Tag: abraham

The Severe Mercy of the Easy Yoke (Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30)

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Christian Spirituality Blog, Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year ALeave a comment
The Burden of Christ, a sculpture of Jesus Christ, in the Oratoire Saint-Joseph, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

“But to what will I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to one another,

‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance;
    we wailed, and you did not mourn.’

“For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon’; the Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds….”

At that time Jesus said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition)

Exchanging one yoke for another is really a rather radical act. It is akin to dying to self, so that there can be new life in Christ.

In our anxiety-laden society, filled with multiple fears, worries, and frustrations, we are being invited by Jesus to lay it all down. In other words, every one of us must unequivocably die to self.

Perhaps this might best be illustrated by expressing my own struggle with the pharisaical yoke and the Jesus yoke:

A year-and-a-half ago, I abruptly had to leave my job as a hospital chaplain due to deteriorating health. I am now retired, not because I chose retirement, but because retirement chose me.

So, for the past eighteen months, I have struggled with this reality of no longer being a Chaplain. As hard as I thought and pondered, I’ve gained no understanding as to why I am no longer serving patients, their families, and hospital staff.

What’s more, I have no insight as to why – during my tenure as Chaplain – I experienced an awful time with a gaslighting boss for three of those years. This boss continually made nonsensical decisions, and defied any understanding, even though I sought it out. (I might add that it is super-creepy that the current U.S. President is so eerily like the former boss, as if I’m still under the abuse!).

If I was a good Chaplain doing good work (which I believe I was) then why was I treated so oppressively? Why did my employer turn a blind-eye to it all? Why would God almighty sideline me in such a loathsome health situation. Why must I keep experiencing the awful effects of incompetent political leadership? Why all of the nonsense? It is a terrible yoke for me to carry.

Likely, none of this has to do with me needing to understand any of it. It could be that it is more akin to Abraham being told to sacrifice the son of the promise, Isaac.

It was a completely nonsensical command from God. It defied any sort of understanding on Abraham’s part. And yet he quietly obeyed, with the text of Genesis 22 telling us nothing about any talk-back nor questioning from Abraham. Only obedience. It appears that Abraham was able to exchange yokes, from the oppressive one to the easy one.

In telling Abraham to sacrifice his son, the real death taking place was Abraham’s, not Isaac’s. Abraham was to die to anything that may compete or be likened to some sort of idolatry before God. For even the very good things, like families and jobs, can become idolatrous to us.

I don’t know about your situation, but maybe for me the point is that I must allow the old life to die, and to let a new life grow out of it. Maybe it’s time for a change of yokes. After all, one cannot have a new resurrected life without first experiencing a crucifying death to the old life.

Death is an integral part of life. To exchange yokes is to experience a death. I’ve wanted badly to return to chaplaincy in the hospital. But I am being commanded to sacrifice it on the altar of God. I am being told to die to myself, so that I may live a new life to God.

Any sort of mere earthly hope must die within us, that an unselfish and godly hope may arise anew. And that happens when we deliberately switch-out one yoke for another.

Chaplain Tim, in a way, is dead. I now accept that which is already true of me. It is a death to self. And I am now patiently awaiting my resurrection.

I do not understand this weird liminal space I’m inhabiting; and I need not understand it. I’m deprived of the object of my former job. And so, I let go of it. I will cling no longer to the old life.

What I seem to be currently experiencing is a severe mercy – the mercy from God to not make Christianity wholly understandable, nor boil it down to pharisaical laws of which I can clearly either follow, or not.

Instead, I allow following Christ and taking up his easy yoke to maintain it’s true mystery and grace. If I have died with Christ, I shall also live with him.

Only in hopelessness can we entertain hope. God loves me enough to let me feel the awful severity of Divine nonsense, so that I may experience the real nature of Christ.

I suppose, then, that I am really dead to having to understand everything, and am instead alive to hope. And hope will not disappoint me.

Through dreams and visions, O God, you broaden the horizon and hope of your people, so that they may discover the meaning of your covenant, even in the midst of trial and exile. Increase the number of those who believe in your word so that all people may joyfully respond to your call and share in your promises. Amen.

Lessons From a Genealogy (Ruth 4:18-22)

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Christian Spirituality Blog, Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year BLeave a comment

Now these are the descendants of Perez: Perez became the father of Hezron, Hezron of Ram, Ram of Amminadab, Amminadab of Nahshon, Nahshon of Salmon, Salmon of Boaz, Boaz of Obed, Obed of Jesse, and Jesse of David. (New Revised Standard Version)

No, I didn’t make a mistake about what the verses are for today from the Revised Common Lectionary. Yes, the Old Testament lesson is a brief genealogy. And yes, there is something to learn from this.

The Bible contains a lot of genealogies. Although they may be boring, with names we have difficulty pronouncing, every genealogy serves the same purpose that it does for your own family history.

Genealogies remind us of our connection with past generations. And this interconnectedness has influenced us in profound ways. You and I are the result of what history has produced. We are who we are, to a significant degree, because of the people who came before us.

By listing someone’s descendants in writing, it indicates an ongoing developing story which has happened, and continues to develop up to the present time, and even into the future.

One aspect about biblical genealogies that must be noted: Ancient compilers of genealogical lists did not often include every single person in the genealogy. They typically listed the more significant persons, and left out persons who barely dented history.

That’s because the biblical writer’s purpose in giving a genealogy was not necessarily to be exact and precise about each individual past actor. Rather, the writer usually has a moral and/or theological reason for providing the list.

For the writer of the Book of Ruth, the reason for this genealogy was to establish the bloodline and pedigree of King David. Perez was a son of the patriarch Judah (and Tamar). Boaz was a descendant of Judah. Boaz married Ruth, and they had a son, Obed, who was the grandfather of David.

I hope that you see the grace in every biblical genealogy. Including in our genealogy for today, we have two women, Tamar and Ruth. Both of them were unlikely candidates for producing a king. And even more unlikely to be included in greatest Christian genealogy of them all, the lineage of Jesus (Matthew 1:1-17)

The Gospel writer Matthew included in his genealogical list a note about Boaz. He was the son of Rahab. Yes, the same Rahab who was the prostitute in Jericho, and became a faithful woman included in God’s covenant community. (Matthew 1:5-6)

Ruth was a “heathen” woman from Moab, a nation which historically was hostile to Judah. Yet, through her own pious actions, Ruth became a worthy member of Judah, and listed as a great mother of the Jewish people.

The brief genealogy we have here is a part of an historical continuity in God’s covenant community. From Abraham to Judah to David to Jesus, and to the Christian Church, this both literal and spiritual heritage is brought about through a daughter-in-law of Naomi the Jew, Ruth.

None of us are truly alone. We are all connected as people. And Christians are spiritually linked to the covenant as God’s people, by faith.

Just as Abraham “believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,” so, you see, those who believe are the descendants of Abraham. And the scripture, foreseeing that God would reckon as righteous the gentiles by faith, declared the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “All the gentiles shall be blessed in you.” For this reason, those who believe are blessed with Abraham who believed. (Galatians 3:6-9, NRSV)

This connection to the past, prevents us from having an over-individualistic faith in God and relationship to the Lord. We belong to the historical and worldwide communion of saints. We, both personally and communally, belong to God.

For the writer of the Book of Ruth, history is important. Genealogy is significant. God’s covenant matters. The Church’s life is bound up in the person of Christ, in King Jesus, Son of David, Son of Boaz and Ruth, Son of Abraham.

Not only do we belong to God, but we also belong to one another. We belong to ordinary people who showed extraordinary faith.

And it is through ordinary people that God works out divine purposes on this earth for the common good of all people.

We have many grandparents in the faith. We are linked to them by faith. There is a mystical spiritual connection that we enjoy with them. And that connection is shared with others of the faith, as well.

For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members and not all the members have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another. (Romans 12:3-5, NRSV)

Blessed Christ, you do not call us servants, but friends—companions on this mission to see love, peace, and hope made known. You do not leave us to fend for ourselves, but invite us into community with you and others. Draw us closer to you and one another, and help us to become companions and confidants in our collective journey of faith and perseverance. Amen.

Jesus Is Better (Hebrews 7:1-10)

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Christian Spirituality Blog, Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year BLeave a comment
Abraham meets Melchizedek, 13th century mosaic, Basilica di San Marco, Venice, Italy

This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him, and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, the name Melchizedek means “king of righteousness;” then also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.” Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever.

Just think how great he was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder! Now the law requires the descendants of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people—that is, from their fellow Israelites—even though they also are descended from Abraham. This man, however, did not trace his descent from Levi, yet he collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. And without doubt the lesser is blessed by the greater. In the one case, the tenth is collected by people who die; but in the other case, by him who is declared to be living. One might even say that Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham, because when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the body of his ancestor. (New International Version)

We all become discouraged at various times in our lives; it’s part of being human. Chronic discouragement, however, can turn into a resignation to one’s apparent fate. It can cause us to give up.

That is where the Jewish Christians were, both spiritually and emotionally, in the New Testament Book of Hebrews. As Jews, they were living in a pagan Gentile world which did not appreciate their religious and cultural differences. As Christians, they lived with isolation from their Jewish families who did not understand their faith commitment to Christ and the Church.

It’s one thing to become discouraged. It’s another thing altogether to never have your situation change. Day after day, the Jewish Christians faced hardship, even persecution. So, over time, their faith and resolve to serve Jesus began weakening. They were in danger of reneging on their cherished beliefs and way of life.

This is why the author of Hebrews stepped in to address the situation. He wanted to encourage the struggling believers to not give up, to persevere in their faith. In order to do that, the Christians would need to fix their eyes on Jesus.

Instead of returning to Judaism, the Jewish Christians were encouraged to see how Jesus is superior to every important person in history, and better than the legal and sacrificial systems that they came from.

In chapter 7 of Hebrews, the author is continuing an argument that Jesus is better than the high priest Aaron (Hebrews 4:14-10:18). Part of that argument was to highlight the significance of an ancient king, Melchizedek, who was both a king and a priest of the Most High God.

The line of reasoning goes like this:

  • Melchizedek was a king and a priest in the time of Abraham.
  • Abraham acknowledged Melchizedek as such, and recognized his greatness and authority.
  • Therefore, Melchizedek is superior to the founder and patriarch of Jewish faith, Abraham.
  • Jesus is both a king and a priest, like Melchizedek.
  • Aaron is a priest, not a king.
  • Jesus is superior to Aaron; Aaron’s ministry was temporary, and Christ’s reign is permanent.

Specifically, regarding the lesson today, the argument is this:

  • Descendants of Levi were priests in Israel.
  • Levi was the ancestor of Aaron, the original Levitical high priest.
  • Abraham was the great grandfather of Levi.
  • Abraham was patriarch, and therefore, greater than Levi.
  • Melchizedek is greater than Abraham.

And so, the author of Hebrews was making this argument:

Jesus is a priest and king, like Melchizedek. Therefore, Jesus is superior to Abraham, Levi, Aaron, and all of the Levitical priests.

The Book of Hebrews insists that Jesus is greater than all other Jewish persons in history; and is superior to the old Levitical sacrificial system. Every Levitical priest lived and died. Jesus lived and died and rose from death. Therefore, Christ’s priesthood is still in existence. It is permanent.

From the New Testament perspective, Christ’s death and resurrection has replaced the Levitical priesthood as a new and better system of order. It’s new and better because, whereas the Levitical priests offered sacrifices day after day, Christ offered himself, once for all. The Cross of Christ was the sacrifice to end all sacrifices.

This spiritual reality, presented to the Jewish Christians in the ancient world, was meant to encourage them to hold fast in their commitment to Jesus.

We now have the privilege of coming to God without any spiritual hurdles to jump or obstacles to overcome, because Jesus made it possible.

God is available to us at all times, without having to offer a sacrifice in order to enter God’s presence, because the curtain of the temple has been torn in two.

Christ Jesus has finished the sacrificial work, and made it possible for every believer to come to God by faith alone.

So, don’t give up. Be encouraged with Jesus, the Savior and Sovereign of the universe, the Sustainer and Helper in a time of need, and the great King and High Priest who lives even now to intercede for us.

Hebrews is a somewhat long book in the New Testament of the Bible, encompassing thirteen chapters in all. It’s contents may sometimes seem dense and/or confusing. Yet, if you read through it, in one sitting, I believe you will come away encouraged and motivated to persevere and keep going.

Be patient, my friend. The situations which are now discouraging you will not last. And there is a King and High Priest who will last forever, and who has your back through all of the icky sticky circumstances of your life.

Fix your eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith.

Accept, O Lord, our thanks and praise for all that you have done for us. We thank you for the splendor of the whole creation, for the beauty of this world, for the wonder of life, and for the mystery of love.

Above all, we thank you for your Son Jesus Christ; for the truth of his Word and the example of his life; for his steadfast obedience, by which he overcame temptation; for his dying, through which he overcame death; and for his rising to life again, in which we are raised to the life of your kingdom.

Grant us the gift of your Spirit; that we may know you and make you known; and through your Spirit, at all times and in all places, may give thanks to you in all things. Amen.

True Faith (Hebrews 11:1-3, 13-19)

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Christian Spirituality Blog, Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year BLeave a comment

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for.

By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible….

All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.” Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead, and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death. (New International Version)

Faith is important. It’s part of us. We are all people of faith – maybe not sharing the same faith – but it is faith, none-the-less.

Belief transcends time. Faith is rooted in the past, experienced in the present, and future-oriented. In Christianity, faith is historically moored to the redemptive events of Christ’s incarnation, life, death, resurrection, and ascension.

This historic faith has continuing ramifications into the present time. And it is a faith which believes Christ is coming again to judge the living and the dead.

People of faith allow their belief in what is coming to shape how they live now in daily life.

The biblical character of Abraham is synonymous with faith. And for good reason. God had told Abraham he would have a son with his wife Sarah. This would not be unusual except for the fact the couple were well advanced in age, and Sarah was incapable of having children.

Yet, despite the overwhelming odds, Abraham believed God. Years later and with a mix of patience and impatience from the would-be parents, the promise from God was realized. Abraham and Sarah had a son, Isaac.

But true faith never comes without anguish…

Isaac was known as the child of the promise. So that’s why this command of God was so perplexing: Take your son, this child of the promise, and go to the mountain and sacrifice him there. (Genesis 22:2)

Huh? What the #&%!  But it only seems strange and super-weird to us. There was no reaction from Abraham, no questioning, no talk back. He simply went about the business of saddling up the donkey, chopping some wood for the sacrifice, and took his only son with him on the journey to the mountain. (Genesis 22:3-5)

The Sacrifice of Isaac, by Marc Chagall, 1966

We might wonder what was going through Abraham’s mind through all of this. While you and I might try and figure out if we really heard God or not, Abraham had a history of talking with God. He knew God’s voice as well as he knew his own.

Abraham was well down the road of relationship with the God he served. We gain the insight from the author of Hebrews into Abraham’s thought process, a line of thinking consistent with a person who has a regular habit of talking with God.

The promise was given to Abraham that it would be Isaac who receives the family blessing. So, when Abraham’s faith underwent a maximum test, he was willing to sacrifice Isaac. He reasoned and believed that God could raise people to life. Abraham simply thought he would get Isaac back from death.

Abraham did not try and figure out God’s mind. He didn’t get into a debate with God about the contradiction of ethics he was being asked to do. He just obeyed. Abraham knew that it didn’t matter if Isaac were killed because God would raise him from death.

This, of course, is not what happened. It was all a test of faith. Abraham knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that God is the Lord who provides. (Genesis 22:9-14)

You and I, along with all the faithful believers who have gone before us, rarely know why we are facing the unwanted and unasked for circumstances we are enduring. We don’t always know what in the world God is thinking.

Yet, like Abraham, if we have a spiritual history of walking with God and hearing the Lord’s voice, we don’t hesitate to respond. We are convinced God will provide. Obedience for the follower of Christ is not a burden but a privilege, even when we are being tested beyond our seeming emotional ability to do it.

True biblical faith is neither an existential leap into darkness, nor a simple recognition of certain facts. Rather, Christian faith is a reliance upon and commitment to the promises of God that results in taking a risk. 

Sovereign Lord, your ways are sometimes strange and confusing. Yet, I know that everything you do is always right, just, and good. It is to your gracious and merciful character that I know you will provide. My allegiance is to you, in the Name of Jesus Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.