So You Need a Theophany?

And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night. Exodus 13:21

In the time of Moses, God led his people in a very visible way. There was the burning bush, the storm on Mt. Sinai, and the pillars of cloud and fire. The big theological word for this is theophany.  Sometimes we wish God would act in the same way today.  Wouldn’t it be easier if we could actually see God?  If we could all just get in our cars and drive off in a convoy with God leading the way?  Wouldn’t we be less likely to go astray?  Surely we’d get things right if God would just make himself plain.

The thing is, He has.  For one thing, we have His word, the Bible.  It has plenty of instructions the ancient Israelites had to do without.  We also have the example of Jesus.  Jesus was the ultimate theophany, God made man.  The Israelites didn’t have Him either;  they had Moses, a prophet, but just a man who spoke with God, not God Himself.  So what is our excuse?

Well, it’s true that we’re only human, filled with original sin.  The best of us can misunderstand, be tempted, or lose our way.  However, in the long run, we don’t have an excuse.  Most of the time we know we’re not following our leader, because we simply chose to go our own way. We’re no different than Adam and Eve who decided it would be okay to eat that fruit because it looked desirable.  We’re no different than the people in the days of the Judges who “did what was right in their own eyes.”

So what should we do if we’re really intent on following God?  Read His word — He gave it to us for a reason.  Take it as it stands.  Don’t try to weasel out of what God has made clear.  Imitate Christ.  The Bible says He was tempted, just as we are, but did not sin.  Pray.  Lay your decisions at God’s feet.  Communicate your fears, frustrations and hopes.  God is the leader who won’t let you down;  but you have to follow.

 

 

More Manna

“Each of them gathered as much as they could eat.  And Moses said to them, “let no one leave any of it over till the morning.’  But they did not listen to Moses.  Some left part of it till the morning, and it bread worms and stank.  And Moses was angry with them.”  Exodus 16:19-20

Julian Green was an American author, who wrote a number of novels, and is also known for his Diaries which chronicle his personal and religious life.  This quote from a 1941 diary entry gives his thoughts on how the verses above relate to how we should read Scripture:

“The story of the manna gathered and set aside by the Hebrews is deeply significant.  It so happened that the manna rotted when it was kept.  And perhaps this means that all spiritual reading which is not consumed–by prayer and by works–ends by causing a sort of rotting inside us.  You die with a head full of fine sayings and a perfectly empty heart.”

We’re fond of saying, “you are what you eat,” as a way of reminding ourselves that eating healthy foods will lead to a strong, vigorous body, while a diet of junk causes obesity, diabetes, heart disease and a myriad of health problems.  In the case of the Bible, we should become what we eat.  When we nourish ourselves with God’s word, it should make us into a “new man” (or woman).  We should allow that good food, to manifest itself in a good life.

What have you been eating lately?  Has it had any effect on your life?

Switched On Mentors

If you would like to study some examples on people who were spiritually reborn or “switched on.”  their stories are in the Bible, and many of them are listed in the 11th chapter of Hebrews.  (which is, by the way, my favorite book of the Bible).

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.  …By faith we understand that the world was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was made out of things that do not appear.

By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than did Cain….

By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death….

By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events yet unseen, took heed and constructed an ark for the saving of his household …

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place which he was to receive as an inheritance;  and he went out, not knowing where he was to go.

By faith Sarah herself received the power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised…

By faith, Abraham when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises to offer up his only son …

By faith Isaac invoked future blessings on Jacob and Esau …

By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites…

By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid for three months by his parents because they saw he was beautiful and were not afraid of the king’s edict ….

By faith, when he was grown up,Moses refused to be called the son of the Pharoah’s daughter, choosing rather to share ill-treatment with the people of God ….

The author of Hebrews goes on to say that there was not enough time to tell of all those who had seen the things which were to come through the spiritual understanding received in their faith. Will you be one of the “great cloud of witnesses”(Hebrews 12:1)? Whose spiritual insight has inspired you?