Category Archives: Scripture

Medical Metaphor

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Journal 2019

My upbringing and Bible school training taught me that evangelism was the greatest task of the believer, and I was “less than” if I didn’t share the gospel with every person in my path (whether they were interested or not). Guilt, fear, and condemnation dogged me for years if I passed up an opportunity to corner everyone I met with the facts of salvation.

But one day, I saw this metaphor to explain why I don’t feel compelled to be a “soulwinner.”

This world is a microcosm of sick and well people. Those who are called to be evangelists are the midwives in God’s kingdom, while I am trained as a surgical nurse. I’m not the surgeon. I’m the technician who hands Jesus the instruments to do His job. And the more skilled and efficient I am, the smoother His job. It’s not that I don’t get excited when another baby is brought into the world, it’s just that I spend my days working in the O.R. Whether an administrator, the sanitation officer, or the chaplain who works with hospice, we’re all called to do our job for the good of our patients in this great hospital of life.

There are different kinds of gifts, but it is the same Holy Spirit Who gives them. There are different kinds of work to be done for the kingdom, but the work is for the same Lord. There are different ways of doing His work, but it is the same God who uses all these ways in all people. The Holy Spirit works in each person in one way or another for the good of all (I Corinthians 12:4-7 NLV).

Masked surgical team preparing instruments beside operating table

What Does God Look Like?

Posted on by under God, Scripture

Journal 2019

And above the firmament that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone: and upon the likeness of the throne was the likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it. And I saw as the colour of amber, as the appearance of fire round about within it, from the appearance of his loins even upward, and from the appearance of his loins even downward, I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and it had brightness round about. (Ezekiel 1:26-27 NIV, emphasis added)

I have never heard a preacher conclude from this passage that Jehovah God has a form similar to a man. I have been taught all my life that God is a spirit and therefore has no body, but I am not convinced of this. Scholars will claim that this description in Ezekiel is simply personification or anthropomorphism, that this was just a vision, or that Ezekiel wasn’t taken to the actual throne of God.

Scripture says that man is made in the likeness of God, in His image, but preachers skirt around that by saying we are like Him because we have mind, will, and emotion. But that’s the invisible soul. An image has substance. Humans are tripart beings: body, soul, and spirit. Our spirits don’t live separate and apart from our bodies any more than God does. He is a triunity whose form radiates pure light.

Exodus 24:9 tells us that Moses, Nadab and Abihu (Moses’ 2 sons), Aaron, and 70 elders went up Mount Sinai and “saw the God of Israel.” They saw God, and they ate, and they drank. You can’t see a spirit. So, what did they see? Apparently they didn’t see God’s face, but they did report that under His feet was something like a pavement made of sapphire. When Exodus 33:11 states, “So the Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend,” was this just a figure of speech? I don’t think so. Obviously, God could not show Moses His glory inside the tent of meeting, but I’m guessing He appeared to Moses in a form that he could relate to.

Call me heretical, but this is how I read it. I think God has form and substance, but we cannot see Him with our human eyes. What will we see when we cross the great divide?

Side note: God foreknew that Nadab and Abihu would offer strange fire to Him, yet He invited them to the mountain. And perhaps even the 70 elders were involved with the golden calf along with Aaron after this mountaintop experience with God Almighty. How could they do this!?

An encounter with God does not negate our free will to reject Him.

Cloaked traveler overlooking a mountain valley beneath sunlit storm clouds

On Rest

Posted on by under Emotions, Peace, Scripture

Journal 2019

Many years ago, at a former church, our brave choir director decided to lead our ragtag group in Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus. Unfortunately, some were following the sheet music instead of watching the conductor, so when he miscounted the hallelujah repeats at the end, several in the choir failed to follow his lead. Those who were watching our leader stopped on cue, withholding the last required note before the pause. What ensued was not a grand and glorious waiting of our collective breaths before the final crescendo, but a weak, disruptive, frown-producing squeak by the few who weren’t watching. I could see the pain on the director’s face as he later berated us for not keeping our eyes on him and following his lead. I don’t think he ever realized he was at fault for miscounting, but the choir was at fault for not watching him. Thus, the piece was marred and flawed. It lost its breathless anticipation before the grand and glorious conclusion.

Rest is not about doing nothing. It’s recovery. It’s anticipation. It’s the silent beat before the final hallelujah. It reminds me of the passage in Revelation 8:1 (Net). “Now when the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.”

Sometimes resting is harder to do than acting.

Lord, in the coming year, teach me to keep my eyes on You, my conductor. I want to follow You no matter what I see written in front of me. If You change things up, then I trust You. I want to remain in step with Your baton and make beautiful music together for the Kingdom.

Further thoughts

As I started to brainstorm the topic of rest, I came up with this list.

  • There are rest notes in music.
  • Rest is needed after an injury.
  • One must rest after a race, exertion, or a battle.
  • We’ll receive final spiritual rest in heaven.
  • Rest means a mental break after concentration and before the next activity.
  • In physics, it refers to an object being stationary relative to a particular frame of reference.
  • The Hebrew word for rest is nuach. It means “to rest, to be quiet, to cease.” (e.g. Shabbat)
  • In Greek, the word is anapausis, which means “cessation or refreshment.”

Webster defines the verb to rest as:

  1. To cease work or movement in order to relax, refresh oneself, or recover strength. Ease up, slow down, unbend, unwind, recharge.
  2. To be placed or supported so as to stay in a specified position. For example, her elbow was resting on the arm of the sofa. “A still point of peace.”

Hymn: Jesus, I am resting, resting

Sunlit bedroom with open window, garden view, armchair, towels, and white bedding
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Unlocking Mysteries

Posted on by under Quotes, Scripture

Journal 2019

I just finished reading Jonathan Cahn’s The Book of Mysteries, a 365-day devotional “to uncover the mysteries of God, the secrets of the ages, and the hidden keys to open the doors of a life of joy, blessing, and the fulfillment of your destiny.”

Here are some of my favorite quotes and notes from the book.

Day 1. “A closed vessel can never contain anything larger than its own size. But an open vessel has no limitations. It can contain the Infinity of God.”

Day 2. When I say, “I am …” I’m using the name of YHVH. (e.g. I am Karen; I am a teacher.)

Day 4. Ruach (Hebrew) = wind or Spirit

When you walk against the wind, you have to work harder and expend more energy. If you repent and walk in the same direction as the wind, God’s power energizes you and moves you forward. I’m reminded of the time I tried to bicycle into the wind compared to peddling with the wind behind my back.

Day 10. Snakes are cold-blooded creatures that twist and turn like deception. All evil is cold-blooded. Think of cold-blooded murder. Hatred, slander, deception and oppression are all cold-blooded.

Day 14. The wise men came to worship him. (Matthew 2: 2)

“To worship God is to kiss God” (Greek proskuneo). It’s an intimate act of joy and love, like a dog licking its master’s hand or a falling down prostrate before someone, whether before Jesus or before an idol. It is the posture that seems most prominent.

Day 15. When does the day begin? Westerners say at sunrise. The Jews follow the Genesis pattern: “And the evening and the morning were the first day.”

God’s progression is from dark to light. Man goes from light to dark, from youth to death, sun up to down. When did we switch the reckoning? Why don’t we keep the Jewish way?

Day 27. The word Hebrew means “to cross over.” I’m an adopted Hebrew, and I crossed over from death to life.

Day 29. Yom Kippur: two identical goats, chosen by lot. One set free; one sacrificed. Jesus was sacrificed. Barabbas was set free. Barabbas means “son of ABBA.”

Day 30. In Hebrew, there is no exact way of saying “I have.” Having is an illusion, for everything in this world is temporary. When you let go of possessions, problems, worries, and burdens, you are left only with one possession: God.

Day 33. Resheet (Hebrew) = first fruit  

When the Israelites entered the land of Canaan and harvested their first sheaf of grain, they were to bring it to the priest to wave before the Lord on the day after the Sabbath.

Jesus is our resheet, risen on the day after the Sabbath.

Day 35. The roads of Zion

  • The road to Emmaus
  • The road to Jericho
  • The road to Damascus

“The journey of your life will not be known by its terrain [Rocky, smooth, sandy, winding, dark] but by the place to which it brought you.” The terrain is not your focus, but the destination.

Day 56. Rahamim (Hebrew) = Mercies (plural)

God does not have mercy. He has mercies. The word sin is singular. God’s mercies (plural) are greater than our sin (singular).

“In Hebrew, to render a word that should be singular as plural is a way of signifying that the reality behind the word is so unique, so intense, so extreme, or so colossal that the word alone cannot contain it.” (Not just his death, but many deaths for us all.)

Day 63. Isaiah 53. “In his deaths” (plural)

Day 87. Don’t seek an experience, seek God. “Whatever you know of God, He’s more and beyond it. So seek today to find the more and beyond of God than you have yet known.”

Lessons from Genesis, Part 2

Posted on by under Scripture

Journal 2018

Genesis 36, Genealogy

This chapter details a long list of people who lived on this earth before us. We know nothing about them except their names being documented in the greatest book on earth… a lifetime of living recorded in just one word.

Millions of names never get recorded anywhere (except in heaven), and time marches on.

Long line of people waiting at a registration point inside an old building

Our lives are preserved in tiny snapshots of memory. How long do we remember a person? At the very most, we might know our great-grandparents, and we might live long enough to meet some great-grandchildren. I can’t even recall my own journey past what’s recorded in my journals, and when I go back to read them, I’m often astonished at discovering what I have forgotten. Our minds cannot retain all that information. This digital age generation will be the most recorded in human history. Thousands of photos and bits of information are available about us and our families at the click of a button.

Like all humans, I desire to be known, to be heard, to have purpose for my existence. The movie It’s a Wonderful Life reminds us that every human being impacts another in some way. It’s easy to see that if I didn’t exist, neither would my children or grandchildren. We cannot know the impact they will have on future generations. My great-grandparents didn’t know who I would become. They didn’t even know I would exist.

What really matters in light of eternity? Who cares? What’s really important? The thousands of meals I’ve prepared? The number of floors I’ve vacuumed? The hugs I’ve dispensed? The money I’ve spent? The love I’ve freely given? The lessons I’ve learned or passed on?

Thankfully, God knows my name.

Genesis 39, Joseph’s Story

How long, I wonder, did it take Joseph to learn a new language in captivity? How many of those 13 years were spent in prison? How did the jailer notice Joseph had integrity? So many questions.

And then I read this amazing Hellenistic novella titled Joseph and Asenath. The document didn’t make it into the Canon, but the story is plausible and intriguing.

Unlike his dad, grandpa, and great-grandpa, we are told of no character flaw in Joseph. Some say he boasted when he shared his dreams, but there’s no proof in that. We only see his family’s triggers. He was upright and blameless. Where did Joseph learn that? Who modeled it for him?

Betrayal Theme

By all rights, Joseph should have been a psychological wreck from all the betrayals he experienced:

  • By his mother’s death in childbirth
  • By his own brothers into slavery
  • By his formerly trusting master, Potiphar
  • By his seductress, Potiphar’s wife.
  • By his fellow prisoner, the cup bearer

Yet somehow, with God’s grace and favor, he managed to rise to the top. Where did he get such strength of character? He certainly had poor role models: a father whose life was characterized by deception and favoritism, the lack of a mother, and jealous sibling rivalry. This guy should be in a counseling office crying his eyes out. Instead, he had the fortitude to withstand temptation, the capability of leadership and organization, the heart of forgiveness, and the unfailing trust in God’s design for his life. What an amazing comeback!

Clothing Theme

What an interesting theme! I’m sure there are many lessons in this one.

  • From a spectacular multi-colored coat to a stolen, besmirched garment
  • From new clothes from Potiphar to a stripped cloak by the wife
  • From dungeon rags to changed clothes to appear before Pharaoh
  • And finally, the donning of new robes of fine linen as a ruler in Egypt.

Lessons from Genesis, Part 1

Posted on by under God, Scripture

Journal 2018

Genesis 16:13, El-Roi

When Abraham’s concubine Hagar fled to the desert, she said to the Lord who met her there, “You are the God (Hebrew El-Roi) who sees me” (NIV).

God sees me …

When I was a little girl, we sang the chorus, “Oh be careful little hands what you do (eyes what you see; ears what you hear; feet where you go), for the Father up above is looking down in love ….” I skipped over the “in love” part and concluded this meant I better not be naughty because God was watching my every move.

Later it became a comfort to think that He was always with me, no matter what I did or how I messed up.

But my Hebrew Bible commentary suggests a different thought. The ancients believed that if you saw a divine being, you’d die. The Hebrew Bible reads, “Have I not gone on seeing after He saw me?”

Which of the three explanations is correct? Perhaps the third, but there is truth in all three. A God who sees can be a deterrent to trying to hide, a comfort when we come out of hiding (when shame is gone, there is joy in the relationship), and an awe-filled realization that He is merciful.

Woman kneeling on prayer rug in desert during sunset

Genesis 17:1, El Shadai

We often translate El Shadai as “God Almighty,” but El Shadai originally meant “God, the one of the mountain” or “The Lord, Him of Sinai” (Judges 5:5). This was how God revealed Himself to the patriarchs.

Genesis 17:20, Ishmael’s 12

Numbers are important in the Bible. I find it fascinating that God told Ishmael he would become the father of 12 chieftains (cf. the 12 tribes of Israel and 12 disciples).

Genesis 17:23, Slavery

Abraham, the Father of 3 religions, owned both purchased slaves and home-born slaves, and all had to be circumcised. Ever since the Civil War, we in the USA have a profound belief that all men deserve to be free. Slavery is abhorrent to us. In Abraham’s day it was the norm, a common practice to conquer a city and enslave the inhabitants.

Is the act of enslavement a sin in God’s eyes, or is the greater issue how the master treats the enslaved? Did Abraham treat his slaves kindly and with respect? A deeper dive into the subject suggests that perhaps these were indentured servants or bondservants. See what you think.

Did Abraham Own Slaves? Unpacking Biblical Servitude in the Ancient World – genesishow.blog

Genesis 18:15, Sarah’s Laugh

When the Lord told Sarah she had laughed at the mention of pregnancy in her old age, she denied it. The text tells us it was because she was frightened. (Fear is usually the motivation for lying.)

But what if lying is for the purpose of saving a life, or smuggling Bibles into China or hiding Jews in the Holocaust? I’ve never been able to figure this one out. Is it the act or the motive that makes it sin?

[I learned that the rabbis explain that when two moral beliefs collide, the higher moral standard (e.g. saving a life) trumps the lower (e.g. lying to hide someone).]

Why do we always fault Sarah for laughing and forget that Abraham did too? At one time his faith wobbled when he suggested God should use Ishmael to fulfill His promise for an heir. Abraham’s summary word for his life was faith, but he had to learn to trust. It didn’t come automatically. Yes, Abraham had great faith, but he laughed when God announced he would hold a son within a year. Could Abraham’s laughter have come from a heart of sheer joy? The text doesn’t say.

I wonder what word summarizes my life? When have I wobbled?

Genesis 19, Lot’s Two Daughters

Talk about redemption! Lot’s incestual relationship with his daughters produced the following:

  • Moab, the ancestor of Ruth, the ancestor of King David, the ancestor of King Jesus
  • Ammon, the ancestor of Naamah (King Solomon’s wife), the ancestor of Rehoboam, King of Judah

“Out of the ashes of Sodom … a seed of messianic redemption thus lies in the squalid events of Genesis 19:30 – 38.” (Gen Rab 41:4, Hebrew Bible, p. 42)

On Holiness

Posted on by under God, Scripture

Journal 2018

One of the most profound and moving hymns of my childhood was Holy, holy, holy. In my little mind, I defined holiness as moral purity or perfection—a quality belonging only to God and something I could never attain. Thus “holier than thou” turned into a derogatory term meaning pride.

Some dictionary definitions of holiness include absoluteness, majesty, exalted or worthy of complete devotion as one perfect in goodness and righteousness. With these definitions, only God is truly holy, so why do the Scriptures tell humans to be holy? (Lev. 11:44; 19:2)

Another aspect of holiness suggests divine separation from all that is earthly, set apart, sacred, dedicated or consecrated to God. With this definition, a person cannot be holy-er. Either you are set apart or you’re not. You cannot be both holy and unholy. A vessel that was set apart in the temple was either used in the temple or it wasn’t. It’s like either you’re pregnant or you’re not.

Here’s a quick Bible verse search for the word holiness. Something to chew on.

  • Holiness adorns your house for endless days O Lord. (Ps. 93:5)
  • Glorious is holiness (Ex. 15:11)
  • The beauty of holiness (I Chron. 16:29)
  • Give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness. (Ps. 30:4)
  • The throne of his holiness (Ps. 47:8)
  • The mountain of his holiness (Ps. 48:1)
  • Highway … called The Way of Holiness. (Isa. 35:8)
  • Courts of thy holiness (Jer. 23:9)
  • Words of his holiness (Jer. 23:9)
  • The spirit of holiness (Rom. 1:4)
  • Put on the new man, which after God is created in … true holiness. (Eph. 4:24)
  • God hasn’t called us to uncleanness but unto holiness. (I Thess. 4:7)
  • Partakers of his holiness (Heb. 12:10)
  • Follow peace with all, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord. (Heb. 12:14)
Lit candle in a ceramic holder on a rustic wooden table with a book nearby

Lessons from Hebrews

Posted on by under God, Scripture

Journal 2018

It’s a little disturbing to me to see how the author of Hebrews glibly quotes the Old Testament out of context.

  • If 1:5 refers to II Samuel 7:14, the author is misquoting, I will be his father, and he will be my son. (NIV)

In the Samuel context, the next statement says, “when he commits iniquity, I will correct him.” This obviously refers to Solomon, not to the Messiah. So how can the author of Hebrews apply it to Christ?

  • The statement He makes his angels spirits, and his servants flames of fire (1:7) seems to be quoting Psalm 104:4. But in that context, there is no reference to angels. In fact, in that Psalm every reference is to things in nature, and Hebrews seems to do violence to the text to make it refer to angels.
Armored female warrior with flaming wings flying over mountains at sunset
AI-generated

Now, I admit I’m no Hebrew scholar, but this is how it appears to me. Is there an overlay of truth, a phrase with hidden meaning in the text? I’m confused. Either the scriptures are inspired or they are not. Either the author of Hebrews stretches and misquotes scripture, or he doesn’t.

After reading numerous commentaries, I see I’m not the only one who has questioned these passages. But if we believe the Scriptures are accurate and inspired, there must be a logical explanation. Since the author uses these quotes without further argument or commentary, it is assumed that the readers understood and agreed with his application of the phrases referring to the Messiah and to the angels. The overall conclusion of Hebrews is that Christ is superior to men and angels no matter what arguments or quotations the author uses, and that is the important matter here.

On September 20, I listened to Michael Rydelnik on “Chris Fabry Live,” Rydelnik believes the entire Psalter is a messianic book arranged deliberately in a certain order. For example, Psalms 22 and 24 are clearly Messianic. My God, My God . . . they pierced my hands and feet . . . Who can stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands … the King of glory.

Sandwiched in between the two is the oft-quoted Psalm 23, which Rydelnik says is another messianic Psalm regarding the death and resurrection of Christ. We can certainly gain comfort from this Psalm while “in the valley of the shadow of death” and can certainly find application to our personal lives, but it primarily gives us a glimpse into the Messiah’s experience. Rydelnik says the ancients understood the messianic nature and subject of the Psalms. So perhaps the author of Hebrews draws from that matrix and viewpoint.

He must increase

Posted on by under Emotions, God, Scripture

Journal 2018

He must increase, but I must decrease. (John 3:30 KJV)

Fresh out of college, I landed a job teaching English and speech at a private Christian school. Inexperienced and apprehensive, I tried to put on a confident mask as I entered the classroom and directed the school’s plays and programs. The more insecure I felt, however, the more I craved affirmation and accolades.

I want to follow John the Baptist’s example, but how do I decrease while Jesus increases? How do I avoid seeking accolades and point people to Jesus instead? Mother Teresa and Johnny Earickson Tada come to mind as humans who have accomplished great things for God with few resources, yet they always point people to the One they worship. How would that look to me?

Visual: I am at a Y junction of a channel of water (i.e. man’s accolades) rushing toward me. When the waters arrive at the Y, I close the gate on my side and divert the water to the right fork, causing the water to flow toward Christ instead. When praises come my way, I divert them to my Lord. If I don’t, I may drown in the force of the water. He alone is strong enough to receive the full force of gushing praise. I cannot prevent the water from flowing, but I can divert the water to the proper channel.

Photo by Ian Taylor on Pexels.com

Lessons in Psalms

Posted on by under Scripture

Journal 2018

Psalm 88

In deep despair, the Psalmist Heman cries out to God, who seems to be silent. He blames God for his predicament and pain, claiming He has taken his companions and loved ones from him, and he feels God’s wrath.

Blame is a shifting of pain. I find when I quit blaming others (especially God) for my pain and turn around and face it, then pain can pour out and release, and God’s sweet and gentle voice will answer.

When a person blames me for her pain, it’s okay to examine my heart to see what actions of mine might have hurt her, but as long as she is deflecting her pain by blaming me, she will not heal inside.

Psalm 90

Because of his life experiences, Moses is keenly aware of the power of God’s wrath. I can’t identify with Moses, for my life experiences don’t include tragedy, earthquakes, rebellious neighbors, war, desert hardships, or enemies chasing me and threatening me. I am grateful that I get to live in America, in a strong brick house, with enough food that I never go to bed hungry, on a safe street, with freedom to worship. I don’t take my life for granted.

But I echo Moses’ prayer:

May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us. Establish the work of our hands for us. Yes, establish the work of our hands. (v. 17 NIV)

Psalm 91

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. (v. 1))

I need rest—not just physical, but emotional and spiritual. The key, according to this verse, is to dwell. Dwelling somewhere is not work. It just is. I don’t have to work at dwelling in my house. It’s where I live, work, sleep, eat, enjoy relationship. I don’t live at your house; I live in mine, where I’m most comfortable. Things are familiar.

My body is God’s temple, and He dwells in me. He never leaves, He’s always there, and I want Him to feel at home here in my house. Sometimes I go to a different room and shut the door on Him, but He’s still there waiting outside the door for me to unlock it so we can have sweet fellowship once more.

Psalm 92

The righteous… Will still bear fruit in old age. They will stay fresh and green, proclaiming, “The Lord is upright. He is my rock and there is no wickedness in him.” (vv. 12-15)

I don’t consider myself “old age,” but this brings comfort to my soul. Still bearing fruit, staying fresh and green, still proclaiming. Some days I don’t feel fresh and green, but I like the thought of still bearing fruit.

I watch some friends who never seem to age, and others who are withering. I suspect this has to do more with the physical and perhaps even the mental, but the spirit can stay strong.

Psalm 136

God used the same water (the Red Sea) to rescue Israel and to annihilate the Egyptian army. Same water, different results. This started me thinking of other scenarios where something has a dual purpose or outcome.

  • The tongue: bless or curse
  • Wind: provide cool in the heat or destroy as a tornado
  • Fire: warm and cook or decimate forests and homes
  • Trauma: keep us stuck in hurt or result in a healing ministry
  • Roots: grow a tree or demolish a house foundation
  • Internet: spread the gospel or spread gossip