Seeing people access the whole story of God.
// October 2nd, 2011 // No Comments » // expectant, the story
Finding the source of the delicious aroma at the ladle of his younger brother, he decided that he would do anything, give anything, for a hearty meal of that stew – and he did.
Genesis 25:27-34
// August 29th, 2011 // No Comments » // expectant, the story
Joshua got up from where he was kneeling, put his sandals back on and flashed a quick glance of acknowledgement the soldier’s way, but when he looked the mysterious figure had gone.
As he walked back toward his people, a million questions raced to the front of his mind. He remembered when he was faced with these same walls 40 years ago – it was hard to believe the moment had finally arrived.
He ached inside over the fact that Moses was not with him – he never imagined they would cross the Jordan, and enter the promised land without him … Oh, the Jordan … Joshua’s Red Sea experience – but this time the people weren’t running from the enemy, but moving towards the enemy.
// June 6th, 2011 // No Comments » // expectant, the story
It took four long years to get to this point. Four years of early mornings to get to the city gate before anyone else – hearing the complaints of the people, listening to their stories, affirming them in their concerns, winning them over, and, slowly but surely illuminating the weaknesses of the current king’s rule in the minds of the people.
Now was the time. He asked his father’s permission to go up to Hebron to “worship”, and at the same time sent a secret message out among all the tribes of the nation. Now he had the momentum his conspiracy needed.
// November 23rd, 2010 // No Comments » // expectant, the story
He knew the confronting nature of his message.
After generations of bare survival, this nation still yearned for the recovery of their rich identity – but before they would see deliverance from their oppressors, they would need to see the need for deliverance from themselves.
This was the message of the unsophisticated cousin of Jesus, standing knee-deep in the water, eager to reveal the hypocrisy of those looking to ease their conscience in the river Jordan.
“This is not a popularity contest” he thought to himself as the crowd pressed in around the riverbank.
So, motioning for attention, he spoke out: “You brood of snakes!”
Luke 3
// November 14th, 2010 // 2 Comments » // expectant, the story
He stumbled over it.
After scanning the riverbed for impressive boulders, he chooses the one that nearly caused him to fall.
It was wedged deep in the mud, and required no small effort to dig it out.
He wondered who might see Joshua’s rockpile in years to come, and he wondered if they would capture the significance of this day.
It wasn’t the Red Sea, but the river unquestionably stopped flowing.
It wasn’t deliverance FROM the oppression of the generation prior, but it was deliverance TO the promised land for generations to come.
Physical tiredness from his dig was soon overcome by his passion for the generation to come. He lifted it up, slowly carried it over the bank, and placed his stone at the feet of his leader. As he did, he glanced back at the priests stepping out and in a few moments the torrent reclaimed their walkway into their future.
He moved his gaze from the flowing river to the piece of dirt on which he stood, and tears of unimaginable hope began to flood his eyes.
Joshua 4
// November 6th, 2010 // No Comments » // expectant, the story
His long grey hair danced in the fresh breeze as it gently gusted off the ocean. “This is a strange place to stop” he thought to himself, gazing up at the cloud hovering above.
Out of the corner of his eye he noticed the cloud of dust gathering – others noticed too.
“Are we out here looking for a better place to die?” screamed someone, then another shouted out explaining how his life was better as a slave. The crowds began to rise up against Moses as they saw the army bearing down on them – cornered with nowhere to run and nowhere to hide.
Somehow he managed to hush the melée and told them, “Do not fear, God will fight for you. You need only be still.”
Yeah right, how was that going to work?
Exodus 14
// November 1st, 2010 // No Comments » // expectant, the story
“What will it take?” he said to his younger brother as they were both bustled out of the king’s quarters.
“Poisoned water, frogs, gnats, flies, sickness, natural disasters … Even his closest advisors are wanting him to fulfil our request. What will it take for him to finally get the picture?”
Moses had no answer, and slowly began to raise his staff once again.
Exodus 10
// October 28th, 2010 // No Comments » // expectant, the story
The worn and ragged rope looped over and fell into its familiar place as he saddled the beast for the journey.
Placing the firewood on the donkey, he attempted to reassure his son with a knowing look once again. It was unconvincing.
It’s strange. When preparing for a journey like this, the simplest of activites become more pronounced. More deliberate. More significant.
Genesis 22:1-19
