” (vv 8, 13), taking responsibility for the actions and consequences. The translation “tell” in verse 8 is softer and lighter than the original Hebrew word “command.” Not only could she direct her son like a general, she could read her husband like a book. Even when Rebekah took two domesticated animals (v 9), not really wild game, she knew her husband could not tell or smell the difference.

Jacob was not a natural born liar, but a parent emboldened liar. At first, he was horrified and helpless (vv 11-12), but when the time came, he did not gulp in reply, break a sweat, bat an eye, lose his composure, register any unease or fluff his lines. The rookie never took a false step, gave the wrong answer or strayed from the plot. The younger dressed the part, looked the part and perfected the part. The mother did not count on the father to ask so many questions, but she needed not worry. Jacob calmly handled the questions like a pro, handling one question at a time, saying more than he should at first (vv 18-20), but improvising along the way and telling his father what he wanted to hear, including invoking God’s name, which was perfect assurance to the father.

In fact, the only one who trembled was the older. Esau did not just “tremble” or “tremble exceedingly,” but “trembled very exceedingly” (v 33), the only time this phrase occurs in the Bible. His “loud cry” (v 34) in Hebrew is comparable to two other instances - the loud wailing over the death of the first-born in Egypt (Ex 11:6) and the enslavement of Jews by fellow Jews during Nehemiah’s time (Neh 5:1). This is the first use of the word “bitter” (v 34) in the Bible. Esau practically defined bitterness. He was not only bitter, but “exceeding” bitter – the word “exceeding” dropped from NIV. The word “bitter” occurs 41 times but only once the phrase “exceeding bitter” occurs in the Bible.

Jacob escaped condemnation presently, but faced heartbreak a generation later. The favor he received from his mother was transferred upon his son Joseph, yielding a ten-fold repayment when his ten other sons’ hatred (Gen 37:4), more hatred (Gen 37:5, 8) and jealousy (Gen 37:11) boiled to the top and spilled into the open in their conspiracy to kill Joseph (Gen 37:18).

The More Controlling You are, the Less Custody You Have
41 Esau held a grudge against Jacob because of the blessing his father had given him. He said to himself, “The days of mourning for my father are near; then I will kill my brother Jacob.” 42 When Rebekah was told what her older son Esau had said, she sent for her younger son Jacob and said to him, “Your brother Esau is consoling himself with the thought of killing you. 43 Now then, my son, do what I say: Flee at once to my brother Laban in Haran. 44 Stay with him for a while until your brother's fury subsides. 45 When your brother is no longer angry with you and forgets what you did to him, I'll send word for you to come back from there. Why should I lose both of you in one day?” (Gen 27:1-45)

When Mac and Barbara Bledsoe had their first child, famed NFL player Drew Bledsoe, Jim Cobb, the family doctor who delivered the baby on Valentine’s Day, 1972, in a country hospital in Central Washington, said as he handed the baby to the father for the first time: “I want you to remember something. This child is not yours. Never has been, never will be. He’s on loan to you for eighteen years.”

The people who lost the most in the end were not Isaac or Esau, but Rebekah and Jacob. The polarized family openly shared and vented of their distrust of one another, dishonor in the family and their disgust with its members. The brothers did not trust each other before, but now they could not tolerate each other. The word “grudge” (v 41) is softened from its traditional translation of “hate” in KJV (Gen 49:23, 50:15, Job 16:9, Ps 55:3), meaning mistreatment, the same word for the “persecution” Joseph endured at the hands of his brothers (Gen 49:23, 50:15). Before, they hid things in their heart, now it was out in the open. This “grudge” is an open grudge, not a hidden grudge. Jacob and his mother’s actions opened a can of worms in the family.

The father and the older son duo practically invented new and colorful words in the Hebrew lexicon for Jacob (v 35) – the father called him “deceitful” and the older called the younger “supplanter” (v 36). News that Esau the hunter had vowed to hunt for Jacob’s head at his father’s death reached the ears of the mother. The mother also coined a new word in Hebrew at sight of his son’s mounting anger – “fury” (v 44), which is different from the traditional word ‘anger” (aph) in verse 45, which means anger that can be seen on one’s face or nose or even forehead compared to the word “fury,” which means hot displeasure, poison and rage. Previously, life at home was quietly unsettling; now it was open warfare. Jacob had to watch his back, look over his shoulders and keep an eye on Esau.

Rebekah lost the most in the end. Esau’s loss was property, but her loss was personal. She had already lost her older son’s affection and allegiance; now she was about to lose the son’s acceptance. Her younger son’s innocent and carefree days were over, but now his time with her was also numbered. She was about to lose him forever. She did not think it would come to an end this way, this fast. No wonder she acknowledged that she lost two sons in a day (v 45). A mother’s dream of reuniting with his son, seeing his son married and meeting his wife would not materialize. Jacob would never see her mother again or attend her funeral.

Conclusion: God's way is the best way. The way to trust God is submission to Him, giving Him all your fears and hopes; and the consequence of distrust is suspicion, subversion and spite. Parents, are you raising your children in godly instruction and with biblical values? Do you teach them to value brotherly love, neighborly love, and God’s love? Are you discouraging or exasperating them, dismissing or fearing your responsibility, dishonoring and misrepresenting God?

Bible Couples, Pt. 4: Jacob and Rachel

THE LABOR OF LOVE (GENESIS 29:9-35)
One of the best quotes on love I know of comes from Liz Carpenter. She said, “Love is a moment and a lifetime. It is looking at him across a room and feeling that if I don’t send the rest of my life with him, I’ll have missed the boat.”

More than 66% of adults believe that every person has a perfect match, the perfect Mr. or Ms. Right. The most optimistic groups are those from 18-24 and from 25-34. 85% of those below 25 believe the perfect mate is out there waiting for him or her and a high 71% of those in the 25-34 bracket agrees that there is someone out there who matches him or her perfectly.

For those who have been fully impacted by the middle age crisis, the 35-44 age group, the romantic notion dips to 60%. However, it regains momentum in the next two age brackets – 67% of those between 45-54 and 63% among those 55-64 still maintain there is a perfect match for every man and woman.

Everything is downhill when you are over 64. Still, 60% of those 65-74 believes in the perfect match theory but only 53% of those over 75 believe so. (“Is there a Mr. or Ms. Perfect?” USA Today 2/14/95)

One of the most bizarre and fascinating but also the most admirable romance in the Bible is the love of Jacob for his wife Rachel. It is a marriage that triumphed in spite of the odds stacked against it. For all his faults, Jacob survived his meddling in-laws, an unexpected third party and the infamous seven-year itch. Most people can only sigh at the depth and the determination of Jacob’s unconditional love for Rachel.

So what is love? Is it an aphrodisiac? Is it magic? Is it an obsession? Is it dependable or is it merely desire? What helps love and what hinders it?

Love is a Conduct, Not a Conquest
9 While he was still talking with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep, for she was a shepherdess. 10 When Jacob saw Rachel daughter of Laban, his mother's brother, and Laban's sheep, he went over and rolled the stone away from the mouth of the well and watered his uncle's sheep. 11 Then Jacob kissed Rachel and began to weep aloud. 12 He had told Rachel that he was a relative of her father and a son of Rebekah. So she ran and told her father. 13 As soon as Laban heard the news about Jacob, his sister's son, he hurried to meet him. He embraced him and kissed him and brought him to his home, and there Jacob told him all these things. 14 Then Laban said to him, “You are my own flesh and blood.” After Jacob had stayed with him for a whole month, 15 Laban said to him, “Just because you are a relative of mine, should you work for me for nothing? Tell me what your wages should be.” (Gen 29:9-15)

A nice girl brings home her fiancé to meet her parents. After dinner, her mother tells her father to find out about the young man. He invites the fiancé to his study for a chat. “So, what are your plans?” the father asks the fiancé. “I am a biblical scholar,” he replies.

“A biblical scholar. Admirable, but what will you do to provide a nice house for my daughter to live in, as she's accustomed to?” “I will study,” the young man replies, “...and God will provide for us.”

“And how will you buy her a beautiful engagement ring, such as she deserves?”
“I will concentrate on my studies, God will provide for us.”

“And children? How will you support children?” “Don't worry, sir, God will provide.”

The conversation proceeds like this, and each time the father questions, the fiancé insists that God will provide. Later, the mother asks, “So? How did it go?” “He has no job and no plans, but the good news is he thinks I'm God.”

Love is a powerful stimulant for change, but it is not a permanent prescription for change. Falling in love doesn’t pay the bills of a debtor, do the homework of a procrastinator or break the chokehold of a habit. No love potion can remedy a spineless, boneless or clueless person. However, love will always lend a helping hand, to inspire and change a willing and motivated person.

The education of Jacob began when he changed from lazy bum and life support to hard worker. Before this incident, Jacob was the little emperor at home in Canaan. He came from money even if had yet to get any, but he really didn’t have much of a life outside of the home nor did he have to lift a finger at home; so he was the little brat who became the master of the house, spending his time picking on, toying with and scoring against his no-brainer of a brother, Esau. His brother’s vow to kill him (Gen 27:41) when Jacob deceived him of his birthright forced him to leave home and sent him hurtling across the desert to his mother’s ancestral homeland, where he found a different and uneven kind of match in his uncle Laban, who is the brother of Jacob’s mother (Gen 27:43). Jacob the smooth-skin (Gen 27:11), homely Mama’s boy grew of age without home, money and security in his new environment.

Jacob’s usefulness and breakthrough began day one in the desert. He had good influence around him and a powerful working model – Rachel, and he had better shape up because Rachel was no slouch! Rachel was a shepherdess, a good and responsible one to be able to keep her job in the company of men. Rachel proved herself as the eyes, the voice and the guide of the sheep under her care. She was not the type to stay at home, see the shepherds off, and leave the job to men.

Jacob discovered the value of hard work, and it was never late. He transitioned from boy to man when he showed a sense of accomplishment, a stomach for responsibility and a direction in life. Jacob, who had everything done for him by Mama, began to do something for himself and for others (v 10) – he rolled the stone away from the mouth of the well and watered his uncle's sheep. Jacob knew that Mama would tolerate him as a freeloader, but potential in-laws would not. When he stayed with his uncle, he worked hard for his meals, room and board. He did not stop working from day one and even worked for nothing for a whole month. Work was a virtue and never a torture with Rachel by his side. His work ethic was second to none, his learning knew no bounds and his relationship with others improved by leaps and bounds.

Love is a Commitment, Not a Ceremony
16 Now Laban had two daughters; the name of the older was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. 17 Leah had weak eyes, but Rachel was lovely in form, and beautiful. 18 Jacob was in love with Rachel and said, “I'll work for you seven years in return for your younger daughter Rachel.” 19 Laban said, “It's better that I give her to you than to some other man. Stay here with me.” 20 So Jacob served seven years to get Rachel, but they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her. 21 Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife. My time is completed, and I want to lie with her.” 22 So Laban brought together all the people of the place and gave a feast. 23 But when evening came, he took his daughter Leah and gave her to Jacob, and Jacob lay with her. 24 And Laban gave his servant girl Zilpah to his daughter as her maidservant. 25 When morning came, there was Leah! So Jacob said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? I served you for Rachel, didn't I? Why have you deceived me?” 26 Laban replied, “It is not our custom here to give the younger daughter in marriage before the older one. 27 Finish this daughter's bridal week; then we will give you the younger one also, in return for another seven years of work.” 28 And Jacob did so. He finished the week with Leah, and then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to be his wife. 29 Laban gave his servant girl Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her maidservant. 30 Jacob lay with Rachel also, and he loved Rachel more than Leah. And he worked for Laban another seven years. (Gen 29:16-30)

Commitment means faithfulness of spouses to each other. It’s been said of the difference between love and marriage:
“Love is holding hands in the street,
Marriage is holding arguments in the street.
Love is dinner for 2 in your favorite restaurant,
Marriage is a Chinese take-out.
Love is cuddling on a sofa,
Marriage is deciding on a sofa,
Love is talking about having children,
Marriage is talking about getting away from children.
Love is going to bed early,
Marriage is going to sleep early.
Love is a romantic drive,
Marriage is a tarmac drive.
Love is losing your appetite,
Marriage is losing your figure.
Love is sweet nothing in the ear,
Marriage is sweet nothing in the bank.
Love is a flickering flame,
Marriage is a flickering television.
Love is 1 drink and 2 straws,
Marriage is “Don't you think you've had enough!”

Jacob’s commitment to Rachel passed the test of time, errors and in-laws. Rachel the shepherdess was a unique woman. Inspiring the rich and spoilt Jacob to work was a goal, a test and a miracle, which Jacob passed with flying colors. He had superhuman commitment to Rachel. Working for the right of her hand in marriage was a joy, never a torture, to him. No dowry was too much to pay, no labor was too hard to endure and no duration was too long to wait. Jacob loved Rachel so much that he got on with his father-in-law, positioned himself as potential son-in-law and married himself into her family.

Rachel was beautiful (v 17). Not only was she one of the famed seven “beautiful” ladies in the Bible, along with Sarai (Gen 12:11), Rachel (Gen 29:17), Abigail (1 Sam 25:3), two Tamars (2 Sam 13:1, 14:27), Abishag (1 Kings 1:4) and Esther (Est 2:7), she was the only one qualified as “beautiful and beautiful” in Hebrew. None of the seven beauties was praised as such. The Hebrew text describes her as “Beautiful figure, beautiful appearance.” In other words, she was shapely and striking, body-beautiful and picture perfect.

However, Jacob’s devotion to Rachel was not skin-deep. The next verse, verse 18, tells us that it was not Rachel’s fabulous body or photogenic face that Jacob loved; it was the person. The word “love” occurs three times in the chapter (vv 18, 20, 30). Lust and infatuation could only last so long. Working seven years for a bride is comparable to paying a house for dowry. In today’s permissive society, even seven days or seven months is too long a wait to cohabit together for many men and women! Jacob loved Rachel in true sweeping romance fashion. The seven years were not an itch but a flash, not an eternity but an opportunity, not a chore but a climax. He was truly, madly, deeply in love with Rachel. Seven years was a steep price to pay, but he was the one who volunteered and mentioned it (v 18); Laban did not force him.

Jacob was not to blame for the latest mess. His conniving and controlling father-in-law Laban put him into this impossible and unbelievable situation. Poor Jacob. He couldn’t undo what he had done on the wedding night and he could not leave town without his beloved Rachel. When confronted with three questions, the wily old fox of a father-in-law said basically, “Not in my backyard,” “Not in your dreams,” “No such bargain,” “Not so fast” and “Not so cheap.” The word “deceive” – used for the first time in the Bible - has the connotation of “betray,” different from the earlier word “deceive” or “craft” used for Jacob’s deception (Gen 27:35, 36).

Love is a Couple, Not a Crowd
25 When morning came, there was Leah! So Jacob said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? I served you for Rachel, didn't I? Why have you deceived me?” 26 Laban replied, “It is not our custom here to give the younger daughter in marriage before the older one. 27 Finish this daughter's bridal week; then we will give you the younger one also, in return for another seven years of work.” 28 And Jacob did so. He finished the week with Leah, and then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to be his wife. 29 Laban gave his servant girl Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her maidservant. 30 Jacob lay with Rachel also, and he loved Rachel more than Leah. And he worked for Laban another seven years. 31 When the LORD saw that Leah was not loved, he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren. 32 Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Reuben, for she said, “It is because the LORD has seen my misery. Surely my husband will love me now.” 33 She conceived again, and when she gave birth to a son she said, “Because the LORD heard that I am not loved, he gave me this one too.” So she named him Simeon. 34 Again she conceived, and when she gave birth to a son she said, “Now at last my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” So he was named Levi. 35 She conceived again, and when she gave birth to a son she said, “This time I will praise the LORD.” So she named him Judah. Then she stopped having children. (Gen 29:25-35)

A certain middle-aged man with half-gray and half-brown had a liking for two women and decided to take both of them as wives. Happy was the wife who could please him the most. They took good care of him in all ways, at all times, with all affection.

However, one problem exists. When the first wife combed the man's head, she did not like the brown hairs on his husband's head. So she would pick a hair here and a hair there. The second wife, too, did not like the mix colors on her husband's head. So she decided to pick out the white hair. Before too long they left the man a bald man. The point is: no person can have two loves!

Loving two people at the same time is a recipe for disaster. In love, three is a crowd. If there ever were a victim and a loser in Jacob’s case, it was Leah (v 32). She got his man but not his heart. She thought tricking and bargaining Jacob into marriage would make him love her. No wonder she felt hated all her life. Leah’s acquiescence to his father’s plan caused her to be hated (vv 31, 33), not even misunderstood or even unloved, as the word “hate” has been translated in NIV. The word is same feelings of “hate” that Joseph’s brothers had for Joseph (Gen 37:4, 5). Can you imagine how shocked, nauseated, dazed he felt at the sight of his supposedly sister-in-law in bed? He could have passed out, throw up or broke down.

Later in life, Leah thought giving Jacob a son would make her husband forget about his first love and the other woman, ensure her husband would spend more time with her, keep the husband around the house and reward her with love and attention, but things did not turn out that way. In verse 33, in time the breakthrough came when she realized that Jacob did not love her even though she had borne him two sons. A third child did not make any difference to Jacob (v 34) although Leah clung to the hope that her husband would be attached to her or the kids, but it was false hope.

How Leah got sucked into the love triangle is another story. How Leah agree to his father’s scheme was beyond belief. Her problem was not the absence of love, but the absence of self-esteem. Leah had weak eyes (v 17), but the eyes were not a curse. Western or Eastern eyes, brown or blue eyes, single or double eyelids, long- or short-sightedness, glasses thick as onions are never a curse in itself. Her lack of self-love, self-worth and self-respect when she felt unloved were her handicap. Her eyes were not attractive, but they were not unattractive. Having weak eyes did not signal a curse or her doom. This word translated as “weak” in NIV (2 Sam 3:39) is often the same word for “tender” (Gen 33:13, Prov 4:3, Isa 47:1, Ezek 17:22), “gentle” (Deut 28:54, Job 41:3), “inexperienced” (1 Chron 22:5), and “indecisive” (2 Chron 13:7). Probably the most familiar translation for weak is from Prov 15:1: “A gentle answer turns away wrath.”

Unlike Bible readers, Leah did not have the benefit of seeing the big picture or the distant future. From her son Judah will be the Messiah line (Gen. 49:8-12). The gospel of Matthew traces Jesus’ roots to Judah (Matt 1:2). Rachel was buried in her own tomb (Gen. 35:19), but Leah was buried with Jacob (Gen 49:31). In the end love was not Leah’s lot in life; misery was all she knew (v 32). She took a leaf out of Hagar’s playbook and borrowed a word original to Hagar. Her misery was the same word used for Hagar’s suffering (Gen 16:11) when she fled at her mistress Sarah’s mistreatment. After having a child with Jacob, she still couldn’t escape the empty, feeling. The misery she mentioned (v 32) was self-inflicted. Her problem was not a serious eye problem, but a serious heart and mind problem.

Eventually Leah discovered that playing victim and playing spoiler was no fun when others refuse to play. Her education was complete when her fourth child came. This last time she stopped raising her hopes again and mentioning her husband again.

Conclusion: Married people know that love is a catalyst for change, but not a cure for all ills. The Chinese say, “Falling in love is easy, living together is hard.” Love is the most powerful force in the world, but is also the most perplexing thing in the world. Are you married or are you marrying to escape a controlling parent, a loveless family, a boring life or a low self-esteem? Have you dealt with the empty feeling or the character flaw you have to be the right person? Do you bring joy hope or misery and suffering to people around you?

Bible Couples, Pt. 5: Manoah and His Wife

A PARENT’S WORK IS NEVER DONE (JUDGES 14:1-15:1)
Have you heard of the “Parent's Dictionary of Meanings” in deciphering children speak?
DUMBWAITER: one who asks if the kids would care to order dessert.
FEEDBACK: the inevitable result when the baby doesn't appreciate the strained carrots.
FULL NAME: what you call your child when you're mad at him.
GRANDPARENTS: the people who think your children are wonderful even though they're sure you're not raising them right.
HEARSAY: what toddlers do when anyone mutters a dirty word.
INDEPENDENT: how we want our children to be as long as they do everything we say.
OW: the first word spoken by children with older siblings
PUDDLE: a small body of water that draws other small bodies wearing dry shoes into it.
SHOW OFF: a child who is more talented than yours.
STERILIZE: what you do to your first baby's pacifier by boiling it, and to your last baby's pacifier by blowing on it and wiping it with saliva.
TOP BUNK: where you should never put a child wearing Superman jammies.
TWO-MINUTE WARNING: when the baby's face turns red and she begins to make those familiar (bowel) grunting noises.
VERBAL: able to whine in words
WHODUNIT: none of the kids that live in your house.

One of the sweetest couples in the Bible is Manoah and his wife, but their child was more than a handful, more than any normal parent could handle. Their child was a special gift and a miracle child when the couple was childless. From the very beginning, the couple knew that they were simply entrusted with the task of raising Samson and that God had other plans for him. The emerging adult Samson had superhuman strength, drew national attention and was destined for great things. He was set apart by God from birth to deliver of Israel from the hands of the Philistines (Judg 13:5).

How do parents prepare their hearts and their child to experience life’s success and setbacks, its twists and turns, and his friends and foes? What if your child is a gifted child? How do you help him or her fulfill his or her potential and avoid the pitfalls?

Parenting is a Privileged Responsibility
12 So Manoah asked him, “When your words are fulfilled, what is to be the rule for the boy's life and work?” 13 The angel of the LORD answered, “Your wife must do all that I have told her. 14 She must not eat anything that comes from the grapevine, nor drink any wine or other fermented drink nor eat anything unclean. She must do everything I have commanded her.” (Judg 13:12-14)
24 The woman gave birth to a boy and named him Samson. He grew and the LORD blessed him, 25 and the Spirit of the LORD began to stir him while he was in Mahaneh Dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol. (Judg 13:24)

USA Today released the results of a survey by Public Agenda, a non-profit research organization, on how 1,607 parents of kids age 5-17 feel and say about their success in raising kids and the hurdles and hindrances of child-rearing. 91% of parents say honesty is essential, but only 55% say they have succeeded in teaching it. 84% of adults say courtesy is essential and 62% have succeeded in teaching it. 83% of parents say it is vital to teach kids self-control, but only 34% admitted they have succeeded. 82% believe it is essential to teach their children to do their best in school, but only 50% can say they have gotten their message across. 74% say independence is essential but only 38% say they have conveyed it successfully. 70% say good money habits are essential but only a mere 28% says the message is gotten across.

About 90% of the same parents lament that say TV programs are getting worse every year because of bad language and adult themes in shows during prime time. However, 93% say TV is all right as long as children watch the right shows in moderation. (USA Today 10/30/02 “Parents feel they’re failing to teach values.”)

Manoah and his wife were godly believers and parents and they took the roles of marriage and parenting very seriously. In fear and trembling they sought God’s will and asked for advice on raising the child God gave them. Manoah already heard from his wife what the angel of God had told her (Judg 13:5), but he wanted to learn more. No one could blame him. God has promised his wife not an ordinary child, but a hero, a champion, a warrior, the nation’s treasure, deliverer, and leader (Judg 13:5). The weight of expectation was too much for one parent to carry alone. He couldn’t fathom or allow it. The verb describing Manoah’s praying in verse 8 is not the more general Hebrew word for praying (palal) that occurs 84 times in the Bible, but the more urgent word for prayer that occurs 20 times, 8 of them for Pharaoh’s pleading for Moses to intercede for him (Ex 8:8, 9, 28, 29, 30; 9:28; 10:17, 18). The KJV and NASB translate this word as “entreat.” Manoah’s prayer was urgent, uninterrupted and unrelenting.

Another thing about Manoah was that he defied the role of a traditional father in child-rearing. The couple’s model of parenting was a two-parent family. He said “us” twice in verse 8. Manoah was implying, “What about me? Yes, you came to my wife, but now please come to us. Involve me in the process. Teach me your way. Let me help. Use me.” The soon-to-be parent Manoah refused to be an absentee father, a couch potato or a house loafer. He was the diaper-changing, milk-feeding and baby-cuddling father. Better, he needed no nagging, no crisis, and no incentives. He enjoyed it, not endured it; rejoiced in it, not resentful of it; informed, and not ignorant of it. Note that Manoah was not giddy that a child was born to the childless couple; he was more concerned for instructions on how to raise the child (Judg 13:12), not if the promise was true. The interesting thing was that the angel left the day-by-day course of parenting to them. No more did the angel appear again to the couple (Judg 13:21). God told them enough but not everything. Doesn’t that describe a parent’s circumstances, challenge and confusion?

The couple did the task entrusted to them faithfully. They stuck to the Nazirite vow, read every parenting book they could find (not that they could find any) and milked the neighbors dry for every last piece of advice. They did their part and their best; pretty soon Samson’s build was a sight to behold and his potential was the talk of Israel. Manoah and his wife were proud parents. Secretly, they wished they could hold him back, keep him home or chase admirers away, but they knew they could not lengthen his youth or delay his growth, control his thoughts or steps and shelter him from pain or life.

Parenting is a Personal Restrain
14:1 Samson went down to Timnah and saw there a young Philistine woman. 2 When he returned, he said to his father and mother, “I have seen a Philistine woman in Timnah; now get her for me as my wife.” 3 His father and mother replied, “Isn't there an acceptable woman among your relatives or among all our people? Must you go to the uncircumcised Philistines to get a wife?” But Samson said to his father, “Get her for me. She's the right one for me.” 4(His parents did not know that this was from the LORD, who was seeking an occasion to confront the Philistines; for at that time they were ruling over Israel.) (Judg 14:1-4)

A young boy had just got his driver's permit and inquired of his father, an evangelist, if they could discuss the use of the car.

His father took him to the study and said to the boy, “I'll make a deal with you, son. You bring your grades up from a C to a B-average, study your Bible a little, and get your hair cut and we'll talk about the car.”

Well, the boy thought about that for a moment and decided that he'd best settle for the offer, and they agreed. After about six weeks the boy came back and again asked his father about the car. Again they went to the study where his father said, “Son, I've been real proud of you. You've brought your grades up, and I've observed that you've been studying your Bible and participating a lot more in the Bible study class on Sunday morning. But I'm real disappointed since you haven't got your hair cut.”

The young man paused a moment and then said, “You know, Dad, I've been thinking about that, and I've noticed in my studies of the Bible that Samson had long hair, Moses had long hair, John the Baptist had long hair, and there's even strong argument that Jesus himself had long hair.”

To which his father replied, “You're right, son. Did you also notice that they all walked everywhere they went?”

Samson, Israel’s fiercest and most feared judge, was born with talents and parents others could only dream of, but he lived a life of total indifference and utter disregard for the opportunities and advantages he was bestowed in life. The Spirit of the Lord had stirred in him, but Samson had other pursuits, priorities, and pleasures. Worse, he fell in love with a Philistine woman, with one from the people who ruled over Israel (Judg 14:4). Marrying an unbeliever was against God’s will. Deut 7:3-5 says, “Do not intermarry with them. Do not give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons, for they will turn your sons away from following me to serve other gods, and the LORD's anger will burn against you and will quickly destroy you.” His bride-to-be was from the enemy camp, and she also was an unbeliever, an idol-worshipper.

Samson told his parents that he was willing to give up everything and chuck everything away for the love of a Philistine woman he saw from a distance. Worst, his tone had changed as if he was obsessed. He said, “Get her for me. She’s the right one for me” (Judg 14:3). He was at that omniscient and impenetrable by sword and spear young age. He was so opinionated, vocal, dogmatic, sure about everything, about the difference between Israelite women and Philistine women, about how he could remain a judge and a mediator of the two people, about how he could worship Yahweh and stay faithful to God, eventually winning his wife over.

Nothing the parents could do or had done could prepare them for this day. Their question and challenge was rudely brushed aside and they could do little (Judg 14:3). Their objection was voiced but their hands were tied, so they bit their tongue. Already, their son’s words cut like a knife as he lashed out at them. Nevertheless, they could bear with his rudeness but not his recklessness; his ignorance about idols, but not his indifference to God; and even his naive thinking, but not his neutral mindset. However, Manoah and wife did not blame God or themselves for their son’s strong will, simple-mindedness and stubborn streak. Still they couldn’t understand why they their son suddenly had become an extremely difficult, disrespectful and disobedient child. Overnight, over a trip and over a girl, Samson had turned a blind eye to his God-given destiny, closed a deaf ear to his worried parents and developed a razor tongue, a motor mouth and an emerging attitude. Manoah and his wife eventually saw in Samson what every parent saw in their child’s weakness: that he was just a child - childish, immature and reckless. True, he was big in size, brave in heart and bankable in battle, but he let his heart ruled his head, his muscles do the talking and his testosterone work overtime. The stubborn Samson did not listen and soon wrecked his marriage even though he did not mean or intend to, letting his parents, friends, country down and bringing others down with him.

Parenting is a Permanent Relationship
19 Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon him in power. He went down to Ashkelon, struck down thirty of their men, stripped them of their belongings and gave their clothes to those who had explained the riddle. Burning with anger, he went up to his father's house. 20 And Samson's wife was given to the friend who had attended him at his wedding. (Judg 14:19-20)

The transition of young people to responsible adults is the last stage of parenthood. Terri Apter calls the 18-25 age group the “thresholders,” saying, “Legally they are adults, but they’re on the threshold, the doorway to adulthood, and they’re not going to go through it.” The National Opinion Research Center found that most people believe that the transition to adulthood should be completed by the age of 26, on average, but today’s emerging adults are spenders, slackers and super-seniors.

One way society defines an adult is as a person who is financially independent, with a family and a home. Timothy Smeeding, professor of economics at Syracuse University, found that only half of Americans in their mid-20s earn enough to support a family, and in a TIME poll only half of those ages 18 to 29 consider themselves financially independent. Michigan’s Robert Schoeni says that Americans ages 25 and 26 get an average of $2,323 a year in financial support from their parents.

A TIME poll of 601 people ages 18 to 29 suggests that only 32% of those who attended college left school by age 21. The average college student takes five years to finish (Grow Up? Not So Fast” TIME 1/24/2005).

TIME poll asked the question: “What is the main reason that you do not consider yourself an adult?” 35% admitted “just enjoying life the way it is;” 33% said “not financially independent;” and 13% answered “not out of school.” 32% disclosed they spend more than most people “eating out,” 26% spent more than others on clothes, 17% confessed they spend more than others on going to or renting movies and 12% said they spend more than others on computers and software.

What did Samson do a whole week (v 18) after the wedding ceremony and honeymoon, after a bitter row had erupted and ended (v 19)? After Samson found out that his wife had given away the answer to her people, he felt that she had sided with her people rather than with him. The newly married Samson seethed in anger, stormed off the house and left without a word. If storming off and going out wasn’t bad enough, he did not return to his wife for quite a while - until harvest day. Where did he go when things did not go right, smooth or as planned? Back to Mama’s place! Poor Manoah and wife. His son was taller, stronger and fiercer than them. Further, Samson was too old to scold and too big to beat. The parents were too discouraged and bewildered, and it was too late to do anything. When they said “No,” he said “Yes.” When they said “Yes,” he said “No.” In the end both parties said, “I don’t know.”

How Manoah and wife wished their son would grow up as an adult, owe up to his mistakes and wise up to life, but Samson was like a Peter Pan who refused to grow up. Samson was nothing like his parents, who were faithful to each other. He left his wife and her house without a note or a trace. He didn’t even bother to find out how she was doing. If he did, he would have found out that she had remarried. Samson’s relationship with his wife got off to the worst start possible. Making your wife cry one day is inevitable. Making her cry on the wedding day and the honeymoon was inexcusable and inappropriate. Making her cry the whole seven days (v 17), with her tears in her food, was insane and impossible.

Samson blamed her wife but he put her in the awkward and impossible situation. She was not the same as Delilah, the only other woman Samson loved (Judg 14:16, 16:4, 15) besides the wife he married. His wife did not press or nag him for the sake of 1,100 pieces of silver, like Delilah did (Judg 16:5); she was fighting for his life, her life and her family’s life. She attempted to make the troubles Samson started go away, hoping to put an end to the crisis and get the Philistines off her back.

Conclusion: Parents are the unsung heroes today. Parenting is increasingly an endless task, a lifetime responsibility and a tiring chore. It is a sweet, sour, bitter, and spicy job - anything but mild and not a job for the meek, the arrogant or the clueless. It humbles the proud, stumps the learned and disheartens the brave. Parents will have to stick to their children through thick and thin, and through their ups and downs. Traditional parents who raise their kids to take care of them in their old age have come to the realization that they may have to take care of their kids longer than they thought and eventually may have to discard the idea of them being caretakers. The wise parent is one who is thankful that the child has the ability to take care of himself, his wife, and his kids. Finally, parents who think they can teach kids a thing or two will also realize the lesson is for and on them as well, if not more. Are you praying with and not for praying your child? Have you helped them to know God, and not about God? Have you imparted your values, but not model the values? Do you invite and welcome your child to embrace faith and home?

Bible Couples, Pt. 6: Ahab and Jezebel

BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR (1 KINGS 16:29-33; 21)
A young lady I have lost contact with for many years asked for my e-mail when we met at a wedding banquet and. Before too long, she e-mailed and called me. She was pretty, talented, quiet, helpful and sweet, the ideal spouse, mother, daughter or daughter-in-law material. A church musician and an active believer, she shocked me with her pending engagement to a Middle Easterner, a Muslim colleague at work, dismaying her Christian family members. She had dated her fair share of Christians but they did not work out. She liked him, but not loved him. Nobody at church had the slightest clue she was dating, never mind marrying a Muslim. Further, the young Muslim man had visa problems and marriage would solve the issue.

After living in a Muslim country for close to thirty years, I cautioned her against marrying a Muslim. Muslims are barred from conversion by law. They have to give up their property and belongings to the government upon their conversion to another faith. Children of interfaith marriage are required to be raised Muslim by law.

The young lady nicely explained that upon marriage they will live in the States and not return to live in the Middle East, where the pressure to convert to Islam is unbearable. The young man assured her she could remain Christian, just as he could remain a Muslim, and that she could freely live the Western way, not the Islamic way.

I bumped into the person a few years after that talk. The two were engaged but not married and were on better terms with each other, but the lady’s strained relationship at home got worse and church friends were kept in the dark for many years till they were married.

Marriage is life’s “big business,” as the Chinese say. The Chinese say, “Marry a chicken, follow the chicken; marry a dog, follow the dog.” The decision is irreversible, the damage is irreparable and both destinies are intertwined.

Israel was split into two kingdoms after the death of Solomon. Solomon’s descendants reigned over the longer lasting southern kingdom of Judah, but the tumultuous northern kingdom of Israel was ruled by nine dynasties until its fall to the Assyrians. King Ahab of the northern kingdom was the son of the third dynasty’s founding king. He was famous for his marriage alliances with other nations to prevent a war and to consolidate his throne, but it brought more danger, instability and chaos to the country. The introduction of the heathen Jezebel, however, affected so many lives and turned his family, the northern and southern kingdoms upside down. The reason why the southern kingdom turned idolatrous was because Ahab’s daughter Athaliah was given to marriage to the southern kingdom and she was as idolatrous as her mother who brought her up. Ahab and Jezebel were more powerful than any president and first lady in office, more vicious and more anti-God than any of the kings and queens before them.

What is God’s blueprint for marriage? Why is breaking off a romance with an unbeliever easier said than done? Why is interfaith marriage against God’s will, an act of disobedience and a marriage that is troubled from the start?

Two Lives are Incompatible and Inseparable
29 In the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Judah, Ahab son of Omri became king of Israel, and he reigned in Samaria over Israel twenty-two years. 30 Ahab son of Omri did more evil in the eyes of the LORD than any of those before him. 31 He not only considered it trivial to commit the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, but he also married Jezebel daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and began to serve Baal and worship him. 32 He set up an altar for Baal in the temple of Baal that he built in Samaria. 33 Ahab also made an Asherah pole and did more to provoke the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger than did all the kings of Israel before him. (1 Kings 16:29-33)

This is not my first time addressing interfaith marriage issues. After speaking on Ezra’s strong opposition to interfaith marriage, as recorded in Ezra 9, a member came up to me and said, “Pastor, I don’t agree with your stand against interfaith marriage. If I have not married my spouse, the person would not have the opportunity to attend church and accept Christ later.” I said, “Your spouse’s salvation is an act of God’s grace and mercy. God could have saved the person in other ways. Marriage is not the only way.”

A lot of people confuse the words “because” and “despite.” In interfaith marriage, God could intervene and save an unbelieving spouse not because of a believing spouse’s disobedience, but despite of his or her disobedience. Some have taken evangelistic work to an exasperating extreme, thinking they can convert an unbelieving date in courtship or an unbelieving wife after marriage. Missionary dating or proselyte dating in the hope of converting an unbeliever is unwise, unrealistic and unbelief. It often leads to a loss of faith, regular absence from church and a clash of schedule, priorities and interests. Marrying an unbeliever is not an opportunity issue, but an obedience issue.

I have seen the same old issues and struggles in interfaith marriages in more than 20 years of ministry. Women are often the victims. Some husbands forbade their wives to attend church. Daughters-in-law have to endure their in-laws’ disapproval. Some husbands allow their wives to go, but not take the children. Some husbands prefer to sit in the church parking lot and wait for the worship service to finish. Some return to pick up the wife after grocery shopping. A sister who had choir rehearsal after worship every week had the good fortune of her husband waiting for her inside his parked car, but then she was rich! Some wives ducked off before doxology to cook for husband and kids or go for lunch with them. Some are too embarrassed or too discouraged to open their homes for fellowship with their spouse not participating or doing their own thing at home, including obliviously watching TV, disappearing from sight or eating dinner but skipping fellowship. Some would not wish for the pastor or members to visit. Some would say they’d like to serve or open their homes more but their spouses are opposed. Some could only attend worship but not Sunday school, fellowship or prayer meeting. Some compromise, with the agreement to attend church once very other week. Many spouses explain they were not forbidden but that they were discreet.

Many pastors who are willing to marry two Christians or even two unbelievers will surprisingly decline to marry a Christian with an unbeliever. 2 Corinthians 6:14-16 says, “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God.” The Bible uses the agricultural principle of tying an ox with an ox, but not an ox with a donkey, to a yoke to plough the field so that the weight of burden would be distributed equally between the two animals, preventing the yoke from resting on one animal’s neck and choking the other’s. Furthermore, the faster moving animal would painfully drag the other along by the neck! Marrying an unbelieving person is a short-term resolve but a long-term pain and a disobedience one cannot get out of.

Rare is the believer who succeeds in leading his or her unbelieving spouse to Christ. A believer’s participation in service is halfhearted and part-time, and lessens gradually after an interfaith marriage. For every succeeding story, hundreds of unsuccessful stories abound. Even the successful party can tell you of the sweat and tears, pain and guilt involved. To be fair, marrying an inactive or a lukewarm Christian can sometimes result in nearly the same outcome.

Ahab, the northern king, did the most foolish, abominable and blasphemous thing in God’s eyes. He married the Gentile, idolatrous and evil Jezebel. No one was like Jezebel. Never in the northern kingdom Israel’s history had a queen wielded such power over the land and such influence and sway over the king. She was a Sidonian, not a Hebrew, and through her influence, Ahab became the first king to set up an altar for Baal and to make an Asherah pole (not just “go after,” as Solomon did in 1 Kings 11:5), thus provoking the LORD to anger more than all the kings of Israel before him (1 Kings 16:33).

After Jezebel had set up shop in Israel, she had a stable of 850 prophets in her service; 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of Asherah ate at Jezebel's table (1 Kings 18:19). She was such a renowned prophet killer (1 Kings 18:3-4) that prophets hid in horror at caves and ran for their lives at the mention of her name. Prophets like Elijah were so discouraged and depressed that they wanted to quit serving and living (1 Ki 19:2).

Jezebel influenced Ahab in politics, religions, morality and ethics. The Scriptures say that Ahab did more to provoke the LORD to anger than did all the kings of Israel before him (1 Ki 16:33). Not only was Ahab the first king to serve and worship Baal, he built a temple in Samaria dedicated to the worship of Baal. The five previous kings before Ahab were bad enough, but Ahab was the worst of the lot. Jeroboam, the first king of the northern kingdom, made two golden calves (1 Kings 12:28) so that the northerners would forget about their pilgrimage to the Jerusalem temple in the south. The four kings after him, including his son Nadab (1 Kings 15:25-26), Baasha, founding king of the second dynasty, (1 Kings 15:34), Elah, Baasah’s son (1 Ki 16:8) and Omri, the founder of the third dynasty and Ahab’s father, were no worse than Jeroboam. The charges against them were the same: they did evil in the eyes of the LORD, walking in the ways of Jeroboam and in his sin, which he had caused Israel to commit.

But Samaria under the reign of Ahab and the unmistakable influence of Jezebel was the most pagan and profane place in Israel at that time. Not only was Baal worship practiced and commended by the king, the Asherah pole became a national and royal treasure. True, Baal and Asherah worship were common in the new land at the time of the Judges after Joshua’s death (Judg 3:7, 6:25) and the Israelites were openly practicing Asherah worship shortly before Jezebel’s arrival (1 Kings 14:15), but now the king had sanctioned and legitimized the two religions. Idolatry was in vogue, in full swing and in primetime.

Two Lives are Invested and Influenced
5 His wife Jezebel came in and asked him, "Why are you so sullen? Why won't you eat?" 6 He answered her, "Because I said to Naboth the Jezreelite, 'Sell me your vineyard; or if you prefer, I will give you another vineyard in its place.' But he said, 'I will not give you my vineyard.'" 7 Jezebel his wife said, "Is this how you act as king over Israel? Get up and eat! Cheer up. I'll get you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite." 8 So she wrote letters in Ahab's name, placed his seal on them, and sent them to the elders and nobles who lived in Naboth's city with him. 9 In those letters she wrote: "Proclaim a day of fasting and seat Naboth in a prominent place among the people. 10 But seat two scoundrels opposite him and have them testify that he has cursed both God and the king. Then take him out and stone him to death." 11 So the elders and nobles who lived in Naboth's city did as Jezebel directed in the letters she had written to them. 12 They proclaimed a fast and seated Naboth in a prominent place among the people. 13 Then two scoundrels came and sat opposite him and brought charges against Naboth before the people, saying, "Naboth has cursed both God and the king." So they took him outside the city and stoned him to death. (1 Kings 21:5-13)

A man asked his wife, “If you could have anything in the world for one day, what would you want?” “I'd love to be eight again,” she replied.

On the morning of her birthday, he got her up bright and early and off they went to a local theme park. What a day! He put her on every ride in the park: the Death Slide, the Screaming Loop, the Wall of Fear, everything there was! Wow! Five hours later she staggered out of the theme park, her head reeling and her stomach upside down. Right to a McDonald's they went, where her husband ordered her a Big Mac along with extra fries and a refreshing chocolate shake. Then it was off to a movie: the latest Hollywood blockbuster, hot dogs, popcorn, Pepsi Cola and M&Ms. What a fabulous adventure!

Finally she wobbled home with her husband and collapsed into bed. He leaned over and lovingly asked, “Well, dear, what was it like being eight again?” One eye opened. “You idiot, I meant my dress size.”

It’s been said, “Be careful what you wish for.”

Psychologists and marriage counselors say that a marriage can survive most things except alcoholism/substance abuse, infidelity and even differing religious and cultural attitudes, especially after having children. (Wall Street Journal 11/4/04 “Key to Lasting Marriage - Combat”)

Interfaith marriage is not only a clash of beliefs, but also a conflict in values. The influence of Jezebel extended not only to religious issues but moral and ethical issues, with disastrous consequences. Ahab turned his attention one day to his neighbor Naboth’s vineyard. He thought of personal convenience, but Naboth spoke of family treasure. The vineyard was close to the king’s doorsteps and palace, but it was dear to Naboth’s heart and family. Naboth gave Ahab the sternest reply possible to discourage him from harboring the thought. He invoked the Lord’s name to explain his rejection of the king’s offer to buy.

Further, Naboth borrowed the solemn oath “The Lord forbid” from none other than most revered King David, the only other person to spout this oath in Hebrew, who uttered it on two occasions when he twice refused to kill Saul in the caves when he had the chance to do so (1 Sam 24:6, 26:11)

Hearing Naboth’s powerful and irritating imitation of Israel’s greatest king sent an eerie chill down Ahab’s spine, sent him into a royal fit and sent the easily discouraged king into another depression. Naboth was sullen and angry (v 4). The king had a history of sullen and angry behavior (1 Ki 20:1). Not only is the Hebrew phrase “sullen and angry” exclusive to Ahab, the separate word “sullen” and the curious version of the word “angry” are also not used elsewhere or for anyone. It frustrated Ahab to know that Naboth couldn’t sell the land even if he wanted to. Naboth couldn’t do business with Ahab even if his life depended on it. The land that was entrusted by the Lord belonged to his fathers.

However, Jezebel had other ideas, differing values and second opinion. Her challenge to Ahab at the sight of the king wasted away: “Are you the king or the knave of the land? Are you the chief or the chump?” “Do you give order or follow orders?” Jezebel had different values from Ahab. Killing was not beyond her. She was too stubborn to be stopped and he was too helpless to stop her. Her plan involved not only two scoundrels, but also the elders and the nobles of the city. The nobles made their debut in the Old Testament and they started off on a wrong foot. The first and only fast (v 12) recorded in the Scriptures so far was initiated by King David, who fasted at the death of his child with Bathsheba (2 Sam 12:16-17).

Two Lives are Interrogated and Indicted
15 As soon as Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned to death, she said to Ahab, “Get up and take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite that he refused to sell you. He is no longer alive, but dead.” 16 When Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, he got up and went down to take possession of Naboth's vineyard. 17 Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite: 18 “Go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, who rules in Samaria. He is now in Naboth's vineyard, where he has gone to take possession of it. 19 Say to him, 'This is what the LORD says: Have you not murdered a man and seized his property?' Then say to him, 'This is what the LORD says: In the place where dogs licked up Naboth's blood, dogs will lick up your blood-yes, yours!'“ 20 Ahab said to Elijah, “So you have found me, my enemy!” “I have found you,” he answered, “because you have sold yourself to do evil in the eyes of the LORD. 21'I am going to bring disaster on you. I will consume your descendants and cut off from Ahab every last male in Israel-slave or free. 22 I will make your house like that of Jeroboam son of Nebat and that of Baasha son of Ahijah, because you have provoked me to anger and have caused Israel to sin.' 23 “And also concerning Jezebel the LORD says: 'Dogs will devour Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel.' 24 “Dogs will eat those belonging to Ahab who die in the city, and the birds of the air will feed on those who die in the country.” 25(There was never a man like Ahab, who sold himself to do evil in the eyes of the LORD, urged on by Jezebel his wife. 26 He behaved in the vilest manner by going after idols, like the Amorites the LORD drove out before Israel.) (1 Kings 21:15-26)

A young evangelist, blessed with the gift of healing, worked his way down the aisle of a revival. In the third row, he demonstrated his powers by making a blind man see. Next, he made a deaf woman hear, then caused a lame woman to throw away her crutches and walk. The crowd went wild.

The faith healer reached the back row, approaching a man with a cast on his arm and his neck in a brace. As the preacher began to raise his arms, the man jumped up and stumbled backward.

“Keep your hands off me, preacher!” the man hissed. “I'm on workman's comp (insurance).” (Argus Hamilton, L. A. Times 9/20/94)

Ahab had a choice, but he sided with Jezebel and not with truth. Elijah the prophet chided Ahab for not only his choice of an idolatrous wife, but also his refusal to ask any questions. Ahab, surprisingly, did not fight or protest the charge. Bad news in the form of Elijah arrived at the same time with Ahab at the scene of Naboth’s vineyard. The king was like a kid alone in a candy store with Naboth’s death, but his highly anticipated seizure of the vineyard was nipped in the bud. Just at the time he arrived to record the title of Naboth’s house to his name, his old enemy Elijah poured cold water and brought a charge on him. The indictment was swift, serious and surprising: “You have sold yourself to do evil in the eyes of the LORD,” (v 20) and “You have provoked me to anger and have caused Israel to sin” (v 21). In Ahab’s defense, Jezebel was the mastermind, middleman, meddler and mouthpiece. In truth, Jezebel was openly the monster (v 27), but Ahab was practically the murderer. She was the main culprit, but he was the silent killer. Jezebel was the brain, but Ahab was the beneficiary. The king was not unreasonably charged with Jezebel’s crime. He did not ask who did it, when and where did he die, and how he died at the report of Naboth’s death. He did not even protest his innocence, but merely protested Elijah’s meddling.

Ahab invited this upon himself by inviting the marriage, the heathen wife and her evil practices into the house. Ahab was the only king accused of being a sell-out in the Bible – twice charged (vv 20, 25), because he sold himself to do evil, urged on by his wife who added salt and spice to his evil deeds, and he sold himself to interfaith marriage. The Hebrew word “sell” occurs 80 times in the Bible, 79 times for buying and selling in trade and business, but it is used only this time for buying and selling of one’s character and soul.

Ahab joined the likes of Jeroboam (1 Kings 15:30, 16:2) and Baasha (1 Kings 16:7, 13) in the indictment. The three were charged with provoking the Lord’s anger. You can only provoke the Lord’s anger by three things: provoke the Lord to anger with sins (1 Ki 16:2), with the work of one’s hands (1 Ki 16:7), and by worshipping worthless idols (1 Ki 16:13, 26, 22:53). Like Jeroboam of the first northern dynasty and Baasha of the succeeding dynasty, Ahab had the chance to turn things around for the third northern dynasty, but he worsened things instead of improving things. It couldn’t be worse. This is the first time the indictment “very abominably” (v 26) is used on a king, a person or a nation.

Conclusion: It’s been said, “Be careful what you wish for.” Interfaith marriage is a sin of disobedience, pride, ignorance, self-denial and self-sufficiency. The prime victims include those are arrogant, those who are aging, those who are lonely, those who are young in faith and those who are superficial in faith. If you are dating an unbeliever, marriage will have to wait till the person accepts Christ for himself or herself, not because of you or in-laws; dating is an obedience issue, not an opportunity issue. Do you mistakenly believe that God depends on the opportunities you make or that He follows the conditions you set? Are you first seeking His kingdom and His righteousness? Do you believe God has your welfare in mind?

Bible Couples, Pt. 7: Zechariah and Elizabeth

SILENCE IS GOLDEN (LUKE 1:5-25)
Middle Age is the last laugh before old age is no laughing matter. People in middle-age can identify with his piece of humor titled “Middle Age”:
Maybe it's true that life begins at fifty, but everything else starts to wear out, fall out or spread out.
There are three signs of old age. The first is your loss of memory, the other two I forget.
You're getting old when you don't care where your spouse goes, just as long as you don't have to go along.
Middle age is when work is a lot less fun - and fun a lot more work.
Statistics show that at the age of seventy, there are five women to every man. Isn't that the darndest time for a guy to get those odds?
You know you're getting on in years when the girls at the office start confiding in you.
Middle age is when it takes longer to rest than to get tired.
By the time a man is wise enough to watch his step, he's too old to go anywhere.
Middle age is when you have stopped growing at both ends, and have begun to grow in the middle.
Of course I'm against sin. I'm against anything that I'm too old to enjoy.
A man has reached middle age when he is cautioned to slow down by his doctor instead of by the police.
Middle age is having a choice of two temptations and choosing the one that will get you home earlier.
You know you're into middle age when you realize that caution is the only thing you care to exercise.
At my age, “getting a little action” means I don't need to take a laxative.
Don't worry about avoiding temptation. As you grow older, it will avoid you.
The aging process could be slowed down if it had to work its way through Congress.
You're getting old when getting lucky means you find your car in the parking lot.
You're getting old when you're sitting in a rocker and you can't get it started.
You're getting old when you wake up with that morning-after feeling, and you didn't do anything the night before.
The cardiologist's diet: if it tastes good, spit it out.
It's hard to be nostalgic when you can't remember anything.
You know you're getting old when you stop buying green bananas.

The gospel of Luke opened with a dark cloud, a deep sigh and a mood of resignation, the drama increased by the absence of recorded prophetic utterances for about 400 years, the period between the Old and New Testament records. God had not spoken a word for an astounding 400 years! Worse, the king, not the Lord, was in control or in charge. The tyrant Herod the Great had humiliated God's people by placing idols in the temple. The government's sword was louder than the people's protest. Herod's name was feared more than God's. However, God’s presence, power and purpose were evident for all who had eyes of faith, but many people’s faith was turning middle-age – the time when faith is getting worn-out, getting washed out and getting no workout. Luke’s gospel began not with the Messiah’s birth, but with His forerunner’s appearance and family. God’s 400 years of silence between the two testaments was broken by a loud announcement, but it was greeted with strong skepticism and outright disbelief by one of His most faithful servants.

What is middle-age faith? Where did the midlife crisis in faith come from? How can believers become young at heart and fresh in faith again?

God Deserves Our Best
5 In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. 6 Both of them were upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord's commandments and regulations blamelessly. 7 But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren; and they were both well along in years. (Lk 1:5-7)

Father Joseph went up to Father Fred one afternoon and said, “I am sick of all this clean living. Tonight let's you and me go out and party. We'll carouse, drink, whatever we want.” Fred was shocked. “Are you crazy? This is a small town and everyone knows us. Besides, even if they didn't, they would see our clothes and know we were priests.” Joe was ready for this. “Don't be silly. We won't stay in town, we'll go into the city where nobody knows us and we'll dress just like anyone else.”

In the end, he managed to persuade Fred, and they went out that night and partied like professionals. When they got back home at 5:00 AM, Fred's face became pale. “I just thought of something,” he said. “We have to confess this.” Again, Joe was ready. “Relax, I told you I thought this all out in advance. Tomorrow, you go into church and into the confessional. I will come in my regular clothes and confess, and you absolve me. Then I'll go put on my garments, you come in and confess, and I'll absolve you.” Fred was amazed at Joe's brilliance.

Joseph went in later that morning and said, “Father forgive me, for I have sinned. My friend and I, we're both young men, and last night we went out and caroused. We became drunk, went womanizing, used foul language, and danced to wicked music.” Fred answered, “God is patient and forgiving, and thus shall I be. Do five Our Fathers and five Hail Marys, and you will be absolved of your sin.”

A while later, their places were reversed as Fred came in and confessed everything in detail. There was a short pause, and Joseph answered, “I don't believe this. And you dare to call yourself a priest? You will do 500 Our Fathers, 500 Hail Marys, donate all your money to the church and go around the church 500 times on your knees praying for God's forgiveness. Then come back and we'll discuss absolution, but I make no guarantees.” “What?” Father Fred was shocked. “What about our agreement?” Joe replied, “Hey, what I do on my time off is one thing, but I take my job seriously.”

God’s plan of visitation after 400 years of silence couldn’t happen to a more trustworthy, devout and active priest. Zechariah was better, nicer and godlier than most people and priests. Zechariah could boast of the finest stock in priestly lineage. His ancestor was Abijah (v 5), whose forefather Eleazar was the chief leader of the Levites and the son of Aaron, Israel’s first high priest (Num 3:32). His wise choice of a mate also added to his credit among priests, his reputation before men and his standing before God. Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. Not one but both were righteous and pious before God. They were complimentary, praised and outstanding. They served hand-in-hand, were of the same mind and had a heart for God. There were not many stable years in Israel, but there was one stable couple - solid citizens - in Israel. The two were the bright lights, the shining stars and the distinguished luminaries in the silent and chaotic period. They were careful to observe all, not part, of God’s commands. A gem of a couple, they were devoted, faithful, obedient and reverent.

Since the couple did not have kids, they gave the best of their time, talents and treasures to serve God. I couldn’t think of a more devout and dignified couple in the Bible. He wasn’t devout just because he was a descendant of Aaron or that he was from the line of Eleazar, the immediate successor of Aaron (Num 20:25-29). Zechariah was a devout man of his own choosing and Elizabeth was a devout woman of her own cognizance. No spouse or family member could push righteousness down another’s throat. It has to come from the heart, from within from inside out.

Zechariah did not need prodding from his wife to attend to his temple duties, to be on his best priestly behavior and to live up to his priestly vocation. No public scandal or troublesome past tailed him, no destructive habits or moral vice gripped him and no petty dispute or ill gossip entangled him. He was as goody two-shoes, as sweet as pie and as prim and proper as one can find or get.

God Demands the Best
8 Once when Zechariah's division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, 9 he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside. 11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. 13 But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John. 14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, 15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth. 16 Many of the people of Israel will he bring back to the Lord their God. 17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous-to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” 18 Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.” 19 The angel answered, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. 20 And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their proper time.” (Lk 1:8-20)

Two teachers met back on campus during home-coming after having not seen each other for many years. Their conversation was something like this:
A: I have gotten married since we last met.
B: Oh, that's good.

A: I don't know about that. My husband is twice as old as I am.
B: Oh, that's bad.

A: Well, I don't know about that. He's worth a million dollars.
B: Oh, that's good.

A: Well, I don't know about that. He won't give me a cent.
B: Oh, that's bad.

A: Well, I don't know about that. He did build me a $200,000 house.
B: Oh, that's good.

A: Well, I don't know about that. It burned down last week.
B: Oh, that's bad.

A: Well, I don't know about that- he was in it!

The usually dependable Zechariah acted out of character when it counted. Initially, he couldn’t believe his good fortune when his name was chosen by lot out of all the priests in his division to go into the temple and burn incense (v 9). Matthew Henry suggested that a priest could only be chosen once in his lifetime, if ever at all. It was the high point of a priest’s life and the highest honor afforded to a priest. He was the talk of the town, the envy of the priests and the celebrity of the week. To add the topping to the cake, God sent an angel to announce the good news and congratulate him personally – not just any angel, but Gabriel, the legendary great arch-angel. This is the first time the Greek word “evangelize” is used in the Bible (v 19). The first evangelist poured out his heart, but the news did not hit Zechariah hard; in fact, it did not hit him at all. Zechariah was supposed to get down on his knees, thank God for the gift and bow down in humble worship, but his attitude left much to be desired with and was insufferable for an angel’s stomach. Gabriel was jumping with joy but Zechariah didn’t even break into a little jig. Zechariah greeted the heavenly courier, carrier and caller with a ho-hum and bah-humbug, what-else-have-you-got, and what-planet-are-you-from from attitude.

To make sure Zechariah get the point, Gabriel assured Zechariah that his prayer was remembered and answered (v 13) but it fell on deaf ears. He was untouched by an angel - unmoved, unimpressed and uninspired. He could at least feign interest or ask, “What prayer?” The contrast of a boy to a girl (Matt 10:37) still did not catch his attention or make him curious. The last straw was the naming of the child still did not break the spell or pique his interest. The specific details, personal visitation and the cheery announcement were all noise, nonsense and nonsensical to him. The angel’s stress of joy, delight/gladness and rejoicing in verse 14 did nothing to wake him from his listlessness or indifference and was not able to break the deadlock and glumness in him. The angel’s rah-rah speech could not shake him out of his sustained self-made state of disbelief.

The angel might as well save his strength, send a letter, fly a bird or shoot an arrow to deliver the message instead, given Zechariah’s poor response. Breaking into song and dance, sending a choir of angels and doing cartwheels in the air would also make no impression on the stoic priest. Zechariah registered a minus on a zero to ten “interest” scale. The angel could shout until he was short of breath, dry in saliva or coarse in speech but the result and response were still the same. Further, Gabriel’s job was to break good news, not break stubborn people. So, doing more to impress and convince Zechariah was out of his realm of responsibility. Zechariah typified the generation that was blindsided and conditioned by 400 years of silence. The priest needed a heart job and a big jolt.

God Delivers His Best
24 After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. 25 “The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.” (Luke 1:24-25)

An old Indian was arrested and taken into court on charges of running a still (distillery). The judge asked the Indian for his name, but the Indian gave no sign of having heard the question. The judge then asked if the Indian had a lawyer, but this question drew no response.

The judge was a busy man, and since there was no real evidence that the Indian sold what he made, the judge told the D.A. that he was going to dismiss the case. The judge told the Indian he could go and called the next case. The Indian sat motionless while the next defendant was brought in and charged with operating a still.

The defendant's lawyer went into a two-hour defense, and when he was through, the judge sentenced his client to three years' hard labor. The lawyer gathered up his notes and started to leave the courtroom when the old Indian got up, walked over to him, and whispered, “White man talk too much.” (The Toastmaster General's Favorite Jokes 131-32, George Jessel Secaucus, NJ: Castle Books, 73)

God’s intention from the start was never to punish Zechariah; his intentions were not to slap or strike him, but to shake and sober him. He had always intended to reward and not to rebuke Zechariah and Elizabeth, to bless and not to break the two, to congratulate and not to condemn the faithful couple. Zechariah’s words were pathetic but not poison, tasteless but not tragedy, and inappropriate but not insane. His attitude was disbelief and not unbelief, reservation and not rejection, doubt and not desertion, unfortunate but not unforgivable. He did not say “I do not believe,” but rather the tone was “This is unbelievable.” The priest had always had a good heart, a strong conscience, a godly reverence, a flawless record of impeccable and outstanding service. God was not about to abandon, ostracize or remove the faithful priest. Zechariah was unwise but not unrepentant. His words were ill-mannered, but not ill-conceived.

Further, Zechariah’s cold shoulder, sharp tongue and rare faithlessness could hardly be counted as Elizabeth’s fault or a blemish onto her account. The best gift God had given the priest was his wise and godly wife, Elizabeth. Elizabeth’s attitude was just the opposite of her husband’s. Unlike her husband who had to say something, she hid herself for five months (v 24). She took time to pause amidst confusion, to ponder the meaning and to fathom the unfathomable. It was a time to escape inquiry, to examine oneself and to seek God. The Chinese say: “Speak more, err more.” When she had to say something, unlike her husband, she broke into praise mode and not protest mode. Her joy was unspeakable, unsurpassed and unsurprising. The Greek word “disgrace” or “reproach” (v 25) that occurs only once in the Bible describes the notoriety she suffered for being childless, being taunted at and deemed a disgrace.

The humble and contemplative Elizabeth knew from the start the baby was never about what she deserved, but about what the Lord did. She reflected on and submitted to what the angel said. The baby was from the Lord to them for Israel’s deliverance. He will go on before the Lord bring back the people of Israel to the Lord their God, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous - to make ready a people prepared for the Lord (vv 16-17). Eventually, Zechariah came around. God’s ultimate purpose was for him to be stricken and not silenced, not to be a mute but to be a messenger, not to be dumb but to be delivered. God wanted him to learn the lesson of the obedient heart and not to repeat the lesson of the open mouth. In the end, the angel’s prediction that the father will give the name to the son not only came true in good time but it also gave Zechariah the chance to redeem himself.

Conclusion: God wants us to meet the challenge of faith, face head-on the dare to believe and to rise to the occasion of spiritual growth. God is not satisfied with half-hearted, wishy-washy and sweet nothing believers. Have you reached a midlife crisis in your faith? Have you plateau in belief? Are you trapped in disbelief, ensnared by disillusionment and hobbled by disobedience? Have you stopped growing, serving or reflecting? God is not finished with you yet. There is nothing worse than having no self-expectation, nothing to expect from God and nothing to expect in life. Ask God to help you see what new opportunities, fresh challenges and unfinished tasks you need to work on.

Bible Couples, Pt. 8: Joseph and Mary

GOD’S CHOSEN PARENTS
The USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) has kept track for many years the cost of raising a child through its survey of 12,880 families and 3,395 single-parent families on the cost of a child’s housing, food, transportation, clothing, health care, child care, education, and miscellaneous goods and services, but not including the parent’s time costs, forgone earnings, and career opportunities. The estimated expenditure on a child for a two-child middle-income couple that makes $33,700-56,700 (before tax) in 1995 is $7,610 for a 0-2 year-old toddler to $8,710 for a 15-17 year-old teenager. http://www.usda.gov/cnpp/960401.pdf

The expenditure adjusted to 2003 with an annual 3.1% inflation concludes that a middle income married couple with two kids will likely spend $9,510-$10,500 on a child. More interestingly, USDA concludes that a child born in 2003 who will reach 17 in 2020 will likely cost lower income families that make below $25,700 a cool $172,370, middle income families making $25,700-54,800 an arm and a leg at $235,670, and the highest income families making over $54,800 a whopping $344,250! (Funds for a new house!) http://www.usda.gov/cnpp/Crc/crc2003.pdf

Joseph, like any young man his age, had dreams and ambitions of his own but willingly surrendered or relinquished his dreams for a higher calling – to be father of the Messiah. Joseph was the father figure in Jesus’ life but, more often, he was the forgotten important parent figure in Jesus’ life. He does not have a word to say or a conversation to share in the Bible. His presence at Jesus' birth or the reception of the shepherds or the magi was not stated. Artists and Apocrypha writings have painted the picture of Joseph as an old man marrying the young Mary. It took a long time for scholars and historians to give Joseph his rightful credit.

Diane Apostolos-Cappadona, a religious-art specialist affiliated with Washington's Georgetown University notes that early Christian art sometimes omitted Joseph from the Nativity. When present, "he's either disinterested or separate, a doddering old man with a bald head or gray beard, a stock character," she says. The Rev. Michael Morris, an expert in art and Catholic theology at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, Calif., says Joseph was occasionally painted sleeping through the event. This may have been a nod to his prophetic dreams, but Morris notes that even among Catholic clergy today, "if someone says he's going to take a St. Joseph's meditation, it jokingly means he's taking a nap." (“Father and Child,” Time 12/19/2005)

Mary’s name looms large in history and in the Bible, but not Joseph’s. Most commentators believe that Joseph had died by the time Jesus made his ministry debut. One can say he did not live to see his dream and the angel’s proclamation come true. His dreams were not as important as God’s role for him and God’s delight with him.



Be Trustworthy
18 This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
Holiday shopping is a 220 billion dollar industry. USA Today (12/6/04) revealed that the average consumer this year will spend $541.03 on gifts - $406.52 on family gifts, $71.29 on friends, and $22.12 on coworkers and others.

The National Retail Federation sponsors a survey that interviews 7,861 respondents on what gifts top their holiday lists (USA Today 12/14/04). 53% wants either books, CDs, DVDs, videos or video games. 51% prefers clothing. 33% has an eye on consumer electronics. Home décor or furnishings is the fancy of 21%. Sporting goods or leisure items is the choice of 13%.

Riches, money, and status had nothing to do with Christmas. God chose Joseph and Mary to be the parents of the Son of God for a reason. They were not perfect, sinless, or angels but they were noble, moral and upright. Joseph, in particular, was a righteous man (v 19). God chose an outstanding citizen, a blameless man, and a perfect gentleman to be Jesus’ father. Joseph stands in elite company in the New Testament, attested to be righteous and afforded such honor along with Jesus (Luke 23:47, Matt 27:19), John the Baptist (Mark 6:20) and his parents (Luke 1:6-7), Simeon (Luke 2:25), Joseph of Arimathea who buried Jesus (Luke 23:50), and Cornelius (Acts 10:22). Joseph had a heart of gold. He was good to the core, kind in his nature, and held in high honor. As such, Joseph was a dependable, respected and hardworking man.

Joseph was the strong and silent type, a man of few words but his character speaks volumes and did all the talking. Have you noticed everyone speaks but Joseph in the Christmas narrative? Not even a monosyllabic “yes,” “no” or “huh” reply was attributed him. The mother, the angels, the shepherds, the wise men and the barn animals get all the choicest parts at Christmas, but not Joseph. He was comfortable with his non-speaking, background-hogging part. He did whatever he could to bring stability to the child, the mother, and the family. He had a decent job, not a dream job. He did not come from money nor did he have a government job. Neither was he a physician, a priest, or a poet. He was a carpenter, a modest and unassuming job as such. Joseph and Mary could only afford doves for sacrifice in the temple, a small animal was beyond their budget and out of question (Luke 2:22). In today’s world, one could say he could not afford the latest video games, digital cameras, or the plasma, the big-screen or the flat-screen TVs for the family, the iPod or Playstation 2. .

What defined Joseph were not goods and things, but character and reputation, and that’s the greatest and the only criteria God looked at when he chose Joseph out of all of David’s descendants. It’s been said, “Reputation is what people think and say you are, but character is who you really are.” People and neighbors knew Joseph as the quiet, hardworking, honest, who would not give them poor workmanship, supply them rotten wood, and charge them exorbitant fees. They did not have to worry about the price he charged, the work he did, or the products he hawked.

Be Teachable
20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"-which means, "God with us." 24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus. (Matt 1:20-25)
The Los Angeles Times (8/22/02) asked kids what would they want if they were given three wishes. Christina, 10, from Fullerton, said, (1) To have a horse so I could go riding anytime; (2) that unicorns and flying horses could be real; (3) to have $1 million so we could live in a bigger house.

9-year-old Ericka of Huntington Beach answered: (1) To be in medieval times and be a princess (2) to do back handsprings; (3) to be an interior decorator for houses.

Young 8 year-old Oscar of Van Nuys was more serious. He wished for: (1) That there will be no crime so people wouldn’t die; (2) that people will have food so they will live longer; (3) that I will get good grades so I can get better at everything.

Fun-loving 9-year-old Jonathan replied: (1) I would wish for a pet alligator. It would be big and nice; (2) that I would have my own treehouse and I could paint it Army color; (3) that I could be a famous soccer play.

Antonio, a thoughtful fourth-grader declared: (1) That my family would have eternal life because they are special to me; (2) to become a veterinarian because I love animals; (3) to have peace in the world with no more terrorists destroying our country and no more violence.

Joseph’s faith deserves more praise and attention. One might even say God required or expected more from him than from his wife, John the Baptist’s father, or the night shepherds in the Advent narratives. Joseph did not have the advantage of a visible angelic manifestation that Mary, Zechariah and the shepherds had. An unnamed angel of the Lord appeared to John the Baptist’s father, standing at the right side of the altar of incense (Luke 1:11). God sent the angel Gabriel to visit Mary in Nazareth (Luke 1:26-28). An unnamed angel of the Lord also appeared to the shepherds (Luke 2:9).

The angel of God appeared to Joseph on three occasions, but never in angelic form each time but always in a dream. He did not see the angel of the Lord standing cutely at the right side of the altar of incense as Zechariah did (Luke 1:11) and he was not blinded by the glory of the Lord that shone around him like the shepherds were (Luke 2:9). No angels were flapping wings, playing harps, or wearing halos before Joseph. All three occurrences were in dreams.

The only thing special with the angelic communication was supplied by Matthew the author, who dramatized the angelic visitations on three occasions with the “behold” introduction and exclamation that is missing from NIV but found in Greek and KJV. Joseph’s first dream of an angel is in verse 20. The next was after the wise men’s departure, when the angel of the Lord reappeared in a dream to Joseph, urging him to take the child and his mother to escape the murderous Herod and to remain in Egypt (Matt 2:13). After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream again to Joseph in Egypt to inform him that they could return to the land of Israel (Matt 2:19-20).

Joseph did not experience the earth-shaking event associated with the angels’ appearance at Jesus’ the resurrection (Matt 28:2-4). We are not told if he dreamed in black and white, but the words were loud and clear. Joseph acted in faith and did as he was told. Matthew used the Greek word “take” to demonstrate Joseph’s old-fashioned obedience. The word is used 49 times in Greek, but 6 times related to Joseph – the most in any one account or on any one individual. The first two occurrences of the word were when the angel of the Lord commanded Joseph to take Mary as his wife (Matt 1:20), which he promptly did when he woke up and took Mary home as his wife (Matt 1:24). The second two occurrences of the word were when an angel of the Lord commanded Joseph to take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt (Matt 2:13), and Joseph took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt (Matt 2:14). The last two occurrences were when an angel commanded Joseph to take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel after Herod’s death (Matt 2:20), and Joseph obeyed and took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel (Matt 2:21).

Be Tenacious
13 When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. "Get up," he said, "take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him." 14 So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, 15 where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: "Out of Egypt I called my son."
19 After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt 20 and said, "Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child's life are dead." 21 So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, 23 and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets: "He will be called a Nazarene." (Matt 2:13-15, 19-23)
Several years ago Reader’s Digest (3/95) reprinted Larry Rent’s article from the book “Child” titled “Things You’d Love to Hear” from your kids:
1. You’re so cool, Dad.
2. Who cares if the TV is broken?
3. Pass the broccoli, please.
4. What! No kiss?
5. No, thanks. It’s too expensive.
6. It’s a hard choice. Everything sounds great.
7. Bored? How could I be bored?
8. I’ve already made my bed.
9. It was my fault.
10. That’s okay. None of my friends are allowed to do it either.

At times Joseph must have felt he was useless as a man, less of a man and not much of a man when he couldn’t find an inn for his wife and child. The truth was that he was very central to the family’s well-being, the lone ranger in decision-making, and every inch involved in child-raising. He fought tooth and nail for the family and was extremely devoted to their safety and needs. However, one would have to look hard to track the quiet man’s involvement.

Joseph was the one who gave Jesus His name at His birth (Matt 1:25). The angel had said to Joseph, “You are to give him the name Jesus” (Matt 1:21). When Simeon took baby Jesus in his arms and praised God in the temple courts, both the father and mother, with Joseph’s name mentioned first, marveled at what was said about him (Luke 2:33). The angel again turned to Joseph (Matt 2:13) when the child’s life was in danger at the murderous hands of Herod, who later gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under (Matt 2:16) that were a threat to this throne. There must have been times he pined for a return to Israel, but he kept his family there, pondering if the angel would ever show up again. Just as he had given up on Israel, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph for the third time, this time advising him to return from Egypt to Israel after Herod had died (Matt 2:20). Joseph had a fourth dream, although angels were not specified (Matt 2:22). As a result, he decided on his own that it was best for the family to settle in the rural and remote Galilee rather than busy the hustle and bustle of Judea.

Joseph was not an absentee father, a stepfather, as some suggested, or a godfather. Joseph was not the adopted father of Jesus; he was the appointed or assigned or acting father, the legal, the human, the earthly father! Jesus willingly and gladly followed in his kind father’s shoes and took up the carpenter’s trade (Mk 6:3). Joseph did not keep anything from the boy or treat him differently from other children, especially when the couple later had four sons – James, Joseph, Judas and Simon – and at least two daughters (Mk 6:3). Joseph had his work cut out for him, but still God entrusted His Son to him without worrying about child abuse, parental neglect, unfair treatment, or family dysfunction. Most fathers have enough trouble with their biological kids, never mind being the spiritual father! I would be so out of whack and out of sorts, if not out of here, if I were to care for God’s Son, but not Joseph, who was firm but fair. He was not related by blood, but by belief. The way he handled Mary’s case and treated Mary’s reputation represented the gentleman he was. He was not about to criticize or shame Mary, or confront her parents, relatives, and friends, or let his side of the family know he had no choice.

Joseph and Mary were not perfect parents but they were more than good parents; they were outstanding parents. They were not surviving parents; they were super parents. They were not disadvantaged parents, but were devoted parents.

Conclusion: God has given His all when He gave infant Jesus to mankind. Jesus has come to save His people o sins. God is not looking for gifts and goods in return. He God is looking for the righteous and the obedient and the strong to do His will.

Bible Couples, Pt. 9: Ananias and Sapphira

EYES WIDE OPEN (ACTS 4:32-5:11)
Stumpy and his wife Martha went to the State Fair every year. Every year Stumpy would say, “Martha, I’d like to ride in that airplane.” And every year Martha would say, “I know, Stumpy, but that airplane ride costs ten dollars, and ten dollars is ten dollars.”

This one year Stumpy and Martha went to the fair and Stumpy said, “Martha, I’m 71 years old. If I don’t ride that airplane this year, I may never get another chance.” Martha replied, “Stumpy, that airplane ride costs ten dollars, and ten dollars is ten dollars.”

The pilot overheard them and said, “Folks, Ill make you a deal. Ill take you both up for a ride. If you can stay quiet for the entire ride and not say one word, I won’t charge you, but if you say one word its ten dollars.”

Stumpy and Martha agreed and up they go. The pilot does all kinds of twists and turns, rolls and dives, but not a word is heard. He does all his tricks over again, but still not a word.

They land and the pilot turns to Stumpy, “By golly, I did everything I could think of to get you to yell out, but you didn’t.” Stumpy replied, “Well, I was gonna say something when Martha fell out, but ten dollars is ten dollars.”

The early church in Jerusalem was going through a sustained and incredible period of growth. New believers were added, the fellowship was great and the church was strong. However, not all things were rosy, not all motivation was admirable and not all were converted. Before long, hypocrites, imitators and wannabes were part of the fellowship of the church but not the body of Christ. Distinguishing tares from wheat and goats from sheep before the right time is not impossible, but it is inadvisable. Just before the church received her name and was called as such (v 11) for the first time in the community, an extraordinary but sad and unfortunate incident occurred among the local congregation. Money brought out the ugly side of a couple by the name of Ananias and Sapphira, who played the imitation and impersonation game to perfection and disaster. They thought their secret was safe, they should be praised and nobody would find out.

How could couples be so self-centered and in such self-denial and have no self-awareness after years of marriage? How could two people go so wrong? Why is honesty important to one’s family as well as God’s family?

CHOOSE EACH OTHER FOR THE BETTER, NOT WORSE
5:1 Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. 2 With his wife's full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles' feet. (Acts 5:1-2)

What do you look for in a marriage partner? The advice from the Internet on whom to marry is surprisingly rich:
“Don't marry a man to reform him - that's what reform schools are for.” (Mae West)
“Don't marry a lady just to get a travel visa.”
“Don't marry a rich man. Become rich and choose who you marry if you want to
marry.”
“Don't marry a nonbeliever. Fast and pray until he becomes a Christian.”
“Don't marry a man unless you are willing to be with him if he never changes.”
“Don't marry a man as a project; don't assume you can change him once you're
married.”
“Don't marry a homicidal maniac who'll pour petrol all over your house, and then knock a lit match onto it.”
“Don't marry a man “to save him.”
“Don't marry a bar girl!”
“Don't marry a woman who drinks a lot.”
“Don't marry a person you don't love.”
“Don’t marry a jerk.”
“Don't marry a man for his money. You can borrow it cheaper.”
In the words of a country music song: “Don't marry a drunkard, don't marry a scolding woman.”
“Do not marry a woman because she is young or beautiful or can have babies. A woman is not goods.”

There is truth in the theory that good people are attracted to bad dates and mates. Some of the nicest people are attracted to addicts, abusers, gangsters, gamblers, womanizers, swingers, bums, perverts and criminals. Some of these suitors are high maintenance, some are lowlifes and some are drifters. The pull to change and rehab scoundrels is romantic and idealistic, but unrealistic and fatal.

Husbands and wives choose each other or choose their spouses for their own good or to better themselves, and not for “no-good” or to their detriment. Ananias and Sapphira’s story is one of double trouble, blind leading blind and fools rushing in. They were not good for each other; in fact, they were bad, toxic and unsuited for each other. Marriage did not bring out the best in them, but the worst in them – and it was downright ugly, unbearable and superficial. They did not push each other to new heights, but pulled each other down to new lows. They did not bring out the good or the best in each other but the bad and the worst in each other.

Hollywood would want you to believe that love is blind, but in courtship and marriage, examining the date’s character is more important then his or her charisma; his or her integrity is more important than intelligence; and each other’s moral and family upbringing is more important than social or financial standing. You do not have to marry a perfect person but you definitely want to marry a principled person. You cannot find a spouse with no flaws but you better find one who is honest, honorable and hardworking, one who does not resort to dishonesty or deception. Finding one who is trustworthy and truthful is better than finding one who is talented.

Ananias and Sapphira stood for the couple that was blind to each other’s faults. The two were carbon copy of each other, tied to the hip and twins at birth. Both had no hesitation or shame about telling untruth or telling stories. Lying was part of their life and lifestyle. The Chinese say they tell lies like they eat lettuce. They don’t bat an eye, skip a heartbeat or blush the face. They didn’t think lying was serious, had consequences or could backfire. Their issue was not the amount or ability in giving, but the attitude in giving. The point in giving is, “Does the gift represent you?” “Is it respectful?” and “Have you reservations?”

The word describing Sapphira’s part in all this is the word suneido, from two Greek words sun or “sum/joint” and eido or “know.” She was an insider, an informed party, part of the cast and in on the plot. Nothing was left out, no base was untouched and no reading between the lines was necessary. She could not cry, “I was framed,” “Don’t blame me” or “I was innocent.” She was the type that went into the marriage with eyes wide open before marriage and eyes shut tight after marriage.

CHANGE EACH OTHER FOR THE BETTER, NOT WORSE
3 Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? 4 Didn't it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn't the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God.” 5 When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. 6 Then the young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him. (Acts 5:3-6)

Changes in a marriage go both ways, never one way. Requiring one’s spouse to change but not self-examination both ways is a marriage killer.

My wife and I change each other for the better. She does not give me a break when it comes to values and principles. Once, I volunteered to drop her off at her 45-minutes away office and pick her up four hours later. My plan was to do some writing at Starbucks and exercise at the fitness center to kill time. After a hearty restaurant breakfast together, I dropped her off at the somewhat vacant parking lot at her office on a Saturday morning, driving not into a parking space between the two vertical lines, but stopping or lining the car parallel to the curb, occupying three car spaces, so that I could conveniently do a U-turn to go the other way. She immediately reacted: “Don’t do that. This will make me feel hurried and the security guard will come.” I responded, “It’s a Saturday morning! There is no security or parking problem. Is this deserving of a lecture?” My wife countered, “Integrity is an everyday issue!” I answered, “Yes, prim and proper.” We both laughed on the spot.

The next day, on the way to dinner with my sister we picked up a copy of the Sunday Chinese papers for my wife. One weakness my wife has is that all activities come to a halt until she has finished reading the paper, magazine or book in her hand. After an hour’s dinner, I asked, “Shall we pay and go?” She peered from her papers and asked, “So fast?” I said, “Why not? There’s no fellowship.” She burst into laughter and said, “OK, I’ll pay the check to make up.” I declared: “I succeeded!”

Spouses have the responsibility to tell each other things that the other does not like to hear, not to vent one’s feelings but to improve the marriage. Of course, it has to be done in a right setting, with the right attitude and the right motivation. My wife claims to be my mirror of realty. Some spousal remarks I consider as mumbo jumbo/luo luo suo suo, hot air and woman’s talk, yet she is my worst critic, best judge and closest observer. Some things are hard to hear and we agree to the adage: “If I don’t nag you, who do I nag?”

Peter rightly rebuked Ananias for his act of giving. The NIV translation “disposal” (v 4) is inferior to the original Greek word exousia, the popular word for “power” or “authority” that occurs 103 times in the New Testament, frequently associated with the power exhibited by Jesus and the apostles. Only in four instances the word is translated other than power or authority: once each for “jurisdiction” (Luke 23:7) and for “freedom/liberty” (1 Cor 8:9), and twice for “right” (Heb 13:10, Rev 22:14).

Giving is not an option, but givers still have the power or jurisdiction to give or not. They are free to offer more, give less or withhold offering. Unlike cult members, church members do not need to sign a letter of intent to pledge to give a tithe. No one forces a gun to the giver’s head, no camera takes a picture of those not giving, no surveillance tape records what you put into the bag and no offering bag makes a racket when merely pennies are offered. Further, the wise pastor never pries into offering.

For a long time Ananias and Sapphira did not keep each another accountable, caution each other of improprieties and encourage each other to do right. This is where the imitation part comes in. The Greek verb “put” (v 2) that describes the Ananias’ action of laying the money at the apostles’ feet was a poor imitation of others’ actions – action without passion and dedication. The verb previously appeared in Acts 4:35 and 4:37. In Acts 4:35, those who owned lands or houses sold them and brought the money from the sales to put it at the apostles' feet. Next, Barnabas sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles' feet. Ananias had similar actions, but not the right attitude. The portion stated was acceptable, but the proportion stated was unacceptable. The figure was right but the fraction was not. The sum was encouraging, but the share was exaggerated.

Ananias prostrated himself before the apostles to his shame, made a big show out of faulty bookkeeping and made a splash of his big fat lie. The announcement in giving was not condemned, but the accounting was.

The word “heart” is repeated in verses 3 and 4 in Greek, not apparent in NIV, to show that his propaganda was premeditated. Verse 3 should read, “Why have you conceived in your heart this thing?”

COVER EACH OTHER FOR THE BETTER, NOT WORSE
7 About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 Peter asked her, “Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?” “Yes,” she said, “that is the price.” 9 Peter said to her, “How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.” 10 At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events. (Acts 5:7-11)

I have a relative whose affairs I do not wish to know about. From young relatives had to cover frantically for him. The behavior started when he was working. He borrowed money liberally from friends, relatives and colleagues, making deals, exacting terms and taking risks that other salesmen would decline. When people owed money called home, he would hiss in a menacing tone to those answering the phone as he lingered and eavesdropped: “Say I am not here!” Screening calls was not an option with no answering machines then. It came to a point that everybody had to hope the call was theirs, think of what to say or get out of the house.

Soon, more and more people who were shortchanged by him called the home, asking for him. The lies and denials involved everybody when questions from strangers surrounded and peppered those innocent: “Is he here?” “Where is he?” “When is he coming back?” and “Will you tell him I called?”

Even into his adulthood and midlife the pattern did not stop. After twice visiting the States, he reminded me in no uncertain terms: “Don’t tell my mother I visited you.”

Covering for a dishonest person exacts a heavy price and an emotional toil out of everyone involved. Innocent people are dragged through the mud and rubble by the guilty party. They often have to pay the price of guilt in their heart and mind for the culpable person’s operations.

Of course, Sapphira was anything but innocent, but up to this point readers do not know if she was a conspirator or a victim. Either she was actively scheming with her husband or she had no part in of the plot. Did she know? Was she involved? Sapphira was given a chance to clarify her position or even to change her story, but she stood by her account of events and her version of things. She did not say, “Yes” or “Uh-huh.” Her answer in NIV - “That is the price” - is inferior to the single Greek word answer she gave: tosoutos, or as large, so great (long, many, much), these many. Jesus used this word on four occasions: (1) twice to extol the centurion’s “such great” faith (Matt 8:10, Luke 7:9), (2) once on the prodigal son’s brother who protested that he has been slaving for his father “all these years” (Luke 15:29) and (3) lastly, to answer Philip’s question on showing the Heavenly Father, “Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such ‘a long time’?” (John 14:9)

Sapphira was tantamount to saying, “Yes, that much!’ In the words of a fisherman who lost his catch, “Yes, it was that big!” Her answer was reason enough for Peter to respond to her: “How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord?” The word “agree” is sumphoneo in Greek, sum means “joint/together” and phoneo means “sound” from the word “phone.” Peter was saying, “How could you be such a parrot and sound so alike? How could you voice and echo the same thing? How could you harmonize or concur with his actions?” Sapphira could have sounded differently, but she opted to harmonize with her husband and stick to the same story, with dire consequences.

Peter next accused Sapphira of tempting the Spirit of the Lord, not tempting the leaders of the church. When we act big in church we are lying to the Lord, not to the pastor or members of the church. Lying to people is an unfortunate act but lying to the Spirit is an unspeakable act.

Conclusion: The late Dr. Martin Lloyd-Jones said that people often come to church to receive some sweet syrup so they can feel good. Nothing escapes God’s attention. Is your giving a living testimony or an ego trip? Are you a truth listener and practitioner or merely admirer? It’s been said, “Behind every successful man is a successful wife.” However, the best marriage advice is to speak the truth in love. A spouse is a conscience, not a conspirator. A good spouse is both a good cop and a bad cop, in some ways. A good spouse commends good, but condemns falsehood. Finally, does your giving represent you before God or report you before God?

Bible Couples, Pt. 10: Aquila and Priscilla

TWO HALVES MAKE A WHOLE (ACTS 18:1-4, 18-26)
A couple was celebrating their golden wedding anniversary. Their domestic tranquility had long been the talk of the town. A local newspaper reporter was inquiring as to the secret of their long and happy marriage.

“Well, it dates back to our honeymoon,” explained the man. “We visited the Grand Canyon and took a trip down to the bottom on the canyon by pack mule. We hadn't gone too far when my wife's mule stumbled. My wife quietly said, 'That's once.' We proceeded a little further and the mule stumbled again. Once more my wife quietly said, 'That's twice.'

“We hadn't gone a half-mile when the mule stumbled the third time. My wife quietly removed a revolver from her pocket and shot the mule dead. I started to protest over her treatment of the mule when she looked at me and quietly said 'That's once.'“

A lot of people do not like to work with their spouse in the same company. They are less efficient in the same office or team together. The two get in each other’ business, way, space, hair and face. Guys, especially, are anxious that their spouse will show them up, put them down, or run the show before their superiors, peers or employees.

However, it is different in the Lord and in ministry. Flying solo in ministry is impossible. A spouse should welcome and encourage the other half and the whole family to serve alongside. Without spousal support, a willing person’s ministry is stagnant and stifled. The person’s participation or growth is minimal if the spouse has little or no desire to attend worship, fellowship and activities, has no desire to serve and does not want the spouse to fellowship or socialize with brothers and sisters. A person on fire for the Lord will find his flame doused by cold water when a spouse in uninterested in ministry and lacking in zeal. It’s been said, “There is no “I” word in TEAM.”

The most effective Bible couple in ministry is Aquila and Priscilla, tent-making Jews who left Rome because of ethnic persecution. When they first met Paul, they knew little or nothing about ministry but their eyes were opened to the possibilities of using their gifts, trying something new and multiplying their ministry. They are the typical couple, not the traditional couple, today.

Grow As a Team
18:1 After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. 2 There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, 3 and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them. 4 Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks. (Acts 18:1-4)
18 Paul stayed on in Corinth for some time. Then he left the brothers and sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. Before he sailed, he had his hair cut off at Cenchrea because of a vow he had taken. (Acts 18:18)

My wife and I use our own last names in professional circles. Unlike many wives, she did not change her last name for tax purposes, because she did not like the idea of changing so many documents. My wife does her part and her best in ministry. I never have to pressure her about her role in the ministry. Mostly, as a pastor’s wife, she has a supporting role in church ministry, and never the leading role in fellowship or study groups.

However, my wife does voluntary services beyond church circles with her gifts. She took live calls on Cantonese radio once a month discussing mental health issues when her schedule permitted her to do so, using her professional name Dr. Mok. Few pastor friends have a clue that she is my wife. We are comfortable with the arrangement.

The arrangement has more advantages than disadvantages. For one, pastors cannot go through me to ask my wife to speak, because they do not know we are related! Two, we have our own identity. I do not want to be known as Dr. Mok’s husband. Her identity is her own, and not as the pastor’s wife. Further, the odd-sounding, dog-barking name of Yap does a psychologist no favors. Still, I often cringe when telemarketers ask the question when they couldn’t get my wife at home: “Are you Mr. Mok?” Mostly, I am in no mood to explain to a complete stranger. Usually I just politely but abruptly hang up the phone. Often I have to correct her office people who call me “Mr. Mok.” I safely guess most husbands would cringe when outsiders address them by their spouse’s last name!

One of the most beautiful husband and wife ministry team in the Bible is seldom mentioned and given enough credit. Aquila and Priscialla were strong enough to share credit. The team is sometimes known as the Aquila and Priscilla team (Acts 18:2, 1 Cor 16:19), but more often they were known as the Priscilla and Aquila team (Acts 18:18, 19, 26, Rom 16:3, 2 Tim 4:19). At the first mention of their names, Luke, author of Acts, listed Aquila’s name before the wife’s name as the husband of Priscilla (Acts 18:2), but hinted that Priscilla was more outstanding or more involved than her husband by putting her name first on the next three occasions (Acts 18:18, 19, 26). Publicly, Paul had no qualms about calling them the wife and husband team in his writings to the church and individuals. In Paul’s much-read letter to the Corinthians, he calls them Aquila and Priscilla (1 Cor 16:19), but in his letters to the Romans and to Timothy he calls them Priscilla and Aquila (Rom 16:3, 2 Tim 4:19). Overall, Aquila’s name comes before Priscilla twice, but Priscilla’s name preceded Aquila five times. You can say, as many Bible commentators do, that Priscilla quickly overtook Aquila as the team leader or contact person.

Aquila, to his credit, had a modern outlook and a thick hide in the Lord. He did not get mad at Luke, Paul or Aquila for such a politically incorrect label. Aquila did not wake her wife up in the middle of the night, quizzing, “Why did Paul call us Priscilla and Aquila, and not vice versa? Why didn’t you say something? What would people think?” He did not write a letter to Paul for clarification or rebuttal, stating “Please change greetings or drop salutation.” Aquila did not have to do anything to prove his standing in the family or improve his standing in the church community. In fact, he did the opposite. He had no problem allowing or encouraging his wife to use her unique talents, grow into her own, and have her own ministries since they always did ministry with each other’s support and blessing.

Aquila never told Priscilla that a woman’s place was in the home, by her man’s side or “behind” his back, that traveling was too dangerous for a woman and she should stick to teaching kids, kitchen duties or sewing classes. They respected each other’s ministry, gifts and uniqueness. The husband should never be petty or sensitive when it comes to spiritual growth or service matters. Mostly they were glad to see God’s word spreading, people’ lives changed and ministry being done. The important thing to them was never to be at odds with each other in identity, in crisis or opportunity.

Go as a Team
18 Paul stayed on in Corinth for some time. Then he left the brothers and sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. Before he sailed, he had his hair cut off at Cenchrea because of a vow he had taken. 19 They arrived at Ephesus, where Paul left Priscilla and Aquila. He himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. (Acts 18:18-20)

When a young relative stayed with us for two years of junior college, we had our work cut out for us. Before that, we were in our own private, two-people world. Being the only child in the family, the youngster was often surrounded by loving and caring aunts and grandparents growing up, never needing to lift a finger at home!

Teaching and practicing a new set of rules was a learning experience for all. Usually, instructions were given after something had happened or through trail and error. Old habits were hard to break for him. Growing up, he slept with windows wide open for the breeze. We had to remind him to close his room windows after he left the house with the windows open and that he can only sleep with his windows slightly open, with a latch on the sill restricting the window’s opening so that thieves would not break in. Unfortunately for me, my wife banned him from washing dishes when he showed such poor performance and quality control! When he forgot to call home after a certain time we got on his case.

Of course, the college student volunteered for chores but his motivation was low. He volunteered to take out the extra-large trash bins to the sidewalk on weekly trash day but he only remembered to do it once in a blue moon. The only thing he did consistently was collecting the mail, and that was because he was awaiting mail from friends and home. Some costly mistakes include backing his car into the sprinklers, losing house keys and burning beyond recognition an expensive Calphalon frying pan.

Aquila and Priscilla were a team in ministry to brothers and sisters and to God’s servants such as Paul. Paul went to see them (v 2) and stayed and worked with them (v 3). Note that they did not initiate asking him to stay, but Paul needed a room as well as a home. Aquila and Priscilla had each other, but Paul was by himself and had no company or peer. Paul asked for a place to stay, a home to belong and a family for support. The couple could use all the privacy and down-time they could get, but they decided as a team they could take in the new guest. The visitor was now a family member. I can see them ended up cooking for him. At the end, Paul did not stay a day, a week, a month or a year. The text says he stayed there for a year and a half (Acts 18:11) and then for a little while (Acts 18:18).

I am sure the couple got as much as they gave, if not more, in their relationship with the apostle. How do we know that Aquila and Priscilla did not consider Paul a burden, a mistake, a nightmare or a freeloader? When Paul left for Syria, Aquila and Priscilla went with them (Acts 18:18). They had grown so much with Paul around that they could go and share in the ministry themselves. The growth was both ways, not one-sided. The ministry was about sharing the same vision, not sharing the same table or house. Paul had continually challenged them. They saw people coming to Paul morning to night (v 23). Their minds were open to the tent-making potential. Unlike others in ministry, people like Aquila and Priscilla did not need financial support to make the trip. They could set up shop anywhere, anytime. They made a big leap of faith when they followed Paul to Syria from Corinth.

The couple had a lot to learn and to cover. The journey to Syria was hundreds of miles east. The couple was Paul’s best supporters. They could have questioned why Paul had to go all the way east to Syria and not the nearer Ephesus first, but they trusted his plans. In fact, they were together for one more mission trip, to Ephesus, before they separated there (Acts 18:19). Their first taste of ministry made them hungry for more. It wasn’t all roses. Paul testified in Romans 16:4 that they were fellow workers, not bystanders, and that they risked their lives for him. The Greek text says they risked their necks or trachelos (English – trachea) for him. They considered their time together delightful, blessed, priceless and, more importantly, something worthwhile. They could learn from one another’s likes and dislikes, even trade practices and secrets.

Give As a Team
24 Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. 25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. 26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately. (Acts 18:24-26)
3 Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus. 4 They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them.
(Rom 16:3-4)
19 The churches in the province of Asia send you greetings. Aquila and Priscilla greet you warmly in the Lord, and so does the church that meets at their house.
(1 Cor 16:19-20)

As our ministries and day jobs become increasingly busy, my wife and I decided we want to do ministry together, and not ministry apart. Our priorities are to minister as a team in other states or overseas countries. Our first experience was as conference speaker and workshop speaker. I spoke on the theme of the conference at the morning and evening sessions and my wife had a talk on healthy marriage, raising children or teenage issues. She was a bigger hit!

The two of us have also co-written books together. My wife added reflection questions to the books I have in print.

On our mission trip to Rome, where I was scheduled to teach two classes of 15-20 lay people over ten days on how to preach expository sermons, the church arranged for her to visit a person with psychological problems, knowing my wife’s expertise in this are. On the way stopping in London, another church requested her to do seminars to benefit families there. The Chinese say, “Don’t waste it” and “Upon the opportunity!”

Aquila and Priscilla had it “as good as it gets” ministering with Paul the apostle. They had been with him for two missionary journeys. Still, no party never ends. They had to stride out on their own to multiply the ministry. After more than a year and a half together in Corinth and two journeys together to Syria and Ephesus they thought they had to make what they had learned to count in the lives of others. Of course, fellowship with an apostle was great, so were the singing, the praying and the Bible studies, but lost souls were at stake. Sure, they could harp back at the great times they had, but the work of evangelism was never done. Lost souls and church planting were at stake.

The two were right. They saw a zealous new believer on fire for the Lord. Apollos was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, speaking with great fervor and teaching about Jesus accurately, though incomplete. So they took him aside, took him under their wings and even took him into their homes (Acts 18:26). Not content with taking in Paul for 18 or so months, they unreservedly did the same for Apollos, too.

Paul and Apollos were not only on fire for the Lord, they were fiery people! Later, the church in Corinth would identify themselves as the Paul’s party or Apollos’ party. Only Aquila and Priscilla were big and accommodating enough to live with not only one but two characters who were larger than life! Acts 18:23 also records that when they were playing hosts to Paul at the old place, they had almost no privacy. Not only was Paul there, large numbers of people came morning to evening to the place where Paul was staying (Acts 28:23) – more precisely, Aquila and Priscilla’s home. Still, the couple did not consider what Paul did a breach of trust, what visitors did an act of trespassing or that the ministry was an inconvenience. Apollos and Paul were the both sides of the same coin. Apollos also attracted a big following and his supporters were as passionate as Paul’s, given the row between their supporters.

Practice makes perfect. The couple’s home in Corinth became a house church. The church in Corinth met at their house (1 Cor 16:19-20). They were Jews, but they were hospitable not only to Jews, but also to Gentiles. Finally, they did not stop going. Their travels did not stop at Ephesus, but where was their final destination? Paul greeted them in his letter to the Romans (16:4). Paul attested in Romans 16:4 that all the churches of the Gentiles were grateful to them. One could say that the couple never bottomed in their giving. They met Paul in Corinth, traveled hundreds of miles east with him to Syria and Ephesus, but eventually they headed hundreds of miles west to Rome, ironically, back to where they belong. They had left Italy because of the fierce persecution of Jews over there, but they took the gospel home where they were chased out! It seems that Paul was not the only one who took the gospel to Rome. Rome residents Aquila and Priscilla took the gospel back to their hometown, family and relatives, neighbors and friends!

Conclusion: One of the greatest privileges in serving the Lord is getting to serve the Lord together with your spouse. Serving the Lord on your own is a personal blessing, serving the Lord in unity with brothers and sisters in the Lord is a church blessing, but serving the Lord with your spouse is a family blessing. Have you, as a couple, stopped growing as a team, going as a team, and giving as a team? Have you given selflessly of yourself and sacrificially to the Lord? God wants couples to minister as a team and mature as a team. The problem in most churches today is the surplus of one-man or one-woman ministry. God desires couples to be on the same team and the same page in ministry. Have you and your spouse offered and blended your various and unique gifts for ministry? If you are not actively doing, you can always actively support and pray.

Easter Sermon (Mark 14)

WHODUNIT (MK 14:40-43)
Nobody could have predicted the controversy that erupted over the Aramaic-speaking, English-subtitled movie “The Passion of the Christ.” Months before the film’s release, rabbis went on the offensive and questioned publicly the appropriateness of such a movie. It seems that every year in Europe past when Passion plays were staged around Easter, many Jews would suffer mindless persecution and be called Christ killers.

Polls that surfaced subsequently were divided if the Jews were responsible for Jesus’ death. ABCNEWS asked 1,011 adults the question “Are Jews today responsible for the death of Jesus?” Overall, 8% believed so.
http://abcnews.go.com/sections/primetime/US/views_of_bible_poll_040216.html

The Pew Research Center, however, in its poll of 1,703 adults, found a higher 26 percent of respondents believe Jews were to blame for the Crucifixion. The greatest increase was among young people and blacks. 34% of those under 30 believes Jews were responsible, whereas 42 percent of blacks hold that view. The survey did not ask whether respondents believe Jews today should be blamed for the Crucifixion.
http://asia.news.yahoo.com/040402/ap/d81mtm4o0.html

The Greek word for “kill” (apokteino) occurs 76 times in the Bible – 49 times in the gospels alone. So who killed Jesus, according to the Bible? Were the Jews or the Romans the bad guys? Was Judas Iscariot or Pontius Pilate ultimately responsible?

The Jews Sought to Kill Jesus
For this reason the Jews tried all the harder to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God. (John 5:18)
After this, Jesus went around in Galilee, purposely staying away from Judea because the Jews there were waiting to take his life. (John 7:1)
21 From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. (Matt 16:21)

A fourteen year old Jewish boy asked a rabbi on Jewish.com:
Q: “I am a fourteen year old Jew. I have a lot of Christian friends, and I have one certain friend that has a very strong opinion of Judaism and Jews. He keeps telling me that the Jews killed Jesus, and I am going to hell if I don't let him in my heart. What really bothers me is the thing about the Jews killing Jesus…Did the Jews kill Jesus?”

A: “Your friend certainly has a “old-fashioned” view of things, since official Christian doctrine, which once spread that lie about the Jews, no longer does. Of course, it was a disciple, Judas, who betrayed him to the Roman authorities, and all the disciples were Jews. Some of the Christian sources depict a scene in which “the Jews,” given the choice of saving Barabbas or Jesus from crucifixion, chose Barrabas…So, even here, some Jews had indirect responsibility for his death. Finally, from a political point of view, we know that some Jewish leaders - appointed by the Romans - may have wanted Jesus out of the way because he seems to have been a political threat. After all, if indeed he claimed to be “king of the Jews,” the Romans would have wanted him silenced, and Jewish leaders may have been “under the gun” to silence him. The final decision, of course, lay with the Romans, who alone used crucifixion as a means of killing criminals and who alone had authority to impose the death penalty. Now, even if Jews were involved in Jesus' death, I might add that that was then, and this is now. Certainly, no Jews since Jesus died played a role in his death. Furthermore -- and most importantly -- since it was Jesus' resurrection that began Christianity, if anything we should be praised for having him killed!”

To supplement what the rabbi said, verse after verse, chapter to chapter, and gospel after gospel say that the Jews merely sought to kill Jesus, but not that they actually killed Jesus. They were guilty of plotting and seeking to kill Jesus, but not the very act itself. “The Passion of the Christ” was supposedly adapted from the gospel of John, but John was most explicit in saying that the Jews “sought” to kill Jesus, but not the job itself. The apostle records that the Jews tried all the harder to kill Jesus for breaking the Sabbath, calling God his own Father, and making himself equal with God (John 5:18). Jesus stayed away from Judea because the Jews there were waiting to take his life (John 7:1). People in Jerusalem were aware the Jews were trying to kill him (John 7:25), but they never concluded the Jews killed Jesus. Jesus, unapologetically, also accused the Jews of seeking to kill him (John 8:37, John 8:40). The NIV said they were ready and determined to kill him. By John 11, the chief priests and the Pharisees even called a meeting of the Sanhedrin to kill Jesus (John 11:47, 53). Again, the attitude and aim of the Jews were firm and clear, but not the act itself.

Not only John, but Matthew (Matt 26:4) and Mark concur with John’s assertion. Matthew claims that “the chief priests and the elders of the people…plotted to arrest Jesus in some sly way and kill him,” and Mark (14:1) says that the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some sly way to arrest Jesus and kill him.

The Synoptic gospels, however, add a twist to the word “kill” not found in John. Matthew, Mark, and Luke note that Jesus did not name the Jews, or even their religious leaders, as his killers. In Jesus’ teaching to his disciples, as recorded by Matthew (Matt 16:21), he explained to them that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he “must be killed” and on the third day be raised to life. Jesus predicted his “suffering” at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, but not “death” at their hands. He said that “he must be killed” but he did not identify who the killers were. Matthew was not alone; Mark (8:31) and Luke (9:21) echo Matthew’s assertion that he “must be killed,” using the passive voice. Language experts discourage the use of the passive voice and use it sparingly but usefully to emphasize an object (“he” must be killed), to de-emphasize an unknown subject/actor when the actor is unknown and if the readers need not know who's responsible for the action.

The Gentile were the Christ Killers
33 “We are going up to Jerusalem,” he said, “and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, 34 who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise.”(Mark 10:33-34)
32 He will be handed over to the Gentiles. They will mock him, insult him, spit on him, flog him and kill him. 33 On the third day he will rise again.” (Luke 18:32)

One of the most sympathetic figures in the movie “The Passion of the Christ” was Pontius Pilate, who comes across as unwilling to kill or crucify Jesus due to the positive influence of his wife, Claudia, who was cast as sweet like Mom and apple pie. She comforted Jesus’ mother and Mary Magdalene in the movie when Jesus was arrested and flogged. Even though evangelicals are rock solid in their support for Mel Gibson’s movie, Mel Gibson is still a traditionalist Catholic at heart and in belief.

According to Matthew 27:19, the only thing the unnamed wife of Pilate ever did was to send her husband a message not to have anything to do with Jesus, whom she called innocent, for she had suffered a great deal that day in a dream because of him. Unlike the gospel account, in the movie, Pilate’s wife has a name, is a believer and is good, godly and generous. The kind portrayal of Pilate as an innocent governor caught up in the crowd’s demand has nothing to do with Scripture but everything to do with Catholicism.

According to Christianity Today, Mel Gibson had read the works of Anne Catherine Emmerich, a late-18th, early-19th-century nun who had visions of the events of the Passion. The movie reflects Ememrich’s account from her book “Dolorous Passion of Our Lord”: “After the flagellation, I saw Claudia Procles, the wife of Pilate, send some large pieces of linen to the Mother of God. I know not whether she thought that Jesus would be set free, and that his Mother would then require linen to dress his wounds, or whether this compassionate lady was aware of the use which would be made of her present. … I soon after saw Mary and Magdalen approach the pillar where Jesus had been scourged; … they knelt down on the ground near the pillar, and wiped up the sacred blood with the linen which Claudia Procles had sent.” (“The Passion of Mel Gibson” Christianity Today March 2004)

Unfortunately, the Jews have been erroneously called “Christ killers” for as long as Christianity exists. According to the Bible, the Gentiles were the real Christ killers. Most notable and notorious of all involved was Pilate’s role. Luke the Gentile (23:4, 14, 22) reports that three times Pilate found no fault with Jesus. The first time, Pilate announced to the chief priests and the crowd, “I find no basis for a charge against this man” (Luke 23:4). The next announcement, after Jesus returned from Herod, was: “I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him. Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death (Luke 23:14-15), and finally he said, “Why? What crime has this man committed? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore I will have him punished and then release him” (Luke 23:22).

The angelic or saintly deeds of Pilate’s wife are unknown to the Bible. Her contact with or attention to the two Marys was straight out of Hollywood. Her concern was primarily for her own and her husband’s interests, and not for Jesus or the women’s wellbeing.

Unlike Mark and Luke, Matthew did not charge the Gentiles with killing Jesus; he used another word – they “crucified” Him (Matt 20:19). Both the words “kill” and “crucify” resolved the Jews from blame. Jes