Silly Sundays always making me forget the blog because of church. Three days until I'm paid for doing something other than looking at the jobcentre website! Hurrah! Been spending most of today helping Harper clean up his downstairs so this his much better half has a least some semblance of normality. Of course her car then broke down near Carlisle so we'd have had to get the 60 minute make over team to really make an impression! Fun times though. Onto business then,
Today's readings
Exodus 33:7-34:35
Mark 7:1-30
Psalm 25:8-15
So first of all we've got Moses being in charge of the people getting God's word. What struck me straight away is verse 12-13. Here's Moses, witnessing massive things, receiving revolutionary laws and having the strength of character to lead a huge amount of people and yet he still privately quibbles with God. In public he's this stern face at the front of the tent who will hear God's word and the people are impressed but in private he's still questioning where God is in situations. I find that encouraging that God has made us human and enquiring and doubting too for our own safety. But also I find it encouraging that even when we get really close to God, it's not necessarily a fault of our own which makes us doubt, rather it happens to the best of us. But look at God's response to our questioning. He doesn't answer Moses' questions direct, He instead repeats His promise. Moses keeps demanding more to help him lead the Israelites and this is clearly a massively vital part of God's work for the future and yet God still puts a limit on what He will do. I think that it's important to realise that a no from God doesn't mean that what we are doing can't be done or isn't with Him, just that He might want us to put more of ourselves into it as Moses here seems more scared and shy than in desperate need. A no from God doesn't mean your problem isn't important to Him. It means that something else needs to happen.
And in fact Moses in the next chapter is blessed by God to such an extent that when he returns to his people, his face is shining bright with God's love and authority. We talk about being a light to the world and I think this is both symbolic and possibly miraculous here because Moses wasn't shining thanks to power within him because God hadn't changed him. He was shining because he had spent time with God and trusted His word so that the truth of God's love and provision shone out of him. Now not everyone will be provided for in this way and I think it's interesting that the miracles God lists are very specific so we shouldn't assume He will do anything we ask, but I do believe that God can work through anybody who seeks Him and His will, questioning what they believe when they have to but always looking for the answer and reassurance to come from God.
Into the New Testament we zoom and Jesus is rebuking the Pharisees for a change! But this is new stuff from Matthew and it's important to consider it. Jesus seems to talk about a fair few topics here and I'm going to focus on one in particular but feel free to comment if you want to point out other things. Though I know you won't ;) Jesus pulls up the Pharisees for bending God's law to suit their own lives and fit in with their own interpretations. Now a lot of people take this as meaning that God's law is fundamentally as it is written but I don't think that's the point here, nor do I think that fits in with the rest of Jesus teachings about fulfilling and changing the law Himself! I think Jesus' point here is one of motivation. It doesn't matter what you are doing outwardly no matter how helpful or holy it seems unless your motivation is true. There's a saying that the road to hell is paved with good intentions but I think that's not true as long as those good intentions are coming from God and are full of love, justice and acceptance. To me Jesus is saying that we should follow God's will because we want to and when it challenges how we live then we need to change our attitudes rather than misinterpreting or misrepresenting the way something was written. Stick to the truths that God loves each and every one of us equally and that He wants us to love each other just the same. Work from there!
There's a nice parallel also with the miracle here. Now Jesus appears to not have time for this woman and tells her to queue up. There's even a hint of racism as Mark goes to lengths to point out that she wasn't an Israelite. But I think that Jesus here is trying to be reasonable but is impressed by the woman's tenacity and faith that He will help her, regardless of how big the problem seems or how unsuitable most might think her to be. Just like Moses being unrelenting with God, the woman asks and asks again with a strong faith and Jesus responds with the blessing that He would have given anyway but gave out sooner due to her dogged pursuit of His will and His power. Change can happen in the world and in us but we'll only get it if we make sure our eyes are on Jesus and our will is unfaltering in seeking Him out.
Finally we go back to our Psalm and what is David saying but everything I want to in more impressive and clear terminology! The God worshipers are like arrows aimed at God's bull's-eye. God confides in His worshipers. Keeping our eyes on God stops us tripping over our own thoughts and solutions. Hallelujiah for days like this when it all fits into place eh?
And that's your lot for today. Bit longer and much later. We shall see how paid employment affects the bloggity. Yesterday's song is here though the video ought to be 12a at least with all the nudity... Questions, criticisms and comments welcome as always,
Jon
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