The Rock, the Road and the Rabbi
I love when God brings my meditation life into very applicable real life experiences. Recently I finished a study by Kathie Lee Gifford from the book, The Rock, The Road and The Rabbi. Kathie has experienced Israel with numerous visits and love for the land and the people. This book explores the culture of Jesus' day with the understanding and study of Rabbi Jason Sobel. I gained insights into details that were new to me.
Jesus' birth most likely occurred in a cave outside of Bethlehem where shepherds cared for lambs being groomed for sacrifices. The lambs were swaddled in cloths torn from old priest's garments, which may have been the swaddling cloths Jesus was wrapped in and why that would have been a sign for the shepherds to know exactly where baby Jesus was.
The crown of thorns Jesus wore before the crucifixion represented the bearing of the curse of the ground in Genesis. Jesus died on a tree; Adam and Eve fell into sin by eating fruit from a certain tree. Abraham's use of a donkey to carry the wood for the sacrifice of Isaac parallels Jesus riding on a donkey into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. Many more symbols and signs about Jesus fulfill prophecy and shows God's sovereignty at work.
Today as I listened to the Daily Audio Bible reading from John 21, I was touched by the story of Jesus coming to the disciples who were out fishing, instructing them to throw the net on the other side of the boat, inviting them to a breakfast of fish and bread, with a warm fire to sit by. I can imagine Peter, with memories of his denial nagging his conscience with guilt and doubt about his usefulness to Jesus, finding sweet forgiveness and freeing reinstatement to Christ's calling on his life. The huge catch mimicked the first oversized catch where Jesus had called them to follow him. The bread and fish symbolized his continued desire to be their provider, and the fire set up the scene to remind Peter of the night of his denial.
Details Matter!
Both these reflections emphasize to me the importance of details to our great God. If all the little things are orchestrated by him, how much more does every human being matter to him! And that thought brought me to the crazy, sad and destructive culture I am immersed in today.
My country is hurting. There are a lot of hearts wracked with pain and suffering. Cries of injustice and inequality are causing people to rise up in peaceful solidarity, and others in acts of violence. All this follows the agony of the effects of the Covid-19 virus. The virus brought death. This pandemic of discord and racial separation is bringing death to hearts and hopes.
We Cry for Our Country
Lord Jesus, hear the cries. Come to those you love and heal us. Raise up peacemakers and voices of wisdom that will drown out mixed messages from political leaders and their focus on control and division. Give us leaders who will champion the way forward from here. Leaders filled with your love and the Holy Spirit. Your will be done in the USA as it's done in heaven. We need you! Please don't forsake us and the land you have blessed and loved since our beginning. We have wandered far from you, turned our backs to you, spit in your face and turned to false gods. Please, forgive us!
We, your followers, have forsaken our first love as we revel in prosperity and convenience. Forgive us. Forgive our apathy and fear of man. Reignite us to be the city on the hill. Bring back the savor that our salt has lost. Have mercy, oh, Lord, have mercy!
