The Freshness of the Old

While at Camp Kedron I had an amusing interaction with a camper.  Kids who did not bring Bibles were loaned a Bible for the duration of camp.  A older primary-aged girl came up to me and asked for a different Bible.  "Could I have a different Bible?  This one is old."  I glanced to see what version of Bible it was and found it was a contemporary English version.  Then I guessed what prompted her request:  that she noticed there was an Old Testament and she nodded.  I told her, "This Bible is perfectly fine for you.  In fact, you need to have the Old Testament to better understand the New Testament."  We live in a world where "old" is synonymous with "outdated" and "irrelevant," yet the the Old Testament contains fresh truth for those who glean among those ancient passages.

Today I read when God changed Abram's name to Abraham and made a covenant with him.  The first covenant God made with Abram required the sacrifice of animals the Spirit of God passed through.  God established an everlasting covenant with Abraham and his descendants by commanding he and all his household be circumcised.  It was a covenant sealed with his own blood as he cut away flesh in an area required for human procreation.  God promised in the space of a year Sarai (whose name God changed to Sarah) would conceive and give birth to a son to be named Isaac in their old age.  Genesis 17:23 reads, "So Abraham took Ishmael his son, all who were born in his house and all who were bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham's house, and circumcised the flesh of their foreskins that very same day, as God had said to him."  Abraham's faith in God, obedience, and submission to God's ordinance is a timeless and powerful example to all.

Circumcision of males eight days old was later incorporated into the Law of Moses and has been followed religiously by Orthodox Jews and others until this day.  God spoke of a new covenant which would supercede the old in Jeremiah 31:31-33:  "Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah-- ³² not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them, says the LORD. ³³ But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people."  This new covenant would not be limited to the Jewish nation only.  God offers this agreement freely by grace through faith to all people who trust in Jesus Christ and are born again by the Holy Spirit.  Instead of pride in our flesh followers of Jesus are humbled to have the Holy Spirit dwelling within them as a down-payment of their salvation (Ephesians 1:13-14).

Abraham's willingness to circumcise himself, his sons, and all the males of his household has much to teach us today.  The Law alluded to physical circumcision as pointing to an inner work now made possible through the Holy Spirit.  Deuteronomy 10:14-18 says, "Indeed heaven and the highest heavens belong to the LORD your God, also the earth with all that is in it. ¹⁵ The LORD delighted only in your fathers, to love them; and He chose their descendants after them, you above all peoples, as it is this day. ¹⁶ Therefore circumcise the foreskin of your heart, and be stiff-necked no longer. ¹⁷ For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality nor takes a bribe. ¹⁸ He administers justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the stranger, giving him food and clothing."  In John 10:16 Jesus spoke of sheep from another fold He called to follow, Gentiles He called to follow Him so there might be one fold and one Shepherd.  Paul goes into great detail on this point in Ephesians 2-3.

Abraham did not earn God's favour by his obedience but willingly entered into it by doing as God said.  James 4:6-7 says, "But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble." ⁷ Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you."  Even as our love of God is practically shown towards our brothers, so our submission to God is evidenced in honouring governing authorities as it is written in 1 Peter 2:13-17:  "Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether to the king as supreme, ¹⁴ or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. ¹⁵ For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men--¹⁶  as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. ¹⁷ Honour all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king."  If David would not utter a harsh word against the murderous King Saul, should we speak ill of or despise those God has put in authority over us?

The lesson impressed upon me from Abraham's response to God is one of humility, submission to God, and obedience--three themes often repeated in the New Testament.  There is hardly a word more grating to a proud and independent soul than the word "submit."  Abraham was required to submit to a delicate surgery by his own hand, and the believer who submits to follow Jesus Christ in faith is also required to trust God when obedience to Him stings.  Consider the sufferings of Jesus Christ on the cross, pierced hands and feet, heart skewered through with false accusations and scornful words.  Abraham circumcised himself and Jesus humbled Himself, took the form of a servant, and embraced the cross in obedience to the Father's will.  Those who believe will obey and those who humble themselves before God He will exalt.  Praise the LORD there is healing in our God evidenced by our risen Saviour Jesus, and beyond this life of endless testing eternal glory awaits.

Giving God His Due

Words and events that impact us provoke prolonged consideration later.  This can happen sometimes when we read the Bible.  Like a person not content to look at an item behind glass and asks to hold it in their hands for closer examination, we can turn Bible passages over in our minds.  We consider the context and wonder why people said what they did.  I've been thinking over a case concerning what Abram did after God enabled him and his household servants to defeat kings and deliver Lot from their hands.

Genesis 14:18-20 reads, "Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High. ¹⁹ And he blessed him and said: "Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; ²⁰ and blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand." And he gave him a tithe of all."  Abram and his 318 servants pursued 5 victorious kings during the night and defeated them completely.  Suddenly Melchizedek king of Salem and priest of God Most High appears to celebrate the victory of God through Abram.  Abram previously called on the name of the LORD, the Possessor of heaven and earth Who revealed Himself to him.  This was not Abram's victory but God's.  Abram immediately responded by giving Mechizedek a tithe of all plundered--10 percent of all that he recovered and possessed.  Abram refused to lay a hand on the spoil lest the king of Sodom claim he had made Abram rich.  By tithing of all and refusing a reward Abram credited God for his wealth and was content in Him.

Consider the purity of praise and thanksgiving in this act of Abram to give to God and keep none of the spoil to enrich himself.  The God who revealed Himself to Abram gave him all the land on which he tread and a notable victory over many kings.  Faith trusts God in the present and for the future, knowing we are safe and abundantly provided for.  There is something truly liberating when we honour God with our firstfruits and giving to Him what the world views as increase rightfully earned.  Let us not think giving is only about money or goods as Psalm 96:7-9 says, "Give to the LORD, O families of the peoples, give to the LORD glory and strength. ⁸ Give to the LORD the glory due His name; bring an offering, and come into His courts. ⁹ Oh, worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness! Tremble before Him, all the earth."

Recognising the greatness of God and all we have received by grace through faith quickens generosity in His people.  Because we value Him over things we honour Him with our things and the life He has provided as a continuous act of worship for His glory.  Giving time and money as unto the LORD acknowledges His goodness, grace, and power to supply our future needs.  How great is the LORD who has given us all things to richly enjoy, celebrates His power through us, and receives from our hands rejoicing.  Through Jesus Christ God has supplied far greater victory than Abram enjoyed because He established a covenant with His own blood to give all who trust Him eternal life.  Since Jesus has given us His all to purchase us, we ought to give our all rejoicing in our Redeemer.

Choosing Good

A camper last week described his intentional effort to show self-control with his tongue.  His statement reminded me of myself when I was that age, measuring success primarily off what I avoided doing:  "I have only sworn twice all year!"  I commend the lad's efforts to stop cursing.  Jesus taught the words we use reveals the truth of the condition of our hearts, for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks (Matthew 12:34; Luke 6:45).  Trying to cease cursing with our mouths is futile without a change of mind and heart by God's grace.

When I heard the young man's comment I recalled the responsibility of believers not only to avoid sin but to do good, to speak the truth in love.  Better than avoiding gossip our words ought to encourage; rather than harsh censure we can edify others with gracious words.  Realising the Christian walk is more about doing good than avoiding evil was a revelation from God.  The call to self-control goes far beyond speaking and is shown by listening patiently and choosing to remain silent instead of speaking our mind.  We can demonstrate love by refusing to negatively judge or condemn people who do not seem to be making the concerted effort in areas we are.

How about you, believer?  Have you begun to embrace your sanctification beyond surface level and dealt with matters of the heart?  King Solomon gave instruction concerning folly to avoid and also directives to follow in Proverbs 4:20-27:  "My son, give attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. ²¹ Do not let them depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart; ²² for they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh. ²³ Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life. ²⁴ Put away from you a deceitful mouth, and put perverse lips far from you. ²⁵ Let your eyes look straight ahead, and your eyelids look right before you. ²⁶ Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established. ²⁷ Do not turn to the right or the left; remove your foot from evil."

It is easy to trip when we are moving forward and our eyes are not on the path right before us.  Following the car in front of us can lead us to drift from the centre of the lane.  If we will walk uprightly, we must keep godly instruction from God's word in our hearts, be on our guard to avoid hypocrisy, ponder the paths of our feet, and walk in the way God has established.  It is Jesus Christ--the Way, the Truth, and the Life--who alone has the words of life.  His sheep hear His voice and we are to incline our ears to hear the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit who indwells us.  When we are convicted for sin it is good we remove our feet from evil:  let us take the next bold step of repentance to do what is right and pleases God.

God's Sovereign Goodness

After the earth began to be repopulated by people after the flood, the people banded together in Shinar.  They decided to make bricks, build a great city with a tower that reached to heaven, and make a name for themselves so they would not be scattered across the earth.  God knew their plans and decided to miraculously disrupt them and bring about exactly what they worked to prevent.  Genesis 11:7-8 reads, "Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another's speech." ⁸ So the LORD scattered them abroad from there over the face of all the earth, and they ceased building the city."  The name of the unfinished tower was called "Babel" because it was the place God confounded the languages of the people.

The inability to understand one another ended the singleness of mind and purpose the people once shared.  Without anyone to translate what they said and meant their efforts turned into a ruin.  This incident, more than merely showing how the multitudes of languages in the world came to be, reveals the importance of communication.  This can be seen in marriages, families, the workplace, and church.  God was observant of the reason behind the building project in Shinar, and He also is keenly aware of what His ultimate plans are for His glorious kingdom.  The people wanted to unite all in one place, yet God was determined to send them forth.

The situation at Babel is a good reminder of God's sovereignty and plans that are infinitely better than our own short-sighted goals to make a name for ourselves.  I recently read a biography of David Wilkerson and he once attended a church filled with notable preachers and worship leaders.  The church did not last long and one of the senior members put it like this:  "Too much salt."  Jesus told His followers they were the salt of the earth and they were pleased after His ascension to remain in Jerusalem.  It was not long after the Holy Spirit came upon them in power great persecution arose against Christians who scattered and brought the Gospel with them to Jews and Gentiles alike.  I do not suggest this to justify church "splits" or irreconcilable differences among believers which hinder fellowship but to say God's ways are higher than ours.

We can be content to make a name for ourselves and settle down when God has other plans.  I was very settled and content in the east county of San Diego before God moved me and my family to Australia.  Instead of finding rest in a marriage, job, house, or familiar surroundings God intervened to teach us to discover rest in Him wherever He places us.  When we first came to Australia I was connected to pastors who also had ministry in Australia on their heart and sought to plant a church in the Sydney CBD.  It was like the A-team huddled up and was on mission to minister for the glory of God.  But for whatever reason, it did not come to pass as imagined.  Those pastors are now scattered across four nations (at least!) in fruitful pastoral ministry.  I am convinced their efforts were not a failure because their uniting led to seeking the LORD and He moved them according to His will.

How awesome are the works of God who does glorious things!  The confounding of languages led to friends moving apart but new friendships and horizons were discovered.  Trying circumstances and upheaval led to exploration and visions of grandeur far greater than a tower made with bricks and slime.  In the breakdown of the building project many other leaders were forged.  Without the comforts of city walls people looked to the LORD for guidance and protection in ways they never needed to in the past.  Blessed be our God whose mighty, redemptive works are beyond our desire.  When we look back with eyes of faith, our great regrets of unfinished works can miraculously melt in His sovereign goodness.