We are reminded in Numbers 3 from Yahweh that when it comes to Him, He gets our “first”. He tells Aaron about His setting aside of the Levites for His use and service, because if He didn’t…He’d be taking the firstborn of every man and beast. Simply because they were His to do with what He wanted. Why? It hearkens back to when God delivered Israel out of the hands of the Egyptians. How did He finally get the attention of the Pharoah? By forcibly taking the firstborn of all of Egypt. A powerful, brutal sign that not only was He the Lord, but He was in charge of the choice things – not the leftovers. He didn’t burn down the storehouses of grain in Egypt, or anything else that was replaceable. He took the firstborn.

Christ is called the firstborn of all creation in Colossians 1:15, not because He was conceived and physically born, though in the incarnation He was. His reference to the Firstborn of creation is about positional honor. It’s about His place and what the Father thought of Him. It wasn’t that God was requiring all of Israel’s or Egypt’s children…he wanted their best and their faith. I remember when we had our first child over 18 years ago. In our youthful arrogance I remember we ‘planned’ on having four kids. But we all know people who struggle with getting pregnant, and some simply are never able to have kids. So how presumptuous were we to think that God would automatically give us more. In Numbers God reminds Israel that the firstborn of all things are rightfully His, but in terms of HIs chosen people He decided to set apart an entire tribe for Himself and special service. The tribe of Levi would be His in a way that would be different than His sovereign ownership of all things. They would care for His holiness. They would serve the priestly function.

Ponderables…

1. Do I give the Lord my leftover time, or my prime time?
2. Honestly – what does it say about what I believe about the nature of God when I’m afraid to give him my firstfruits?
3. Finally, what do I need to reexamine or change in my thinking to to re-orient myself to a God first mentality?

I know that sometimes we feel like bible reading in Leviticus can get a little dry, if for no other reason we feel so removed from the people and places involved.  It’s not like most of us are Jewish and we certainly aren’t following Moses through the desert.  Yet, as I was reading through Lev.23 today I was struck by the simplicity of God’s command for His people to celebrate.  He says “these are the appointed feasts of the Lord that you shall proclaim as holy convocations; they are my appointed feasts (Lev.23:2)”

There were a couple reasons given for these feasts, and as a guy with baptist heritage I’ve seen my share of potlucks.  It’s good to see I follow such a holy heritage!  But what we see in these various feasts is a celebration of God’s goodness in different fashions towards His people.  It is interesting and invigorating to know that God wanted His goodness towards His people to be celebrated with joy.  In contrast to pagan gods, which required tremendous and painful sacrifices from its adherents; Yahweh wanted to be celebrated.  I know that there was animal sacrifice for sins, but even that was for our good – so we could draw near in celebration.  How awesome to have a God who wants to celebrate with us rather than intimidate us and alienate.

He not only just wants us to celebrate – but to celebrate the right things.  This is where we see sinful man has taken such a wrong turn.  We spend tremendous time and resources celebrating the trivial and sometimes the outright sinful.  So while God commands celebration, it is not just for celebrations’ sake.  But it fits into His goal for our lives, to enjoy Him forever.  So next Christmas we can celebrate with joy for the express purpose of its Christian meaning.  At the same time, we must fight the sinful bend of culture to morph it into a time that can become gluttonous and financially irresponsible.

FInally, in Leviticus it struck me that it was commanded to celebrate.  My thoughts turn to those who can’t stop working.  Who think its unconscionable to just celebrate – even God.  It is no small thing for those who live a subsistence lifestyle to actually stop for a day, or sometimes longer.  They’re not getting ahead in terms of prosperity by laying down the plow.  Yet, it was the right thing to do, because it kept them from the idolatry of worshiping work itself or the things money could buy.  So celebration helped keep them calibrated to the eternal perspective, as long as it was done rightly.

So…as God’s people have always done – celebrate!

coram deo – rob

What never fails to make me pause and think and shiver a bit is the part of the tour where you go by the cell called the “hole”.  The solitary confinement cell.  A double-doored, windowless metal enclosure with nothing in it but four walls and a drain hole.  If the tour isn’t too crowded, you’re encouraged to go in and close the door for a few seconds, and experience for just a moment what the prisoner on the guided tour is describing about his time spent in the hole.  Of course, he spent days there.  I remember the inmate telling the story of how he would often act out and get sent to the solitary cell.  He would take a button off his shirt and spend the endless moments throwing it against the far wall in the dark and try to find it with his hands – in the pitch black dark.  He did this to not just take up time, but to keep his mind from going insane.

We need to tread lightly when asking trying to figure out God’s purposes in isolating Joseph.  Clearly we can say that it was all part of His design and plan to bring Himself glory, as do all things.  But beyond that, what was He trying to do with Joseph?  My guess is Joseph didn’t know – at least for a good long time.  I find myself wondering how long he asked God that question.  Was it just part of the initial emotional burst?  Or did it slowly bubble up over time?

Back to the punnish title – solitary refinement.  It differs from solitary confinement, a la the Alcatraz analogy, in the motive of the one holding the keys.  A man is confined to protect himself and more than likely, others.  Its punitive, at least in part.  It may or may not have a redemptive element, but at best this is probably just a hopeful byproduct.  We don’t have much reason to think God’s purposes in confining Joseph were earned on Joseph’s part.  Maybe he had become proud due to the blessings received at the hands of his father.  It’s easy given our sinfulness to let that sneak into our lives amidst blessing – maybe Joseph started believing all the positive press he had been getting.  But we are not told much so we can only respectfully speculate.  Whatever God’s reason – it didn’t justify the sin of the brothers, regardless of how He used it afterwards.  One cannot rush to Gen.50:20 with hopes of letting the sinful actions of Joseph’s brothers off the hook – that’s neither accurate or the point.  That’s a little like giving the Nazi’s credit for Corrie TenBoom’s testimony.  Her testimony is a powerful example of God’s faithfulness, but it was amidst and in contrast to the evil that surrounded her.

A gospel note here regarding the idea of solitary refinement.  Of the many things that transpired spiritually on the cross, Christ’s sacrifice found its apex in his time of solitary refinement.  When “he who knew no sin became sin”, the father’s gaze and blessing, for the only time in eternity, was removed.  He who was NEVER alone, became alone, with my sin.  The cross was the ultimately confining experience, beyond any Alcatraz cell.  Yet, it was also the ultimate refining experience, as we are told that “he learned obedience through suffering”.  We, being such visceral beings, immediately think of the physical pain of the crucifixion experience – I do the same thing!  Yet, it was the sins of the world that was the real burden, not the nails.  It was sin that crushed Him, not a Roman centurian’s whip or boot.  Christ’s sacrifice was refined to its purist form in solitude – with our sins.  Away from the Father and the Holy Spirit.

As I ponder, on a far less cosmically grand scale, my own solitary refinement, I find this last point to be powerful.  Having been removed from most fellowship I had once enjoyed, spiritually it has been hard.  Socially and emotionally too, but fellowship with the body of Christ removed has been a uniquely painful experience.  Once again, just a shadowy fraction of Christ’s experience, but I find some solace in that He knows solitary in a way that I’ll never (have to) know.  And serves as our guide, example and hope.  Maybe someday soon I”ll be able to say with the benefit of having been all the way through the tunnel like Joseph, “what you meant for evil…”  But until then, the pit can be dark, and refinement seems elusive or at least future tense.  Until then, we have faith!

A great Fernando Ortega song says it like this;

“All the days of my struggle, I’ll wait for my change.  I’ll wait for my change to come”

coram deo – rob

It is found in Gen.50:20, and comes from the story of Joseph and his time in Egypt. He’s receiving the long awaited apology from his brothers, who had sold him many years ago into slavery to the Egyptians.

  “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.”

-Genesis 50:20 ESV

What a great verse!  Making sense or at least giving eternal meaning to what had been years of suffering.  Giving God glory for not only His sovereignty, but His goodness – which often gets neglected in the discussion of His sovereignty and world affairs.

Joseph was 17 years old, we are told, in Gen.37 when due to the favor his father Jacob showed him, his brothers conspired against him.  They stripped him of his robe of color, and threw him into a pit.  While murder was discussed, they ultimately decided to sell him, so they could be rid of him – but there would be no blood on their hands, so to speak.

We aren’t given much insight as to what happened in the heart of Joseph between Gen.37:23-24 and 50:20.  But in thirteen chapters Joseph was able to say, as the hymn writer sings, “it is well with my soul”.  But how did he get there?  Think about what must have gone through his mind. His own family, his brothers, sold him out.  His most trusted social structure, his fellowship base.  These were the people he ate and laughed with.  Went to worship with.  Shared life’s joys, work and sorrows with on a daily basis.  And in a moment, it all changed.  I wondered what he thought when he hit the bottom of that pit.  What did he yell up, into the dark, as he was held without water for who knows how long?  Was he mad?  Sad?  Did he see it coming?  Was he penitent?  Did he think thoughts of vengeance and evil towards his brothers as he was hauled out, bound and sent down the road?  He was taken from the people and life he loved and given away for 20 shekels of silver.  The pain of betrayal must have lasted much longer than the lingering pain of his brother’s hands pushing him in the back – into the pit.

Somehow in those thirteen chapters he learned the power of Christ as he was ‘set apart’ for God’s task. Taking the literal meaning of what it means to be holy – to be set apart, he was physically, emotionally and geographically ‘set apart’ as well.  To turn the pun…he learned holiness in holey-ness.

This is the holy grail of suffering for those in faith, isn’t it?  We are told often in the Word about impending trials in this life.  It’s the process itself that is part of the faith task.  More than likely, even though there are some universal similarities, the faith walk in the hole is a largely personalized experience – on purpose.  This may sound less than emotionally satisfying for those in the hole.  I find myself wincing at how trite it looks in print, knowing full well it deserves more but this is just the beginning of the discussion, certainly not it’s conclusion.

If nothing else, as I find myself looking up and still smarting from the treatment of my brothers, I will dispense the truth of Gen.50:20 with more deliberation.  More sobriety and compassion.  Knowing its hard to even read that awesome truth in the darkness of the hole will certainly shape how I share it.  For I know it’s true – regardless of the pain of the heart or the dirt in my fingernails.

Coram Deo – rob

In fact, in truth, there may be no such list, except in our own mind.

But that is really a topic for another day, much too deep for todays’ ponderings.  Let’s face it, in one’s practical theology, there are certain things we tend to take as universal constants, at least in our corner of the world, even though when pressed for our theological and philosophical answers we know to be correct, we know we should say, “if the Lord wills”.  So while I know God is perfectly within His sovereign right and will to take my life today, I get out of bed thinking/hoping/praying that this won’t be the case, and I’ll be serving Him in some fashion that doesn’t include a tragedy, humanly speaking.  That’s not denial as much as just a way of living that keeps us doing what we’re called to within the revealed scope of His will; that stuff like, “doing justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly with our God”.

Back to necessary evils.  I know a good number of people who let January 1 come and go without any thought, much less anything resembling resolution.  I myself have set and failed a great number of them myself, and as I think about what Christ may want for me this year my thoughts drift to setting my mind and will to certain things and goals once again.  Some that I’ve made before, and fell short of.  Some are newer goals.  But as I was reading in a book given to me recently, “Grace Walk” by Steve McVey, I was reminded of an important truth that has much to offer me as well as anyone reading going into a new year.

“You can rededicate yourself again and again, but at the bottom of it all, you still have self trying to live for God.  Self effort is the essence of legalism.  It is pointless to pray for God to help you live for Him.  That may by your goal, but it isn’t His.  He wants to live His life through you.”

Maybe its the date on the calendar, maybe its my particular life station I find myself in.  Either way, I am fighting the urge to try harder, do more, make another list, find a program.  Rededicate myself.

This year, I just want to be with Him and let Him do what He wants with me.  Much easier said (and typed) than done.  But as I head into 2012 along with all of humanity looking for more I leave you with this goal from Phil.3:10-11…

that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

So I lift up my metaphorical toast glass and cheer you all to knowing Him more in 2012!  Cheers!

coram deo – rob

I say this because right now I feel super busy but not horribly abundant. Im running faster and longer, doing more, and it feels a little empty, not like it should.  My guess is this means I need to not do more, but maybe do less, better?  Or at least enjoy what Im involved in for the glory of God.  Maybe thats it.

what dou YOU think?

coram deo – rob

I’ve always really been drawn to the passage in John 15:1-7 used by Rich Brown in church last week.  It never fails to impress me when I read the words of Jesus that say, “I am the vine; you are the branches”.  There is a very real, very necessary connection between us and Jesus if we are in any way to be fruitful, or good for anything, in this life.  I say this having spent LONG periods in my trying to do very nice, very Christian things without much thought of Jesus at all.  It honestly makes me wonder what He thought, actually.  Was he smiling?  Crying?  Shaking his head?  Or just waiting?  Good questions I guess, but regardless, it was through the persistent efforts of a close friend and pastor of mine, James Downing who impressed upon me the absolute necessity and vitality of keeping Jesus and that relationship at the core of my experience and ministry.  I know a lot of seminarians, a lot of people with a lot of initials behind their names, who for some reason forgot this.

I say all this for a couple reasons.  I know lots of teens who think being a Christian is about joining a club  or getting the manual.  It’s neither.  It’s more like getting married.  You enter into a very REAL and very close relationship, that being Jesus.  Now, it may be said that with this marriage, you enter into His extended family, the body of Christ, his church.  I guess that may be the ‘club’ feel some think of.  You also become attached to the communication that Jesus gives us through His word.  I guess this may be the ‘manual for living’ that some think of.  But do you see the difference?  Without the relationship, the club is boring and the manual irrelevant.  You just won’t appreciate or get those things without Him at the center.  Believe me, its been tried.  It’s being tried by many teens I know and love right now.

He is the vine – You are the branches.  Apart from Him, YOU CAN DO NOTHING.

A little eery sounding, but the opposite is also true.  With Him, what can’t you do?  I mean, he did create the whole known universe.

So, I make it my goal to live by the vine.  Not like Tarzan, swing around, although it feels like that a bit.  But just making sure that my connection to the fine stays strong.  Basically, I’m all about the fruit!

more later, but sound off – I’d like to hear it

coram deo

rob

Today’s readings take us to the book of Job, one of the more famous biblical figures.  In Job 1-2, we see the setting of the stage for one of the great tests of all time.  It almost seems like a cosmic game of chess, except the players are God and Satan, and the pieces are people.  I often wonder what it would have been like to have been in the room when that conversation took place, with the angels in attendance.  At least we have part of the transcript.  God asks Satan, “where have YOU been?” and gets in response, “roaming around”.  Of course, I’m editing a little.  God asks him if he’s seen his servant, Job.  He asks Satan to ‘consider’ him.  To really think about him and how he is.  Blameless, God tells  us!  A solid guy!  Of course, he is, Satan says.  He’s got all the blessings!  He’s living the life!  He’s just righteous because he has no reason to complain!

Which brings me to the “reaction” point.  In ch.1 and 2 we see God remove blessing from Job; first his family, his stuff and even his good health.  All he has is his life, which given he’s sick and covered in boils, probably isn’t TOO fun.  How does he react?  Read Job 1:20-22.

Perspective is hard.  Seeing the big picture requires us to know what is true sometimes DESPITE what seems go be happening around us.  How many times has our love for God or others been directed by what we feel or how we unthinkingly react based on our initial reading of a situation?  I have to think that Job and his rock solid character delivered his response based not on his situation, but despite it.  Based on what He knew of God to be true.

This week, you could make a list of things that happen, good and bad, and decide based on that list if God is worthy of praise and worth following.  Or you can determine beforehand who God is, and act that way, instead of reacting.

So, are you a list maker or not?  (If you find you’re a list maker, then your response will look a lot like Job 2:7-9!)

coram deo

rob

OK, I’m going off the chart a little here.  I guess I’ll find out who really reads this thing.  I feel like last night’s youth group chat was a bit of a mulligan.  For those of you who are not golf-savvy, that’s a nice way of saying I’d like a do-over.  The fellowship was good, lots of people, no one died, but I wish my talk would have gone a different way.

So, today I am blogging on prayer a bit.  I’m currently sitting at a Woods coffee shop, the bakerview station, if you must know.  I’m people watching.  It’s funny how many different kinds of people there are in such a crowded little place.  I’ve got two college girls chatting about life and a little bible study on the table next to me, while another guy does his homework on the other side.  Across the room sit a group of older asian people, looking pretty animated about something.  On the far wall, two guys in uniform, by the looks it looks like armored truck drivers, are on a bit of a coffee break.  In the other corner, the ‘coveted work corner’ I try to get but rarely do is some business looking types maybe doing an interview or setting up their next golf tee time.

Here I sit, with my earbuds in.  The music’s off, but I leave them in.  It gives people the appearance I’m not listening to them, but I am.  Intently.  Is that dishonest?  Wearing earbuds without music?

Yet, earbuds usually serve a worthwhile purpose.  Good earbuds filter out the noise from outside and give me clarity of sound o whatever I have on my itunes.

My prayer life tends go wander when I get distracted.  I think God’s word acts a little like earbuds – filtering out the outer noise of life so I can more clearly hear His voice.  I can pray without them – but its hard.  I just read a medical article exposing multi-tasking as a myth; we never do more than one thing at once really, we just move back and forth quickly, and usually, not very efficiently, so it says.  So, whenever I can actually concentrate – something gets done!  Yeah!

So, my challenge today is to put on your earbuds, and see if it focuses your prayer life a bit.  Because lets face it, those kids slurping hot chocolate and bouncing on the couch next to me certainly aren’t making it any easier….those little devils!

coram deo

rob

How many times have you and I walked past someone with a cardboard sign or on a street corner saying something like, “Anything helps, God bless” or “Hungry and Homeless” or, “Out of gas”.  Sometimes they have a can out, maybe a dog or kids at their side.  How many times have you thought, “they are probably just scamming, I’ll just keep going”.  Today in Prov.19:17 I was reading (and you can too)

¹⁷ Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the LORD,
and he will repay him for his deed.

Way too often I think when someone wants to borrow money – “Will I ever see this again?”  Many times people cruise into the church parking lot, with a story about how they are on the way to relatives, been driving for days, and ran out of gas.  Just a tankful, and we’ll pay you back as soon as we get to Aunt So-and-So’s!  I’ve given, but instead of wondering when I’ll get paid back, I take the Prov.19:17 approach.  Evidently, when we lend to the poor – we are lending it to God!  That certainly changes things.  For one, could I ever outgive God, who gave His son for me?  More to the point, do I really think God doesn’t have the ability to repay?  Now, I’ve given and the next day not seen any money.

But do we really think repayment is all about the money?

What do you think?

coram deo -rob