25 March 2009

On the Journey

                            Putting Our Questions Aside . . .

              The Old Testament Lesson for the Fourth Sunday in Lent presented me with certain challenges as I prepared to proclaim the written Word of God to you last Sunday. If you have forgotten, the text was Numbers 21:4-9. This passage captures an event in the life of the Hebrews who were on their way from slavery in Egypt to becoming God’s chosen people living in a promised land.

              As I turned to commentaries on Numbers, I learned that this passage is the fifth passage in Numbers describing the complaints of the people against Moses and Aaron. On this journey through the wilderness, they were always complaining. The water tasted bitter, so God made it sweet. There was no bread, so God fed them with manna from heaven. When the people demanded meat, God sent quail. God made water pour from the rocks when there was no water. There was no end to their complaining, and they dreamed of Egypt where they could eat all the fish they wanted for free.

              This “murmuring” in chapter 21 marks a turning point. At this moment, the people complain and accuse both Moses and God. They accuse God of leading them out of Egypt to die in the wilderness. With this accusation, the people have unknowingly crossed the line of what is tolerated by a jealous God. You do not accuse a faithful God of unfaithfulness. Responding to their complaint, God sends venomous snakes into the camp. When the people are bitten, they died.

              While preparing Sunday’s sermon, I quickly determined that these snakes sent from God promised to create a distraction. When we read this passage, we want to linger over this detail. Our minds erupt with questions. Why would God send poisonous snakes to attack His people? What kind of God responds in such a way? Did not God, we are tempted to say, overreact to a little complaining by a bunch of people who barely knew Him?

              I realized I had to address the snakes in some way. I could not ignore them, for they were there for everyone to see. Yet, I concluded the point was not what we thought about the snakes, but what those whining and complaining people thought about the snakes. Their reaction was to acknowledge they had sinned. They repented and asked Moses to plead their case before God.

              God does not take the snakes away, but the Lord provides a way for healing. Moses forges a bronze snake, places it on a pole, and lifts it above the camp. If one of the Hebrews is bitten and looks up to the snake then healing comes. God gives life to the chosen people. When God’s people repent and turn from their sinful ways, God’s mercy and faithfulness overcome God’s jealousy and judgment.

              Since Sunday, I have thought about the ways you and I approach the Bible. We may acknowledge that it is the Word of God, but what role or authority does it have in our lives. Do we read it? If we read it, do we seek to understand it? Do we embrace it as the Word that shapes and guides our spiritual lives?

              If you were to study this passage from Numbers in your Sunday School class, what do you think the focus of the discussion would be?  Do you think the snakes would dominate the discussion or the people’s repentance or God’s mercy? It seems to me that we are tempted to question God’s response of sending snakes to these sinful people rather than contemplate God’s merciful response to their repentance.

              I confess that when we study the scriptures it is tempting to bring our own issues to the text. I doubt this is the most rewarding approach. The scriptures have served the people of God well for thousands of years. Why should we not look to them for truth, wisdom, and guidance as we seek a life-transforming relationship with God?

              This week I am reading a treatise by Hesychios of Jerusalem written in the fifth century after Christ entitled, On Watchfulness and Holiness: Written for Theodoulos. In this treatise, I have been encouraged to submit myself to the witness of scripture rather than bringing only my questions to the text as modern folks are tempted to do. Hesychios wrote in teaching 60: “He who does not know the truth cannot truly have faith; for by nature knowledge precedes faith. What is said in Scripture is said not solely for us to understand, but also for us to act upon.” He also warns in teaching 80: “He who relies on theoretical knowledge alone is not yet a faithful servant: a faithful servant is one who expresses his faith in Christ through obedience to His commandments.” Reading and studying the scriptures is an essential practice on the journey of faith, but reading and studying must not become a substitute for obedience.

              As we move toward Holy Week, it is tempting to ask questions about how the death of Jesus brings us salvation. These questions move us into the area of theological reflection—what was God doing in Christ? I am going to approach this week of passion reflecting on these words: “he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death—even death on a cross.” [Philippians 2:7-8] I am going to seek to understand how to empty myself to discover a humility that inspires obedience to God. I am going to attempt to eschew theoretical knowledge hoping to embrace faith expressed by obedience to Christ. I invite you to join me on this journey.jamie