Oh God, we like the way you give us tools
for doing all the jobs you've got for us1.
We like the way you clarify some rules
when what we need is "steps to take". No fuss2.
And use some bits of culture round about,
like not religious stuff at all, to aid3
the life within our flesh & bones, and shout
us out to dinner4. Other times we've bade
you wait, while we get ready and prepare
the meal, from slaughtering the calf, and bake-
ing bread, and you seem happy to be there
within our loungeroom, having wine & cake5.
And then there's times you train us in our risk-
assessment skills, to serve our people well6.
And help us see you won't just say "Tisk, tisk"
when we throw down the ball, & bring some hell
to Earth7. You look for grieving, mourning, wail-
ing - evidence that we are "back on track"8.
Yet finest of adventures in rough sail-
ing, emiss'ries of you get. We look back
& know you want to save us, give us "safe-
ty" - in adventures (where the ship's destroyed)
to destinations in your realm "Safe Hav-
en", was the name of town you'd see employed9.
When other folk, who will not trust, still choose,
their choices will still quite affect us too10.
Then is the time we know we cannot lose,
continuing to joy & trust in you11.
Footnotes
0. JESUS,..." to be my disciple at all you have to clarify: no rights, and a cross! And keep close, follow me. (LUKE 9:23-26, 14:26-27) And, then, I will be sending you out (from being with me physically) in such a way that you will be like lambs among wolves". In sending out the 12 (Matt 10:16-17) & again in sending out the 70 or 72 (Luke 10:2-4). [this may be an interesting fulfillment of the new creation prophecied by Isaiah (Isaiah 11:6; 65:25) and it may not (Ezek 22:26-27); but obviously in the spirit of Shadrach, Meshach, & Abednigo, & Esther: "God is able to save us. But he has not promised to in this life, his plans go beyond it. So, if we perish, so be it."(Daniel 3:17; Esther 4:12-16; 2 Sam 14:14; Heb 10:39)]
Bodies with hands & feet, & stick, or axe, or vine-trimmers, language with vocab, grammar, syntax, (& sometimes... cars, rakes, computers, phones, etc & a society with mecanics, technicians, and programmers etc). Note the way he "gives" his children tools is often through his gift of DNA, and ideas, & he often involves his other children in the giving of these gifts to us e.g. parents in giving us the DNA and our language & education etc. In top of that, we get the chance to be God's hands & feet in giving such good gifts of tools to others around us.
"Till and care for it."(Eden, Genesis ch 2) "Multiply, fill the Earth and subdue it."(Gen 2) The Ten Commandments (Words), & a way to sum up all the Law & the Prophets in the first and great command: Love God with all! (& the second one 'like' it, as is man to God, "Love others as you love yourself".)
e.g. Abraham, asked God how he could know for sure that God would act in a certain way in the future. God's response was to use a social convention common in societies and people groups around Abram to bind himself by a covenant promise tied to a bbq (see Genesis 15).
e.g. in Eden God planted the garden of fruit trees and put the man in the garden saying you can eat all the fruit (..except one, that will kill you)
See Abraham and his three visitors…(Genesis 18:1-15)
Like the Jewish ceremonial food laws and rules about mould in houses and on garments, and diseases like leprosy, and building parapets around the top of houses in Israel…
I think of Moses not entering the promised land because he struck a rock in anger/frustration instead of simply speaking commandingly and giving the people around a model of the way forward. I think of Annanias & Sophira in the early followers of Jesus.
"But if in your heart you are jealous, bitter, and selfish, don't sin against the truth by boasting of your wisdom. Such wisdom does not come down from heaven; it belongs to the world, it is unspiritual and demonic. Where there is jealousy and selfishness, there is also disorder and every kind of evil." James 3:14-16 GNBUK & "So then, submit to God. Resist the Devil, and he will run away from you. Come near to God, and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners! Purify your hearts, you hypocrites! Be sorrowful, cry, and weep; change your laughter into crying, your joy into gloom! Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. James 4:7-10 GNBUK
See Paul's journey as he was "taken to stand before kings and rulers" Acts 27:1-28:16
See Joseph's story (Gen 37:1-50:21) & the above mentioned story of Paul's journey to Rome to stand before Caesar (Acts 27:1-28:16)
From those two stories above we have these two statements:
"But Joseph said to them, ‘Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.’ And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them. Genesis 50:19-21 NIVUK
After they had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up before them and said: ‘Men, you should have taken my advice not to sail from Crete; then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss. But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me and said, “Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.” So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island.’ Acts 27:21-26 NIVUK And later: "Just before dawn Paul urged them all to eat. ‘For the last fourteen days,’ he said, ‘you have been in constant suspense and have gone without food – you haven’t eaten anything. Now I urge you to take some food. You need it to survive. Not one of you will lose a single hair from his head.’ After he said this, he took some bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all. Then he broke it and began to eat. They were all encouraged and ate some food themselves. Altogether there were 276 of us on board. When they had eaten as much as they wanted, they lightened the ship by throwing the grain into the sea. When daylight came, they did not recognise the land, but they saw a bay with a sandy beach, where they decided to run the ship aground if they could. Cutting loose the anchors, they left them in the sea and at the same time untied the ropes that held the rudders. Then they hoisted the foresail to the wind and made for the beach. But the ship struck a sand-bar and ran aground. The bow stuck fast and would not move, and the stern was broken to pieces by the pounding of the surf. The soldiers planned to kill the prisoners to prevent any of them from swimming away and escaping. But the centurion wanted to spare Paul’s life and kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land. The rest were to get there on planks or on other pieces of the ship. In this way everyone reached land safely." Acts 27:33-44 NIVUK
And Peter summing up Jesus' example for us puts it this way:
"For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. ‘He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.’ When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly." 1 Peter 2:19, 21-23 NIVUK
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