The Rod Before the Axe

When the disciples suggested they step into Elijah's sandals and call down fire from heaven upon those who rejected Jesus, Luke 9:55-56 recorded His response:  "But He turned and rebuked them, and said, "You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. ⁵⁶ For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives but to save them." And they went to another village."  God who created mankind is inclined to show mercy and save sinners, not destroy them.  Though He is just, He is also gracious, compassionate and longsuffering.  If this was not the case, not one of us would remain.

C.H. Spurgeon said in a sermon, "The LORD usually brings the rod before the axe."  This is seen throughout the scripture concerning God's dealings with people.  For about 100 years Noah was a preacher of righteousness as he built the ark, using a rod of rebuke to warn lost sinners judgment was coming.  God sent Moses to tell Pharaoh to let God's people go and sent plagues upon Egypt that increased in severity until the final plague that killed the firstborn of man and beast throughout the land.  God did not begin with a deadly plague but with miracles and earnest warnings of what was to come, and the words were confirmed by the LORD's signs through Moses.

On two occasions during the life of Jesus, He went into the Temple and overturned the tables of money changers and drove out the animals sold in illicit trade.  Even as the LORD and angels went down to Sodom in response to the cry that rose up to heaven, Jesus walked through the Temple to observe everything that took place there before He took decisive action the following day (Mark 11:11-19).  What God intended to be a house of prayer had been made a den of thieves, and the quote of Jesus from the prophet Jeremiah strongly suggests coming judgment for sin.  To have tables overthrown and animals driven from the Temple was a foretaste of what God would do through the Romans who sacked Jerusalem and left no stone unturned in their destruction of the Temple.  Jesus did not kill anyone when He cleansed the Temple, yet many would perish when God purged Jerusalem in 70AD.

Since we are born again by the Spirit of the living God, it is good for us to adopt His approach to conflicts and situations of our lives.  We can be guilty of taking the axe to a relationship when we have neglected to gently confront or rebuke someone for an offense against us or others.  Perhaps there are parents who have "cut off" their children without taking decisive action to discipline or adequately warn those who strayed.  We can internalise frustrations and never voice our concerns in a constructive way until we are done.  We might also have been victimised by this behaviour, having been cut off without a word or a legitimate reason from our view.  It is natural to treat others like they have treated us rather than loving others like Jesus loves us.  How gracious is God to provide the rod before the axe, and may we do the same.

Having Peace With God

I read a book recently that contained a lot of valuable points.  It is important when reading books that are not the Bible, to view them through the lens of scripture and the Gospel.  There may be many things in this world that are accepted and even seem beneficial but are not biblical.  Even as we are discerning about the ingredients of dishes or take note of calories for our physical health, we ought to be wise concerning our spiritual nutrition.  Nothing is as vital for our spiritual and practical consumption as the milk and meat of God's word.

This book about apology languages and forgiveness would have had my stamp of approval until the penultimate chapter which camped on the benefits of "apologising to ourselves."  Chapman and Thomas wrote:

"When you apologize to someone else, you hope the apology will remove the barrier between the two of you so that your relationship can continue to grow.  When you apologize to yourself, you are seeking to remove the emotional disequilibrium between the person you want to be (the ideal self) and the person you are (the real self).  The greater the distance between the ideal self and the real self, the greater the intensity of the inner emotional turmoil.  Being "at peace with oneself" occurs when we remove the distance between the ideal self and the real self."  (Chapman, Gary D., and Jennifer Thomas. The 5 Apology Languages: The Secret to Healthy Relationships. Northfield Publishing, 2022. page 158)

While some may find this helpful or insightful, this perspective is not presented or sustained anywhere in the Bible.  There is no division between an "ideal self" and the "real self," for our real self (which is inherently fleshly and sinful) cannot ascertain what our ideal self even is or how to become that person.  It is not in us to be anyone other than we are.  The only Person who can measure up to God's level of perfection worth emulating is Jesus Christ, and being God it is we who have transgressed and wronged him by our sinful thoughts, attitudes, words and conduct.  Our problem with sin is not merely an emotional one but a spiritual one, for our sin separates us from God.

Never in scripture is it put forth as our aim to "be at peace with oneself," but the Gospel has been provided so we lost and doomed sinners can have peace with God.  It is Jesus who is our Peace.  Romans 5:1-2 says, "Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, ² through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God."  Being "at peace" suggests a transitory condition that can change based upon our circumstances or how we feel, but having peace with God through our LORD Jesus Christ is a constant.  It is not about us spanning the gap by our own apologies or forgiveness that provides perfect peace, but by faith in Jesus Christ.  We confess our sins to Him, repent, receive forgiveness and access grace in which we stand.

God rejoices over one soul that repents, and we can also rejoice in hope of the glory of God.  How blessed we are who were once far from God because of our sins, yet have been brought near to God by His grace.  Inner peace is a fleeting mirage, and peace with God is what matters most to our spiritual growth and well-being.

Christ Is All Good

As often as our predictions come to pass, there are countless times our expectations are unmet or even exceeded.  We expected prompt service and were disappointed to wait in a long queue, or we were pleased the traffic at peak-hour was surprisingly light.  There has been the person of high social rank who was very pleasant and friendly when we imagined they would be unapproachable.  Depending on the church you grew up in there might be an expectation the pastor's kid would be well-versed in scripture or a wayward prodigal.  I love the fact God's ways are higher than ours, and surprises that seem good or bad ought to remind us we are not Him and lay our preconceived expectations aside.

One such unexpected circumstance is found in 1 Kings 14 when the wife of idolatrous king Jeroboam wore a disguise as she sought to inquire of the prophet of God, Ahijah.  It is ironic Jeroboam worshipped idols yet sought counsel from the LORD when his son was ill.  Though Ahijah the prophet was physically blind, God prepared him before her arrival and provided insight so he could see through her disguise and give a word concerning the child's certain demise.  The reason might surprise you.  Ahijah said concerning the king's son Abijah in 1 Kings 14:12-13:  "Arise therefore, go to your own house. When your feet enter the city, the child shall die. ¹³ And all Israel shall mourn for him and bury him, for he is the only one of Jeroboam who shall come to the grave, because in him there is found something good toward the LORD God of Israel in the house of Jeroboam."  Out of the wicked house of Jeroboam the child Abijah had genuine faith in the God of Israel.

Spurgeon preached a wonderful sermon on the subject, and this portion touched my heart:

"I want you first to consider the very singular fact which you cannot understand, that holy children should be often placed in ungodly families. God's providence has arranged it so, yet the consequences are painful to the young believer. You would think that if God loved a child he would not suffer it to be born unto Jeroboam's court, and that he would not send his own chosen down to be surrounded by everything that will grieve its tender heart; and yet God does send his dear children into such places. Why is this?

Well, first they are God's protest against sin where no other protest would be heard—a tender touching message from God to let the ungodly know that there is something better than the sin in which they wallow. Holy children are as angels and demons, by their innocence rebuking sin. Does not God send children there also to make a display of his divine grace, that we may see that he chooses whom he wills and takes one of a family according to his good pleasure? Does he not also show us that he can keep grace alive in the most unlikely places where all things war against the soul? The grace of God can live where you and I would die. The life of grace can continue under conditions, which threaten death. Some of the brightest and most gracious people have been found where there was nothing to keep them, but everything to hinder them. Does not the Lord permit this to show what his grace can do? and is it not intended to be an encouragement to each of us to be faithful? for if this dear child could be faithful to God with such a father and mother, and in such a court, ought you and I to be afraid? Oh, you big man, let a child shame you—you were afraid to speak out before your work-mates the other day! What a coward you must be, when this child displayed his love to the Lord God of Israel where all opposed!

Is it not remarkable how God distributes his people, as we scatter salt? He sets one of them down in each den of evil. Saul the king is a great rebel against God; but close at his side is Jonathan: thus the sweetest flower that ever bloomed is found growing near the roughest bramble that could be found. What a sty of filthiness was the court or Ahab! and yet he had for his chamberlain Obadiah, who hid the servants of God by fifties in a cave, and fed them from Jezebel's table; Nebuchadnezzar must not be left without three holy champions who can go into the fire for God. Look at Belshazzar drinking wine out of the cups of the sanctuary, and yet a Daniel is employed in his court. Even in the court of Ahasuerus, Esther is placed to confront that wicked Haman. Oh, I think there is never an Uz without a Job, nor a Chaldea without an Abraham, nor a Sodom without a Lot, nor an Egypt without a Moses, nor a house of Eli that has gone astray without some little Samuel sent of God to bear his protest. Think over the ways of God to man and admire what you cannot understand."

Amen!  Think over the ways of God and admire Him, for He does what we cannot predict or imagine.  When we were sinners deserving of death He sent His only begotten Son Jesus Christ, the Light of the World, to pierce the darkness and bring life and liberty to all who believe.  He was pierced and wounded for our transgressions, and by His stripes we are healed.  We all went out of the way, yet Jesus has been sent as the Way, the Truth and the Life so we might know God, receive the Gospel and eternal life.  By God's grace He has ordained His people to be scattered throughout the world so His grace and goodness would be known by all.  Believers are compared to salt that keeps its savour, light that shines in darkness and the fragrance of Christ.  In Christ we can be exactly who God in His wisdom created us to be and flourish in His presence wherever He leads.

God's Grace Everywhere

God's awesome grace is constantly affirmed in the Bible and will be for all eternity.  Once our eyes of faith are opened to God's goodness we see the prevalence of His grace everywhere--even in unexpected situations.  God's grace is not like a fragile orchid that can only grow and flourish in a carefully controlled and maintained environment, but is as enduring and eternally hearty as He is.  In our imperfect world among sinners, God's grace flourishes everywhere.

In Numbers 12, the older siblings of Moses complained about his choice of spouse.  The text suggests the  motive behind the complaint of Miriam and Aaron was to undermine his authority before the people, for they said:  "Has the LORD only spoken through Moses?  Hasn't He also spoken through us?"  God heard their comments and bid them all appear before the LORD at the tabernacle.  God rebuked Miriam and Aaron for their trespass and when His presence departed Miriam was struck with an advanced case of leprosy.  Aaron begged Moses would not hold their foolish sin against them, and Moses instinctively cried out to God for healing.  By God's grace Miriam was restored to health.

As a consequence for Miriam's sin, God commanded she be shut out of the camp for seven days before she be received again.  Numbers 12:15-16 says, "So Miriam was shut out of the camp seven days, and the people did not journey till Miriam was brought in again. ¹⁶ And afterward the people moved from Hazeroth and camped in the Wilderness of Paran."  God's grace toward Miriam, her family and people is displayed yet again because the movement of the camp was God's choice.  Previously in the book of Numbers we read how God directed when it was time to move, where to go and how long to stay.  The people did not journey until Miriam was brought in again, and this shows God's hand in facilitating her restoration to her people and Himself.

We might imagine because of our sin God moves on without us or leaves us behind, but this passage illustrates the opposite is true.  Sin brings awful, deadly consequences even for believers, yet let us never lose sight of God's grace to forgive, heal and restore us to Himself.  For the sake of one person God waited 7 days so she could be received before breaking camp and moving on.  While no stone or pillar was erected, God has memorialised His awesome goodness in the scripture for us to consider and rejoice He has extended such grace to us.  People might leave or abandon us because humans are fickle, but God is faithful.  We deserve eternal death for our sins, yet God gives the Gospel of grace so we sinners might draw near to Him as He has to us.