November 23, 2023 – “Does the Bible Say…? 

“Does the Bible say James and John did not adhere to the 4^th Commandment?”

“Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee. He saw two brothers. They were Simon (his other name was Peter) and Andrew, his brother. They were putting a net into the sea for they were fishermen. Jesus said to them, “Follow Me. I will make you fish for men!” At once they left their nets and followed Him. Going from there, Jesus saw two other brothers. They were James and John, the sons of Zebedee. They were sitting in a boat with their father, mending their nets. Jesus called them.  At once they left the boat and their father and followed Jesus.” Matthew 4:18-22

When Jesus calls his first disciples there usually is very little information about the circumstances in their lives when Jesus called them. In other words, Peter and Andrew were tossing their nets into the sea when Jesus called them. What kind of boat were they in and were there others with them? Did they go home and tell their families before leaving with Jesus? Did they have questions for Jesus before they decided to follow? And then there are James and John, the sons of Zebedee. Again, we know they were in the boat, mending their nets. Fishing was a difficult task, and their nets really took a beating. When Jesus called James and John, they were with their father, in the boat, and the text suggests to us that they dropped everything, and just left to follow. Did their father Zebedee call out to them – try to convince them to stay and finish their tasks – tell them to go home and say goodbye to their mother in some obedience to the fourth commandment?

I think the calling of the disciples is one of the most enigmatic events of the early ministry of Jesus. What was it about Jesus that could convince people to just leave everything they were doing and follow a new course in life? Yes Jesus would go on to announce that he came “…not to abolish the law but to fulfill it.” In other words, through obedience to the commands of Jesus, we are no longer held captive to the law. But the silence in the scriptures is often the loudest voice we must consider. Zebedee said nothing. Really? James and John said nothing. Really? If I could ask Zebedee one question, I would ask him what he was thinking as he watched his sons leave the boat and follow Jesus.

Pastor Dave

November 24, 2023 – Does the Bible Say…?

“Does the Bible say Balaam’s donkey could talk?”

“Then the Lord opened the mouth of the donkey, and it said to Balaam, “What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?” Balaam said to the donkey, “Because you have made a fool of me! I wish I had a sword in my hand! I would kill you right now!” But the donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey, which you have ridden all your life to this day? Have I been in the habit of treating you this way?” And he said, “No.” Then the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road, with his drawn sword in his hand; and he bowed down, falling on his face. The angel of the Lord said to him, “Why have you struck your donkey these three times? I have come out as an adversary, because your way is perverse before me. The donkey saw me, and turned away from me these three times. If it had not turned away from me, surely just now I would have killed you and let it live.” Then Balaam said to the angel of the Lord, “I have sinned, for I did not know that you were standing in the road to oppose me. Now therefore, if it is displeasing to you, I will return home.” Numbers 22:22-34 (not inclusive)

The story of Balaam and his donkey is one of my favorite stories in the Old Testament. G-d is angry with Balaam, and so has taken a stand to contend with him. Balaam, unable to see what the donkey sees, is blind to how he has angered G-d. While G-d is trying to put Balaam on a different path, Balaam is trying to do the same to the donkey. Balaam is thinking, “You stupid donkey! Why did you do that to me?” And he begins to beat the poor donkey. The confrontation continues between Balaam and his donkey until finally the donkey has had enough. And he speaks his anger at Balaam: “Am I not your donkey, which you have ridden all your life to this day? Have I been in the habit of treating you this way?”

When the donkey spoke to Balaam, I wonder how Balaam really reacted? How would you react if a squirrel sat down beside you and said, “You got any peanuts?” I have never heard a donkey speak, but if I do, I most likely would see a therapist. Again we remember that nothing is impossible for G-d – even giving animals the ability to ask us for a treat – and especially in giving us humorous stories in the Bible.

Pastor Dave

November 22, 2023 – Does the Bible Say…?

“Does the Bible say Abraham was about to kill his only son?”

“And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. And he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So they went both of them together. And Isaac said to his father Abraham, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” He said, “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” Abraham said, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they went both of them together. When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son. But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called the name of that place, “The Lord will provide”; as it is said to this day, “On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided.” And the angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time from heaven and said, “By myself I have sworn, declares the Lord, because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies, and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.” So Abraham returned to his young men, and they arose and went together to Beersheba. And Abraham lived at Beersheba.” Genesis 22:6-19

G-d and Abraham had an interesting relationship. G-d had been making the promise of “numerous offspring” for a long time. But for a long time, Abraham and Sarah had been without a child, except Ishmael. Finally, they had a son together — in their old age Sarah conceived and had a child — they named him Isaac. Finally, the promise of G-d could possibly come to fruition. And then one day, G-d told Abraham, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love and go to the land of Moriah and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you”. This would have been a tremendous shock to any parent; to be blessed by a long awaited child, only to have G-d tell you to sacrifice that child — to give him or her back to G-d. The Bible suggests that Abraham did not hesitate for a moment. Abraham took his son up the mountain and prepared to kill him in obedience to G-d’s command. Of course we know that G-d intervened – Abraham did not actually kill Isaac. While Abraham’s faith had been tested, he proved his faith by his obedience to G-d.

We read this account in the Old Testament and we marvel at such faith. It sounds so simple when we read of such faith in the scriptures, but as we all know, it is hard to do the things G-d commands. But for the Grace of G-d that we all receive through the sacrifice of Jesus, G-d’s only Son, we would all be doomed to eternal death. Again, we are reminded that all things are possible for G-d. We are called to live by faith in G-d, not works for G-d.

Pastor Dave