A New Thing...

I like to explore...my wife likes routine. When we take our walk, I like the variety of different routes,  where she is content to stick to the same route. Driving through the mountains, I see a dirt road and say, "I wonder where that road goes to...should we try it?" And she says, "Ah no..." (I do remember following this urge in my single years and discovered that a standard, 4 cylinder Mustang II can not go up a 50 degree incline)....

Isaiah 43 has been a wealth of insight and encouragement to me over the past several months and I continually review this chapter. What recently caught my attention was the difference in my expectation of how God answers prayer to the reality of how God will answer prayer. I want the routine.... God will be creative in His provision...

Isaiah 43 speaks to God's attention to our fears of life:

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine." (vs 1)
"Fear not, for I am with you;" (vs 5)

It speaks to God's provision for all of our struggles:

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. (vs. 2)

And it recalls God's faithfulness to deliver Israel in the past by referring to the deliverance from Pharoah:

 Thus says the Lord, who makes a way in the sea, a path in the mighty waters, who brings forth chariot and horse, army and warrior; they lie down, they cannot rise, they are extinguished, quenched like a wick: (vs 16, 17)

However, while calling us to remember God's faithfulness, love and provision, it also calls us to forget the manner in which God answered prayer:

 “Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert." (vs 18,19)

The creativity of God extends to how he accomplishes His will. Will it ever be the same or always creatively different in how He accomplishes it? If we look to God to accomplish His will like we have seen in the past, we deny Him His character to be creative....We deny the CREATOR. We can only look at the past to see His faithfulness to accomplish His will and keep His promises, not to set the pattern for answers to our future. The recalling of God's faithfulnes to 'the formers things.." leads us to ..."know and believe me and understand that I am He." (v. 10) But we can trust God to continue His creative character in how he accomplishes that in a way that we have never seen before.

So, "Hang on honey... we are going to see where this road takes us...."

A Burden Shared

After saying these things, Jesus was troubled in his spirit, and testified, “Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he spoke. One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was reclining at table at Jesus' side, so Simon Peter motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking. So that disciple, leaning back against Jesus, said to him, “Lord, who is it?” Jesus answered, “It is he to whom I will give this morsel of bread when I have dipped it.” So when he had dipped the morsel, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. (John 13:21-26)

The 'disciple whom Jesus loves' shared an intimate moment and insight into Jesus' emotions on the night of His betrayal. John  records that 'Jesus was troubled in his spirit...' We hear about the impact on John and it is often applied to our current situation of how we are to 'lean on Jesus,' but perhaps we have overlooked the support and comfort this provided Jesus as He took on the burden of the cross.

Also note that there was a physical closeness, a friendly touch, an intimate interaction that revealed the familiarity of two friends. Much like we reach out to touch a friend who has shared a grief or loss, to touch an arm or a hand, to embrace, to put an arm around a shoulder, John leaned over to 'touch' Jesus.

What drove Jesus to reveal His upcoming betrayal? Could it be possible He needed to share His struggle with someone whom He could trust? Sometimes we just need to know that others understand our situation and our pain. Not to give answers, not to solve, not to attack the aggressor, but to help lighten its weight. By sharing His burden with His close friends, Jesus was able to bear it to completion... "IT IS FINISHED!"

Psalms 23 - A Different Perspective

Early spring hiking is best at Hell's Canyon due to the hot temperatures that occur in the summer. The canyon walls act as a baker's oven, reflecting the sun's rays back and forth significantly raising the temperature in the semi-arid climate. The trail traces the Snake river, rising  and falling along the banks sometimes right next to the water and sometimes hundreds of feet above it. Having done this hike 3-4 times, there is one section on the trail that is permanently embedded in my mind. With the cliff face crowding you on one side, and a 400 foot drop 3 feet away from the cliff wall, there is a section of the trail that has broken away where you actually have to step across to continue on the path. With a backpack on and crowded by the cliff, you become acutely aware that if you twist your body to hug the canyon wall, your backpack will strike the cliff and throw you off balance and over the edge. It's a very real adrenaline rush just to take that step.

Every time I read Psalms 23, I think of this spot on the trail. It's interesting to note that the 'normal' imagery Psalms 23 usually produces is peaceful, quiet lakes...sheep resting on green grass, eyes closed in rest or gently grazing, unhurried and free of any danger (just google images for Psalms 23 and see what I mean). But in the midst of this beloved Psalms, there are two phrases that stand out starkly against that image of peace;

•  "...the valley of the shadow of death..." (vs. 4) and 
• "...in the presence of my enemies..." (v. 5). 

When I isolated those two phrases and contemplated the imagery produced by them, I came up with the following descriptions:

• "...the valley of the shadow of death..."
• danger
• life-ending, 
• dark, 
• cautious, 
• uncertainty, 
• obstacles, and 
• "...in the presence of my enemies..."
• animosity, 
• hatred, 
• injustice, 
• defamation, 
• insults, 
• lies...

The words of Psalms 23 take on a whole new meaning when I begin with those images in mind. In the midst of the valley of the shadow of death...I can trust that HE leads me in paths of righteousness. I can take that step across the void, trusting HIM to lead me to still waters. Amidst the accusations and injustices thrown at me, I can sit down to all the goodness HE has prepared for me. My cup is full because HE overflows it. I will not want...HE restores my soul...I will not fear...HE comforts me...my cup overflows...I am followed by goodness and mercy...I will dwell with HIM forever. 

Now that's peace...

“Danger and oppression are never too much for faith….Evil is always temporary. “The worst does not last.” Nothing counter to God’s justice has any eternity to it. Paul’s witness was “No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he’ll never let you be pushed past your limit; he’ll always be there to help you come through it” (I Cor 10:13 The Message). “He knows when to say, It is enough.”  Eugene Peterson, "A Long Obedience in the Same Direction":