188 — Show and Tell
Every so often, someone asks a question… and answers it!
I’ve been reading Kings and Chronicles lately, and I’ve been wondering about God’s purpose in telling us about all these events. Your response to #187 has helped me frame my question, I think. Is Israel’s repeatedly toying with other nations and idols against God’s will and repeatedly falling into chaos or captivity a parallel to our personal falls and fallen condition? Was part of God’s intent in choosing Israel meant to demonstrate through them how He works and the consequences of our rebellion and the necessity of His mercy? At the same time, were nations who lived in disregard of Him, like the Canaanite tribes, showing us the consequences of living without Him?
So then, is the account of Christ living among us a way of showing us what it is to live in submission to God even in this fallen world?
I guess the main question I’m trying to ask is, “What is the message to us from God’s dealings with Israel? ”
The questioner has really answered her own question. I love it when that happens (cuts down on my work load!). These stories are here for us because:
1. They are a history of a people.
2. We learn a great deal about the patience of God and the unfaithfulness of mankind.
3. We learn that we are NOT supreme beings and, in fact, have a lot to be ashamed of, for the faults we find in the OT are the ones we see in ourselves — to one degree or the other. It reminds us of our place in the universe. We are creators, not the Creator.
4. We see that people do NOT behave and believe just because miracles follow them around. It takes a lot more than miracles; it takes love and faith. Love and faith can live without miracles, but miracles will be useless without love and faith.
5. We see that we cannot keep the law, regardless of how many chances we get. We need a Savior.
6. We can see and contrast — easily — those people and nations who follow God with those who don’t. This leaves us no excuse if we choose to forget our God. We saw what that brings on a family or nation.
There are a lot of stories I would have left out of the Bible. Certainly, atheists love to read the nasty, violent, tragic bits and throw them at us — Abraham shopping his wife out twice, the rape of Tamar, prostitute visiting, slaughter of entire towns, etc. Still, that is part of our story and part of the reason why we need a savior. And we got him!
June 18th, 2009 at 9:04 pm
I have been (trying) to read through leviticus. This is a much more troubling book to me than Kings and Chronicles… all I have to say about it. Thank ya Jesus for fulfilling the old law so we don’t have to learn how to decide if our boils will make us unclean!
June 18th, 2009 at 10:13 pm
I might add another reason: to invite people to join the mission of this God who is so different from the so-called gods the pagans worship.
Or: to reveal to the world that our Creator has always been deeply involved in this world — boots on the ground, up to his elbows in blood and mud, face streaked with sweat and tears.
This is no foppish dandy of a god; too prim and proper to deal with us where we are. And this is no Brooks Brothers-suited god calling the shots from his high-rise office.
This god, the god of Abraham and Isaac, Jacob and Joseph, David and his descendents, He never gives up, he can’t be bribed, and his love lasts forever.
All right, that phrasing is just too good to leave alone. I fully intend to steal it at every opportunity. Thanks!
June 20th, 2009 at 3:24 pm
Patrick, you’re so much better at this than I would ever be.
My response would have been, “Sorry, only one question per e-mail, please.”
But you’ve got awesome answers and you inspired Nick, too.
June 20th, 2009 at 3:54 pm
I tell Atheists, when God slaughterered whole towns. You can simply say who was the evil doer here, who was the oppressor. The slaughterer or the slaughtered. Or just because we dont see the consequences of all things that happened doesnt mean there wasnt any.(consequences can be suttle and small irritating little buggers) Or just because something took place doesnt mean God always wanted that route or path by which it took place, but perhaps alowed it to be for a chance at something else. Just like the killing of the first born in Egypt. By the far the worst of the plagues, but He saved it for last, this was a plague that would even effect the Isrealites if they refused to put the blood on the door posts. The old testament is the school master is it not?
June 21st, 2009 at 2:20 pm
Patrick, thank you, and Nick, thank you for food for thought as I continue to grow to know my God.
June 22nd, 2009 at 2:01 am
“They are a history of a people.”
I’m not much of a history buff, but on my trip to Pepperdine in May, I sat next to a history teacher on the plane. He was reading I Samuel, and I had been reading II Samuel. I made a crack about not understanding the whole war-upon-war story, and he unleashed a history lesson on me – http://parapetsafety.wordpress.com/2009/05/19/history-lesson/ – for which I am grateful.