Tag Archives: people of Israel

God’s Living Water

Featured by

“God’s Living Water”

The Samaritan woman at the well, Jesus blessing and an apostle. Mosaic (6th)

John 4:4-30 (4:10) – March 12, 2023

            I am going to Egypt. Yes, next Sunday evening, March 19, I am going to get on an airplane at O’Hare Airport and fly to Istanbul, and then to Cairo. This is going to be a great adventure for me, and a look at a whole new part of the world!

            Egypt has – for the most part – a desert or semi-arid climate. Not much water, at all. Very similar to the climate in the Sinai Peninsula, which is where Moses and the people of Israel were during our Scripture reading from Exodus today. Moses and the people of Israel were all really thirsty, and there was hardly any water to be had, out in the wilderness.

This thirsty theme carries over into our Gospel reading from John chapter 4, where the Rabbi Jesus meets a woman from Samaria by the well of the patriarch Jacob. Jesus talks to her about water, and how to take care of her thirst.

God provided water for the people of Israel through Moses. And, Jesus and the woman at the well have the longest conversation recorded in the Gospels. All about water. Do you and I really know about the water that God provides?

What are you thirsty for? What am I thirsty for?

The people of Israel were a grumbling, grousing, stiff-necked group of people. This isn’t just me saying it: this is the record both of many places in the Hebrew Scriptures and in the New Testament saying it. These thousands and thousands of people needed water that God provided.

Looking at our Gospel reading from John 4, we discover similar features. Here we are in Samaria, which was mostly a semi-arid climate. Meaning, there was some water available, but only in a few areas. The Samaritans also needed water for their daily needs. We can see they needed the water God provided, for themselves as well as for their animals and crops.

How about this woman, in particular? A Samaritan woman, having contact with a Jewish man, and a Rabbi, on top of that. Added to which, she was a divorcee. Not once, not twice, but divorced a bunch of times. This woman did not come to the well early in the day, with the other women of the town. No, this woman came to the well with her water pot at noon. An odd time to draw water, when the well most probably would be deserted. This certainly was an unexpected encounter for this woman at the well.

As I think about the griping, grousing people of Israel in the book of Exodus, I also think of being a mom. I would have been scared for my children. Since the whole group of thousands of people was out in the Sinai wilderness, there was not much water to be had. At all. What would I do for my children’s thirst? How would I cook and take care of my family? And, it wasn’t just a few families who were worried. No, multiply that fear and worry by every family in that tribal group. That’s a whole lot of anxious, worried and even angry people!

The Samaritans from John 4 had some stability and some water in their area, but I am sure they needed to be careful. Jacob’s well was far from the center of town, and the women needed to walk some distance to the well to draw water. Water they needed for drinking, cooking, and all the rest of their daily needs.

As the Rabbi Jesus and the woman at the Samaritan well had their conversation together, “It is surely fitting that Jesus speaks of himself as the source of water that eternally quenches thirst, for that is precisely the gift of God for us.” [1] Jesus knew what would solve the thirst problem for this woman, and for all the Samaritans in her village.

Tell me, what are you thirsty for? What am I thirsty for?

The Samaritans were only half-Jewish and were a minority in the majority-Jewish Palestine. At the time of Jesus, the full-blooded Jews discriminated against them, some even hated them. Except, this kind of minority attitude was nothing new to the Jews.

Remember back in the beginning of Exodus? When the Jews were slaves for centuries? They were a minority people-group in Egypt. After they came out of Egypt and were free, the Lord gave them strict injunctions. A number of times in Exodus, Leviticus and Deuteronomy, certainly, not to mention repeated in the Hebrew Scriptures and in the New Testament. In Leviticus 19: “When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.”

It’s clear, over and over in the Biblical record. God provides living water to Jews and non-Jews, alike! I agree with Pastor Janet Hunt in her article on this encounter in John 4, where she says “I’m not certain the woman was necessarily ostracized from the rest of her community. In fact, having been married five times, she was likely at least tangentially related to a whole lot of people. When she returned to her city with her invitation to “come and see,” they did.” What’s more, “Jesus made himself vulnerable by agreeing to be [the Samaritans’] guest and in the resulting deepening of relationship, they were able to receive for themselves this marvelous gift of faith.” [2]

Just as God provided living water to the people of Israel countless times in the wilderness, just as God provided living water to the woman at the well and all the people in the town in Samaria, God provides living water to us, each day. Receive this free gift of living water. Receive this gift of faith. God is holding it out to us all. Amen.

@chaplaineliza

(Suggestion: visit me at my other blogs: matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers. #PursuePEACE – and  A Year of Being Kind . Thanks!

[1] https://dancingwiththeword.com/jesus-and-the-samaritans/

[2] https://dancingwiththeword.com/jesus-and-the-samaritans/

The Lord’s Glory

Featured by

“The Lord’s Glory!”

Exodus 24:12-18 (24:16) – February 19, 2023

            Sometimes, I run into people who seem to have a permanent rain cloud over their heads. Do you know that sort of person? Instead of positivity, they exude negativity. I think of these people as Eeyore, the sad, gray donkey who is a friend of Winnie the Pooh’s and Piglet’s. Their view of life is always sad and negative. Now, think of people who are exactly the opposite, who exude positivity, kindness and light. The exact opposite of an Eeyore! Many people are often drawn to their positivity and good spirit.

            In our Scripture reading from Exodus today, we see Moses getting ready to go up on the top of the mountain to meet with the Lord. All of the people of Israel are scared to death. The huge crowd of people see the lightning, hear the thunder, and watch the great clouds cover the mountain. I suspect there was strong wind and great sounds of commotion, too.  

            God gave Moses a command, for him to come up to the top of the mountain and to meet with the Lord. Perhaps we focus more on the positive, on Moses going up to see God on the cloud-covered mountain top than on the negative, on the frightened people of Israel cowering below. I know that this chapter in Exodus is right at the beginning of Israel’s wilderness journey. However, the way the people of Israel begin to act here is the way they continue to act for the next forty years. These griping and disgruntled people act like Eeyores! Always negative, always sad and despairing, always with a permanent rain cloud over their heads!

            Our Gospel reading for today is from Matthew 17, and features a similar story of the glory of God coming down to rest on a mountain top. Listen to the first few verses: “17 After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. 3 Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.”

            These three disciples could not believe their eyes! Similar to the people in the Exodus reading, they were shocked, amazed, and afraid. However, these three disciples did not remain this way, unlike Israel. The people of Israel had a negative attitude, for a long, long time! Forty years, and even longer! At least the frightened disciples had the wonderful, positive example of Jesus, especially with this marvelous transfiguration on the mountain top!

            This Gospel event is one of the huge events in our Lord Jesus’s three-year ministry. The Transfiguration is a true mountain-top experience. Think about countless artists’ paintings, icons and representations of Jesus’s Transfiguration, throughout the centuries. Many if not most of them concentrate on the blazing, heavenly glory of the changed and revealed Jesus, God’s Son. And, that is absolutely what is going on! However, there is so much more that happens here.

“While Jesus was praying [on the mountain top], the appearance of His face changed. It was not merely the external appearance that was changed. The light which transfigured Him completely was shining from inside. The transfiguration was not the throwing away of the mask of humanity. It was not ceasing to be human. It was the human Jesus who was transfigured. The face that was radiant and shone was the human face of the human Jesus.” [1]

            What was the reaction of the three disciples watching, of Peter, James and John? Complete amazement, and even some babbling from Peter about putting up three booths or little altars to the transfigured Jesus, to Moses and to Elijah. Further, I am wondering what was the continuing reaction of the people of Israel in Exodus?

As Moses came down from the mountain top, his face was brightly shining from the inside out, from his encounter with God’s glory.

We have already discussed how the people of Israel were always looking at things from the worst point of view. Just like Eeyore, with a fearful or gloomy or negative way of looking at things. Typical of that gloomy expectation, Israel was so scared of seeing Moses – a man just like any of them – with a shiny face, they all insisted that Moses wear a veil, covering his face.

            I wonder: are you and I afraid, overwhelmed to see our Lord Jesus all transfigured? All glorious, as He was on the mountain? Are we scared to look into His shiny face? Are we perhaps like Eeyore? Everything and everyone has a gloomy cast, or a tarnished lining to it? Are we always expecting the worst, even if we are on the mountain top with Jesus?

            “When all is over — when Moses and Elijah are gone, the voice [from heaven] is quiet, Jesus’ face and clothing have returned to normal, and the disciples are left in holy awe — all that is left is Jesus. Whatever all these signs and symbols may have meant, the disciples are once again with their Lord, their teacher, their friend.” [2]

             I suspect many may be missing what is important here. Instead of being troubled by surface, shiny appearances, we find we are always in the presence of Jesus. Plus, Jesus gives us a future, coming attraction for all of us here. “Transfiguration is not magic but the destiny of all creation in Christ – to be transformed and filled with the divine light.” [3]

We have the opportunity to listen to Him, as the voice from heaven told us. As you and I go through Lent during these next weeks and journey with Jesus to the cross, we will have the opportunity to listen again to stories of Jesus, stories about love and about the Good News of God reaching out to each one of us. Whether we are under a permanent rain cloud, as sad and difficult Eeyores, or positive and looking on the bright side, we all see Jesus. Jesus remains, reaching out to each of us, all of us, in help, healing and love. Alleluia, amen.

@chaplaineliza

(Suggestion: visit me at my other blogs: matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers. #PursuePEACE – and  A Year of Being Kind . Thanks!

[1] https://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/worship/weekly-worship/monthly/february-2023/19-february-transfiguration-sunday

[2] https://www.workingpreacher.org/commentaries/revised-common-lectionary/transfiguration-of-our-lord/commentary-on-matthew-171-9

[3] https://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/worship/weekly-worship/monthly/february-2023/19-february-transfiguration-sunday

We Want What We Want!

by

“We Want What We Want!”

1 Samuel 8:4-11, 16-20 (8:5) – June 6, 2021

            Is there anything you ever really wanted? I mean, really, really wanted? So much that you could taste it? Were you absolutely certain – after you got it – that this thing would make you really happy, so happy you never would wish for anything else ever again?

I know my children wanted things like bicycles, and iPods, roller skates and cell phones, during their growing-up time. I know that occasionally they even said if they just were to get that much desired thing, then they never would ask for anything else, ever again.

            We see that deep wish, that urgent desire expressed here in our Scripture reading today, from 1 Samuel chapter 8. The people of Israel really, really wanted a king. An earthly king, like all the other tribes and nations around them had.

            Just to orient ourselves to time and place, the time period of 1 Samuel was after the people of Israel came to the promised land of Canaan, conquered it, and lived in it for several hundred years. Samuel is known as the last Judge, and a prophet of God. The prophets helped the people of Israel understand messages from God, and helped lead and guide the people, too.

            The people of Israel wanted a king. But, what is the matter with this sentiment? Samuel, knowing God a little better than many of the people of Israel, understood God had tried to be a heavenly King for Israel for several centuries, with the Judges being God’s right-hand guys. The Judges had been the Lord’s representatives on earth, judging, leading and governing the people of Israel for God.

            Except, this did not work out too well. We can see that from the fact that the people of Israel kept falling away from the worship of the Lord, and started to sin – to worship idols and other, false gods. This would happen again and again. Everything would be okay for a while. The Judge would govern the people, things would prosper, the people would become complacent, and then fall away from the Lord. The people would be conquered by a neighboring tribe, repent and call out to the Lord. Another Judge would rise to chase the tribes out of Israel and bring the people back to the worship of the one, true God. Again and again this familiar pattern happened.

Does it sound familiar to you? Have your friends or family members fallen away from the Lord and had problems or difficulties, and needed to get right with God? This sadly familiar situation happens again and again, throughout the centuries. Not just in the time of the Judges.

 The elderly Samuel knew better. He had walked with the Lord for a number of years, and he understood exactly what the people of Israel were asking for. Perhaps the people thought the earthly king would protect them, or make them strong, or even have great wisdom. Perhaps a king would make the other tribes and nations respect the people of Israel! After all, the nation Israel was a little like a football, getting tossed around from tribe to tribe for the past few centuries. Perhaps Samuel’s feelings were hurt by the people’s demand! After all, he was the Judge appointed by the Lord, and he was the one who was God’s representative. But, no. The people wanted what they wanted when they wanted it. They really, really wanted a king!

Does this sound familiar? Someone wants what they want, and no one can tell them any different. They stubbornly decide they really, really want it, and that is that.

Samuel tries to reason with the people. He knew how kings acted in other nations. Samuel told the people of Israel that a king would not treat them well. He tried to spell out exactly how much a king would cost the nation of Israel. A king would take a lot of their crops and animals as taxes, and recruit their sons to fight wars and daughters to work for him, and the people would eventually complain bitterly to the Lord about the king.

Predictably, the people refused to listen. They demanded a king from Samuel.

So, Samuel went before the Lord. The Lord told Samuel to give the people what they wanted. You know the proverb “Be careful what you wish for – you may get it.” That is exactly what happened to the people of Israel. God added a postscript: someday, the king would indeed treat the people of Israel poorly, even enslaving them.

When the people of Israel finally got their king, did it really, really make them happy? Was it the best, most prudent thing for the nation? I don’t know for sure, but I think not.

            Of course, looking back at the book of 1 Samuel, we now have 20/20 hindsight. We can see clearly the kinds of things the new King of Israel will require the nation to do for him. Sometimes, “we want what we want when we want it!” is definitely not the best decision for us.

            While we are talking about leaders, and leadership, some of our current leaders today are battered and bone-tired of serving in their agency or government structure. In the past 15 or 16 months, everything has been turned topsy-turvy and inside out. Even if they might not be the most effective or the “best” leaders, we can pray for them. We can ask God to help them govern and make decisions. We can support them, even if we did not vote for them or hire them. And, God bless our leaders, even if they lead differently than the way we think they ought to.

            Do you think we ought to demand things from God? Demand what we want when we want it? Or, is it a better idea to trust the Lord to know what we need? “In giving us what we so desperately want, God disciplines us so that we learn to leave these things in God’s hands. In biblical terms, we must focus on seeking God first, and trust Him to add all those things He deems best for us. Let us be cautious that our requests to God are not demands. Let us learn from the Israelites of old so that we need not walk the path they had to walk.” [1]

God truly wants a receptive, open heart. Don’t be like the people of Israel! Instead, have an open heart and a willing spirit. Hear the word of the Lord!

  • Alleluia, amen.

(I would like to thank Illustrated Worship for their summer Worship Bundle for 2021. I appreciate the thoughts and insights found for this Lectionary reading for June 6, 2021, the 2nd Sunday after Pentecost, which I used in the creation of this sermon.)

@chaplaineliza

(Suggestion: visit me at my other blogs: matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers. #PursuePEACE – and  A Year of Being Kind . Thanks!

[1] https://bible.org/seriespage/6-give-us-king-1-samuel-81-22

“Give Us a King! (1 Samuel 8:1-22),” by Robert Deffinbaugh at the Biblical Studies Foundation.