Idolatry Addiction – The Major Prophets

 

Idolatry and Horror Stories

In his classic horror story, The Call of Cthulhu, H.P. Lovecraft delivers one of the spookiest narratives of all time. This is not of zombies or vampires, but something far more unsettling. The narrative surrounds the discovery of an idol that has a surprising effect on the person who owns it. The idol drains the person of sanity, robs them of their sleep, and calls them to take part in reviving a dark evil that slumbers far away - but will come to take the planet. The story progresses as other occult groups are worshiping the slumbering evil one. This is one of the greatest horror stories of all time because of the remarkable restraint that it shows - but it all starts with the power of a stone idol that is small enough to fit in a box in the closet.

Idolatry in the Old Testament

                The Old Testament records the history of Israel. As they were called out by the one true God and set apart for His purpose they still struggled. They struggled to keep His law, they struggled to maintain their identity, but it seems that above all else - they were addicted to idolatry. That first commandment of the 10 proved to be the most difficult to maintain. (Exodus 20:1-5; Deuteronomy 5:6-9)

                 The idolatry that plagued Israel seems ridiculous. The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob defined Himself so clearly against these wicked idols (Exodus 3:6; Exodus 20:2–3). He defeated the false gods of Egypt with resounding miracles (Exodus 7–12; Numbers 33:4). He cast the pagans out of the land and many of the cities were wiped out completely because of the serious threat posed by idolatry and the adjacent pagan practices (Deuteronomy 7:1–5; Deuteronomy 9:4–6).

When we consider the perversity of the heart of mankind the errors make sense (Jeremiah 17:9; Genesis 6:5). Asherah poles were sex cults, drug use and alcoholism were regularly part of idolatry and pagan worship (Judges 6:25–30; 1 Kings 14:23). These false gods offered a better time - not what was best, but what felt best.

                The attraction of idolatry continued - a person could run off and find any old block of wood. As Isaiah tells Israel, that person can cut that block of wood in half. Use half to cook his food - burn it up completely. And fashion the other half into an idol he bows down before. Half was burned up as his possession to make his food, and the other half was shaped, fixed to the ground to keep it from tottering (Isaiah 44:9–20). This block of wood couldn't walk, talk, or make anything happen - yet he would worship it (Psalm 115:4–8; Psalm 135:15–18). It is a natural sinful compulsion of man. We are designed to worship the One who created us. It is a need that is within us that is as deep as our need to eat and sleep. Yet, worshipping the God of the universe means giving up our desire to be the god of our own lives (Genesis 3:5; Romans 1:21–25).

                If we ask the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob what to do we may not like what He says. But the little idol in the corner always says exactly what I tell it to say - what I want it to say. Idols are like fast food - you get to have it your way (Judges 17:6).

Modern Idolatry

                Modern idolatry is only slightly different. Mostly because we have more sophisticated methods to make our idols talk. From the little Apple IIGS in the corner to the phone we hold in our hands, our idols have become far more communicative, but they still have all the marks of ancient idolatry. They still demand attention (Matthew 6:21), they still tell us exactly what we want to hear (2 Timothy 4:3–4), and they keep us from attending to the Lord. The new trap of AI is even greater than the last. A machine that you can talk with and get anything from a new recipe to updates on the latest political and world news. The world quickly adapted this new tool into every aspect of life.

                Computers, cel-phones, the internet, and AI are simply tools. As tools they must be respected for the power that they offer and the threat that they pose (1 Corinthians 6:12). A table saw is a great tool, but can also easily take off a finger, or fire a board right through you (Proverbs 14:15). When I see a group of people sitting around a table at a restaurant all staring at their phones, I don't see a tool - I see an idol (Isaiah 2:8). When I notice that people are going to AI to find solutions to their greatest spiritual problems, I don't see a tool...I see an idol (Jeremiah 2:13). When I hear about people using AI to replace relationships, as with the new trend of "AI Girlfriends" I don't see a tool, I see an idol (Romans 1:22–25). When I see people choosing to skip church because they can catch it online...I don't see a tool, I see an idol (Hebrews 10:24–25).

                I am no luddite - I don't think that all technology is bad. I love being able to call any of my friends around the globe. I am writing this article on a computer; I will use an editing app that utilizes AI to help find spelling and grammar errors before I publish it. I will also use AI to create a snappy picture for the top of any given article I write. I only exhort Christians to be wise (Ephesians 5:15–16).

A Closing Warning

                We know that we can worship money (Matthew 6:24), a relationship (Luke 14:26), a celebrity or politician (Psalm 146:3), a government (Revelation 13:4). There are many things competing for the position that only God deserves in our lives (Exodus 20:3; Matthew 22:37).

                The little idol in The Call of Cthulhu is more accurate than we may think at first. Idolatry makes man foolish, stupid, and worthless (Jeremiah 10:8; Romans 1:21–22). As the Bible says more than once "those who worship them will become like them" (Psalm 115:8; Psalm 135:18). It may be a slow trip; it may be a subtle decay of mental and spiritual capacity. The Apostle John thought this theme was so important that he ended his first epistle with a simple sentiment that I will close by quoting: "Little children, keep yourselves from idols." (1 John 5:21)

Kingdom Come - Let's Go!

 

What is wrong with Escapism?

J.R.R. Tolkien wrote a very profound statement in his famous essay "On Fairy-stories":

"I have claimed that Escape is one of the main functions of fairy-stories, and since I do not disapprove of them, it is plain that I do not accept the tone of scorn or pity with which 'Escape' is now so often used. ... Why should a man be scorned if, finding himself in prison, he tries to get out and go home? Or if, when he cannot do so, he thinks and talks about other topics than jailers and prison-walls? The world outside has not become less real because the prisoner cannot see it."

Ursula K. Leguin, another prolific and significant science-fiction and fantasy author, wrote her essay The Language of the Night, inspired by Tolkien's thought. In that essay she wrote this eloquent summary statement:

"Fantasy is escapist, and that is its glory. If a soldier is imprisoned by the enemy, don't we consider it his duty to escape? ... If we value the freedom of mind and soul, if we're partisans of liberty, then it's our plain duty to escape, and to take as many people with us as we can!"

These two quotes speak about something that is built into human experience. The knowledge that things are not as they should be in this life that we live. We wish to escape from this world where evil often appears to thrive and enter a world where good triumphs and love conquer all. It resonates with us on a profound level and we often put great effort into the places we escape to such as sports, fantasy, science-fiction, artistic expression, or crafts. Positive escapism is a wonderful thing. It can be a balm and encouragement in the challenges of life.

If there is a problem with such escapism it is that it does not go far enough. Even our fantasy worlds are shaky at best. This occurs when we are scandalized by athletes who use illegal drugs to amplify their performance, or cheat. It happens when a modern re-boot or film adaptation violates the core elements of our favorite fantasy. The major problem of our escapism is that it aims too low, as is typical of all human endeavors.

A Better Way

Scripture, however, provides a better option for our need for escape, and it is rooted in reality. Bible-believing Christians look forward to the future and know that it involves the Lord's judgment of evil and victory over darkness. The Lord Jesus Christ will rule on this planet - redeeming it and leading it in truth and righteousness. Information of this time is a regular theme in the Bible and a particular theme of Isaiah. Isaiah 35 offers one example:

"The Wilderness and the dry land will be glad;
the desert will rejoice and blossom like a rose.
It will bloom profusely and rejoice with joy and singing.
The glory of Lebanon will be given to it, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon.
They will see the glory of the LORD, the splendor of our God.

Strengthen the limp hands and steady the feeble knees!
Say to those with anxious hearts: 'Be strong, do not fear!
Behold, your God will come with vengeance.
With divine retribution He will come to save you.'

Then the eyes of the blind will be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped.
Then the lame will leap like a deer and the mute tongue will shout for joy.
For waters will gush forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert.
The parched ground will become a pool,
the thirsty land springs of water
In the haunt where jackals once lay,
there will be grass and reeds and papyrus.

And there will be a highway,
called the Way of Holiness.
The unclean will not travel it -
only those who walk in the Way -
and fools will not stray onto it.
No lion will be there,
and no vicious beast will go up on it.
Such will not be found there,
but the redeemed will walk upon it.
So the redeemed of the LORD will return and enter Zion with singing,
crowned with everlasting joy.
Gladness and joy will overtake them,
and sorrow and sighing will flee."
(Berean Standard Bible)

These and other such passages ignite our imagination. A world where wickedness is punished and the world responds by exploding in productivity, beauty, and fruitfulness. All our dreams of harmony with the earth, and all of the once dangerous and fearful animals become tame and safe. Our fantasy worlds are built on many of these hopes - but there is a difference. This is not fantasy. This is the truth of what is ahead for this world in the literal earthly Kingdom of God ruled by Jesus Christ. It invites us to imagine what life will be like under such amazing conditions. What would we do without fear of sickness, violence, and starvation? How will we occupy our time in such a world where the hardships of our current lives are removed, and all energy can be given to positive, constructive activities that bring glory to God? It is something that is meant to occupy a great deal of our mental bandwidth and it provides tremendous benefits. Allow me to enumerate a few of them.

The Kingdom Beats Depression

It destroys depression. When we begin to feel hopeless, paralyzing sadness and despair are given free reign in our inner world. When we choose to obsess over the bad news, the situations in our lives that cannot be fixed, the conditions that come with aging that mean decreased strength, intelligence, and beauty, it casts a cloud over the entire perspective on life. Dwelling on the Kingdom of Christ provides the answer. All those problems will be solved. All our maladies and sicknesses will be cured forever. We will live eternally in bodies that are suited to eternity. These problems may be truly terrible, but they are temporary problems. God has given us a certain hope for the future - and that hope is meant to be embraced and celebrated in the life of the believer.

The Kingdom Ends Complacency

Another value of dwelling on this hope is the result that we will no longer be tempted to be complacent. If we can obtain a certain amount of comfort, we are often able to shrink our world. Ignoring what is evil, negative, or uncomfortable and deciding to isolate ourselves - pretending like the world of sin and pain doesn't exist insofar as we are able to block it from our attention or experience. This is shallow, self-centered, and cowardly. Dwelling on the Kingdom of God gives us courage to face the fact that this world is not as it is meant to be. We can embrace our part in this world and be the force that the Lord wants us to be.

The Kingdom Brings Fellowship

Occupation with the future Kingdom also provides us with sweet fellowship. It is easy to let conversation submit to the gravity and entropy that leads us to spend time complaining about how things are, how bad they are getting, and how today is worse than yesterday. Solomon warns us against this attitude in Ecclesiastes 7:10:

"Do not say, 'Why were the Old days better than these?'
For it is unwise of you to ask about this."
(Berean Standard Bible)

When we are preoccupied with the Kingdom our conversation takes on a whole new dimension. Observation of wickedness in this world is answered immediately with the promise that there will be a time when wickedness is no more. A conversation about this new world will always encourage, uplift, and edify. What will we do together at that time? How will we spend it together when there is no more bad news to occupy our conversations? We will have amazing conversations about the glory of God, the beauty of creation, and the things that we are able to do together to serve Him. This brings me to my last point.

The Kingdom and Evangelism

We will see this redeemed earth only because of what Jesus Christ did on the Cross on our behalf. Fallen humans will only get to participate in it if we place our faith in Jesus for salvation. Preoccupation with the Kingdom of Christ motivates us to share the faith. People in sorrow, sadness, and captive to sin can only know freedom by trusting in Jesus Christ. Just as we enjoy talking about our favorite fantasies with someone else who is invested in the lore of that world and enjoy sharing it with others who may not know it, so our anticipation of the Kingdom encourages us to share the gospel with others.

Do Not Stop Here

I am a great lover of fantasy and science fiction. Escape literature is a delight, and I do not want to discourage anyone from holy discontentment with the world as it is now. However, I loudly encourage all people not to stop there. Find that natural longing fulfilled in the promises of what God has placed unchangeably in the future of our planet. The Bible is clear, and any theology that robs the believer of this real, practical, actual hope is deficient. This world will be difficult, and we will have trials, but there is an escape. Now it is the escape of faithful consideration of what the Lord will do on this earth. The actual escape is also coming and may be as close as our next breath. This is foundational to Christian hope and living the Christian life.

An Ox Knows its Master

 

The Familiar Faithfulness of My Pugs

I have two dogs. Pugs. Years ago, my wife and I took a "puppy finder" personality test. It was fun, we got to input details about and information about our lifestyle and what came out was a stunning indictment on myself. I learned I would like a small dog who did not like much exercise. Not surprisingly, it was a perfect fit.

Our current two pugs are delightful. Delightfully lazy, and in truth, not terribly bright. The perfect companions. Every morning, I have between one and two pugs resting on my lap while I pray and read the Bible. They get excited every time I come down the stairs and every time I return home from work. They know me.

They know me as the guy who is most likely to sit and read for more than an hour, providing them with a living bed upon which to exercise their superpower - sleeping. They know me and I know them.

The Ox and the Voice of Its Master

(Isaiah 1:3)

The book of Isaiah begins with a similar image. The image of an ox that does not know his master. As much as my pugs know me, the relationship between an ox and a farmer was a working relationship. It would be hours of training and working together. Learning to pull the plow and making one row after another - steady, straight lines.

The master constantly giving directions - the ox making it possible to prepare for the harvest that would provide the grain needed to sustain life for the family. Those are long days. Walking up and down. The Ox would learn the voice of its master.

A Comparison Israel Could Not Miss

The Lord makes this comparison that would be all too familiar to the nation of Israel. An agricultural society would recognize how close this bond is - many of Isaiah’s audience would own oxen and have trained them by hand.

It is not that God views Israel as a farm animal, but the comparison would stick. Even an ox knows the voice of its master...why did they not know their God?

The God Who Had Revealed Himself

(Genesis 12:1–3; Exodus 1–14; Deuteronomy 8; 2 Samuel 7; Psalm 119; Exodus 25–40; 1 Kings 8; Isaiah 1:2)

The Lord had made promises to their forefathers. The covenant promises of land, seed, and blessing made to Abraham. He had led them into Egypt as a family and led them out a nation.

He provided for them through the desert wandering. He brought them into the promised land, and He gave them peace so long as they lived in faithful obedience to Him. He gave them their great King David and made an unconditional covenant to him that his line would bring forth the Messiah.

He gave them His word so that they would know Him - His character and expectations. He gave them a priesthood so that they would be able to approach him. The Tabernacle and later the Temple so that he could relate to them in time and space. He sent them prophets to call them back when they strayed.

Yet somehow, they still treated the Lord as a stranger. Disobedient to His Law, unresponsive to his prophets, how could they not know Him?

The Tragic Familiarity for the Church

(John 10:14–27; Acts 20:28; Revelation 5:9; 1 Corinthians 6:19; 2 Timothy 3:16–17; John 15:15; Ephesians 2:8–9; Romans 10:17)

The disobedience of Israel is tragically familiar in the story of the Church. The sheep of the Lord's pasture are bought with the blood of Jesus Christ. Assembled from every tribe tongue and nation, indwelt with His Holy Spirit, equipped with the completed word of God, and we are even called His friends. Yet how often could these words be true of the Church...do we heed His word? When Bibles in our homes collect dust, when most churches neglect the word, when the gospel is distorted and perverted for the purposes of the ignorant and the ill-actors alike who pose as pastors.

The Lord has made the way for us to know him - by faith alone in Christ alone. He has provided for us to hear him every day in His revealed word, the Bible. Might we be ever careful to listen to the voice of the Lord - the voice of love.

To the Young – Ecclesiastes

 

The Fleeting Beauty of Youth

“Gather ye rose-buds while ye may,
Old Time is still a-flying;
And this same flower that smiles today
Tomorrow will be dying.”

The poet Robert Herrick encourages the young to make the most of their youth. I first heard this poem in the movie Dead Poets Society, and I will never forget it. This first stanza of the poem lives in my mind for its beauty and its important message.

Youth is a precious thing that is alternatively idolized and taken for granted in the human experience. The ignorance, the passion, and the joy of youth is marked by learning, growing, and physically looking and feeling as good as you will for the rest of your life. I do not know where youth ends, but I know mine has ended, and I am grateful for the youth that I had. There were fun times, mistakes, and great people who invested in me and shaped me into who I am today. Most importantly, the Lord is ever faithful.

 

Rejoice in Youth — But With Accountability

(Ecclesiastes 11:9–10)

As Solomon considered this valuable time in the book of Ecclesiastes he wrote these words:

“Rejoice, young man, during your childhood, and let your heart be pleasant during the days of young manhood. And follow the impulses of your heart and the desires of your eyes. You know that God will bring you to judgment for all these things. So remove sorrow from your heart and keep pain away from your body because childhood and the prime of life are fleeting.” — Ecclesiastes 11:9–10

The changes we experience in old age color our perspective. Many people grow jealous of younger people. Other people grow bitter with the loss of physical comfort, strength, and beauty. Truthfully, youth should be enjoyed by the young and admired in the old. There is so much to do with the energy and potential of this time of life, and scripture encourages us to enjoy it because it goes by so quickly. Yet Solomon's advice doesn't end there.

 

Remember Your Creator While You Are Young

(Ecclesiastes 12:1–2)

“Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years approach when you will say, ‘I have no pleasure in them’; before the sun and the light, the moon and the stars are darkened, and clouds return after the rain...” — Ecclesiastes 12:1–2

This critical bit of advice makes all the difference when it comes to enjoying youth successfully. These moments are fleeting, but they are important. If these years are invested in spiritual growth then they are glorious, but if these years are wasted they can limit what is available to us in the latter years.

 

The Wisdom That Comes With Age

As youth passes away the words of Solomon are true. Eyesight, hearing, and physical awareness all decline over time. Just like energy levels, and capacity for various experiences. Ageing can also bring wisdom — and it will if we pursue the Lord with our youth.

The simple admonition of wisdom is to understand and appreciate youth while we have it. To the folks who have left youth behind we can still admire and encourage those who are young to use these precious moments to grow to know Christ and make the most of the gift of youth.

Remember Who You Are — The Lesson of Job

 

A Modern Picture of Forgotten Identity

The film Regarding Henry (1991) starred Harrison Ford. Ford played a high-powered New York attorney who got amnesia from a traumatic accident. He forgot everything about who he was, and his life in general. His family came around him and sought to nurse him back to health. As he recovered, he learned that, prior to the injury, he was a miserable, selfish, and immoral person. Forgetting who he was gave him a chance to change—no longer doomed to continue those old patterns. He was free to live a better life.

The book of Job also involves the issue of Job losing track of who he was, but not in the same way that Henry did.

 

The Sudden Collapse of a Godly Life

(Job 1–2)

Reading the book of Job is an amazing journey. Job is a good and godly man and loses everything. Usually when we say a person loses everything, we mean it as a poetic overstatement. Job came closer than most to this being an accurate statement. Wealth, possessions, family, health—all taken from him in a tremendously brief period.

Experiencing such unspeakable loss in such a fleeting time is too much of an anomaly to be a coincidence. Something had to be up. And something was up, but Job did not know about it yet.

 

Wrestling With Suffering and Seeking Answers

(Job 3–31)

Most people in pain can identify with what Job endured, but the important part of this book is Job processing these losses with his friends. Seven days of silence begins the process, then Job understandably begins his complaint.

Why had this happened? What could have caused such extraordinary loss?

He and his friends seek all available options. Had Job been foolish? Was there a secret sin that God is disciplining him for?

Job sticks to his integrity. Ready to humble himself before God but genuinely wanting an answer to why this had happened. He had used his wealth and power to do good, to help others. Job felt he deserved an answer from the Lord as to why he lost everything, and his life had become so bitter.

We can understand Job's feelings. The reader has information about what went on in the courts of heaven (Job 1:6–12; 2:1–6), but Job does not even know that much. Yet still, the reader has compassion on Job and hopes that God will explain everything to him.

 

Elihu’s Rebuke and the Gathering Storm

(Job 32–37)

As the arguing grows more contentious, Elihu steps forward. Previously unintroduced, this young man speaks truth into the situation. He rebukes Job and his friends for the man-centered nature of their discussion, the arrogance of his friends in speaking for God, and Job’s boldness in questioning God so directly. As he speaks a storm begins to take shape. His powerful discourse is punctuated by growing strong winds, dark clouds, and the sounds of thunder, yet he continues his wise and circumspect speech.

When he finishes, an amazing thing happens—God shows up.

 

God Speaks From the Whirlwind

(Job 38–41)

God appears here in a storm—overwhelming and terrifying—but speaking clearly in this expression of power and authority.

We can pause here and ask what we might expect God to say.

Job had endured the trial. He had certainly asked the big questions and expressed his understandable confusion and even been more than a bit rude to his friends in response to their ignorant accusations. However, he never cursed or abandoned God.

As far as the contest in the heavenly throne room, God's wisdom and plan were vindicated. Satan's accusations were proven false, and Satan was embarrassed on the heavenly stage—all because of Job's response to this terrible time of loss.

I would expect God to come on beams of sunlight to give Job a commendation—the applause of heaven and all the righteous angels, but God enters the scene differently than we might expect.

He immediately starts by clearing up the most crucial point. God asks Job, in essence, “Who do you think you are?” (Job 38:2–4).

Job had boldly asked for this audience. He thought he deserved answers, and this attitude needed correction before anything else. God reminds Job with poetry and power that Job is not omniscient, omnipresent, or omnipotent. Only God has those characteristics. When Job questioned the character of God, he placed himself in a position of judgment over God.

That was not Job's place.
It is not our place.

 

The Right Relationship Between Creator and Creature

(Job 42:1–6)

God went on to vindicate Job's righteousness and rebuke Job's friends (Job 42:7–9), but not Elihu. Yet it was most important that Job understood the lesson he had learned. He does not stand before God as an equal. He stands before Him as a created being. This is the lesson that every human needs to hear. God exists, and He is above human approval. It is not our place to question God or evaluate Him. He is the only one who has the authority and wisdom to evaluate.

When a person gets the idea that God must meet his or her standards, they are already hopelessly lost—and they will never come to a right relationship with God until submitting to His final authority to do whatever He desires based upon His infinite power, knowledge, and love.

 

Learning to Trust God in Joy and Trial

When this reality is right in our minds, we can finally deal with our joys and our trials. God did not mess up. Nor does His character change. Whatever we experience in our lives should not change what we know of all that He is in His glory. It is a hard lesson to learn, but we must begin with an accurate picture of God's authority. Only then are we ready to see our need for justification before Him—and that He never needs to be justified before us. Only then can we see the incredible power of the saving work of Jesus Christ.

Wrestling With the Book of Job: Beyond Easy Answers

The old proverb says, “Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.” We usually learn the Bible through the summary statements of Bible Handbooks and study Bibles. These are wonderful resources. The Bible is a challenging book for many reasons. It is nice to have a simple overview statement to grab onto and get the big picture. But this just never seems to work with Job.

 

The Heavenly Council — Background, Not the Theme
(Job 1–2)

If we focus on the heavenly conflict, we find little to justify that perspective. The opening chapters of the book reveal a great deal about the nature of the Divine Council and how their deliberations and discussions affect the world of men. However, that cannot be the main theme of the book. Were that the case one would expect the theme to return. A moment of retribution, or the shame of the Accuser when his plans to make Job blaspheme had failed. Certainly, the Lord's character is vindicated, but that provides the dramatic background, not the purpose of the book.

 

The False Comfort of Binary Thinking
(Job 3–31)

The next oversimplification is to summarize the book as follows: Job suffers, and his friends have foolish ideas. I held this false idea for years. Thinking whatever Job says must be right, and whatever his friends say must be wrong. The comfort of binary thinking can cause strange misunderstandings and misinterpretations of this book. But this explanation too falls short. If this were the case there would be no need for repeated cycles and the growing drama of the thorough arguments. The summary does more to prove that lesson than the text does, and that is a sign of an ineffective summary statement.

 

A Better (Though Still Incomplete) Summary

So, what is going on here? After reading, studying, and teaching through this book it has become plain that no oversimplification will give us the right mindset to approach this book. Unless it is extraordinarily vague. Here is my proposal:

"Friends discuss the topic of suffering in a fallen world, and God sets them straight by not answering their questions."

 

The Great Error About Suffering
(Job 4–37)

The bulk of the book is a set of arguments that must be read with thoughtful consideration because, as previously mentioned, the summaries always fall wildly short of the mark. Wise men evaluate what they know of God, what they know of the world, and what they know of mankind and try to understand Job's tragedy. If there is a single proposition that is refuted it is the false idea that suffering is always God punishing an individual for personal sin. If this were the only point of the book (which it is not) it would be worth the investment. Mankind is deeply committed to this concept.

Why does one person's life go well, while another suffers? One is born to health, and other lives with permanent disability. Centuries after this great conversation someone would ask Jesus why a man was born blind — did he sin, or did his parents sin? (John 9:1–3) Ah, false dichotomy, the greatest friend of our foolishness. Jesus corrected them with the mind-bending truth: Neither had sinned — this man was born blind for the glory of God.

Oof. That is a hard gut-shot. That man born blind had surely suffered immensely. Not being able to see would mean it would be difficult for him to work, bring challenges in relationships, and who could count the pain of that disability. We like the idea that it was someone's fault. It gives us assurance, albeit false assurance, that we are safe against the pains and losses of our lives because we are doing so well.

 

The Modern Version of the Same Error
(Matthew 5:45)

A brief departure is necessary, the modern version of this is far more destructive than the ancient one. The ancient version of this profound misunderstanding desired to please God and hoped that such actions would bring protection, safety, and blessing. The modern version is based upon the secular cult. A person thinks they are healthy because of their diet and exercise habits. Another person thinks that they are wealthy because of their diligence or hard work.

This is not to take away from the importance of personal responsibility and exercise of wisdom — but to bring us to the point of ultimate wisdom. The rain falls on the just and the unjust alike. We invest entirely too much effort into trying to figure out why suffering occurs, and how to avoid it. We have a frightful tendency to despise those who suffer as we worry that standing too close to them might be like standing too close to someone who is about to be struck by lightning.

 

Why We Pull Away From the Suffering
(Job 38–42)

The book of Job gives another example of why we often distance ourselves from those who suffer. No simple solution is found. It is not fun standing in front of an unsolvable problem. Job's friends are clearly trying their best to offer wisdom, comfort, and encouragement. Tempers get enflamed in the exercise, and choice words are exchanged, but in the end Job's friends are chastised for their words.

Now that is interesting! Would they be better off if they had not showed up at all? Yet, while they were corrected, they were part of a direct encounter with God. It may not have been pleasant, but it was surely worth it. In a single day they became the wisest men on the planet in their time. Every reader has benefitted from the lesson that the Lord taught them.

 

The Blessing of Wrestling With the Text

The Book of Job is difficult to read for all the same reasons. When a person suffers there is a great deal of comfort in the shared confusion and clear complaints of Job. When a person is not in a place of great suffering it is often easier to look past Job with a short oversimplification of the book.

The greatest blessing is for the reader who will wrestle with the problems and challenges of the situation. The dramatic irony that the reader knows things that Job and his friends do not know. The reader knows about the drama in Heaven, but the characters are simply guessing at everything.

 

The Transforming Power of Careful Reading

A careful and humble consideration of this book is transformational. To look past our simple actions and pious platitudes and come to a full and mature understanding of the nature of reality from the greatest perspective that is available to us. Such an exploration brings about the ability to suffer, and to comfort those in suffering, with true biblical wisdom and compassion.

In order to reap these blessings there is no other prescription but to read the book of Job for yourself!

Leadership Lessons from Nehemiah

 

Nehemiah is one of the most striking examples of leadership in the Bible. From a position of prominence in the Persian government to a leader who oversaw the rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem (Nehemiah 1–6). From a great palace, serving the most powerful man in the world to a building manager in a dusty dangerous backwoods of the empire (Nehemiah 2:11–18; Nehemiah 4:10–23). It is quite an impressive tale. Our world has no shortage of books on leadership, but there are few things that can match a notable example.

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Waiting for the Call

Nehemiah was well along in his career. He was in a place of prominence as the cupbearer to the king (Nehemiah 1:11; Nehemiah 2:1). That was a position that one would have worked hard to achieve.

We can only wonder what kept Nehemiah from returning to the land when Cyrus decreed (Ezra 1:1–4), or even when Ezra returned (Ezra 7:6–10). Ezra and Nehemiah were both latecomers to the return to the land (Ezra 7; Nehemiah 2), Esther and Mordechai never did return to the land (Esther 2:5–7; Esther 8:1–2; Esther 10:3).

It was always the Lord's plan to restore his people to the land (Jeremiah 29:10–14; Isaiah 44:28; Isaiah 45:1, 13), and yet most remained in the comfortable big cities and great nations of their exile (Ezra 2:64–65; Nehemiah 7:66–67). I have always found this troubling. If the Lord wanted them to return, why did so few come? It smacks of disobedience to me, but the Lord used each of these cases for good (Genesis 50:20; Esther 4:14).

When the time was right, he called the people to His service regardless of whether they were in the Land or not (Acts 17:26–27; Daniel 2:21). Furthermore, if Ezra and Nehemiah had gone down with the first return then these revivals in the effort may not have happened (Ezra 9–10; Nehemiah 8–9).

The Lord truly does work all things together for the good of those that love Him (Romans 8:28).

 

The Flashpoint

It was a news article for Nehemiah, or something like it. As a Jewish person, living in a foreign land, he maintained an interest in what was going on in the ancestral homeland (Nehemiah 1:2–4). And hearing about the state of things had a major impact on him (Nehemiah 1:4).

Great men throughout history have had a flashpoint event in their lives. The person who is going through life happily before the burden for a nation, a people group, an age group enters their lives. They find their calling in serving that cause (Nehemiah 1:3–11; Isaiah 6:8; Acts 9:15–16).

This is the call of the world's great missionaries like Hudson Taylor called to China, George Muller called to the orphans of England, Paul receiving the Macedonian call (Acts 16:9–10), or the call of Saint Patrick to the very people who had enslaved him in his early years.

 

Faithful in the Small Things

If I might say, there are thousands of Christians still waiting for such a moment. I would recommend to you that "he who is faithful in the small things can be trusted in greater things" (Luke 16:10; Matthew 25:21). Seek to grow in the Lord and be faithful in the roles and tasks that He has placed in front of you (Colossians 3:23–24; 1 Corinthians 4:2).

If you are prayerful, patient, and faithful you may be surprised at how quickly the Lord provides you with a passion project for His glory (Psalm 37:4–5; Galatians 6:9; James 1:4).

Nehemiah demonstrates availability to the Lord by responding to this calling (Nehemiah 1:4–11; Nehemiah 2:4–5).

 

Wisdom, Resources, and Asking for Help

Nehemiah then does something interesting. He does not just pick up and go; he uses the resources that he has gained along the way to succeed in his project (Nehemiah 2:7–9). Nehemiah was in a special position with direct access to the king (Nehemiah 2:1–8). That is a great resource, and he was not afraid to use his position to put this desire before the king (Nehemiah 2:4–8).

It can be difficult to ask for help or invite others to take part in our mission (Proverbs 11:14; Ecclesiastes 4:9–10). Especially when it comes to asking our superiors. Nehemiah used wisdom and tact to get both the permission to leave his post and the resources to make the greatest impact (Nehemiah 2:4–9; James 1:5).

 

Discernment About Partnership

This invitation for help, however, must be qualified. Neither Ezra nor Nehemiah would accept help from people unaligned with their purposes (Ezra 4:1–3; Nehemiah 2:19–20). Allowing the people of the land to participate may have compromised their projects, and given unbelievers influence over the community of the faithful (Ezra 4:1–5; Nehemiah 6:1–14; 2 Corinthians 6:14–18).

It takes discernment to know what help to take and what help to reject (Proverbs 13:20; 1 John 4:1), yet both leaders had displayed such wisdom (Ezra 4:1–3; Nehemiah 2:19–20).

 

Motivation

Though there are other important leadership principles demonstrated in the life of Nehemiah, there is one more to highlight here: Motivation.

Nehemiah knew the authority that he had, and he was faithful to that responsibility (Nehemiah 2:17–18; Nehemiah 4:14–15; 1 Corinthians 4:2). Nehemiah repeatedly asked God to see his efforts and to reward him (Nehemiah 5:19; Nehemiah 13:14, 22, 31).

Nehemiah is one of the greatest examples in the Bible with little or no failure that we can observe, and this may well be the secret. He did not desire the praise of men; he did not demand a position of glory and honor (Nehemiah 6:15–16; John 5:44; Galatians 1:10). He desired the approval of God and God alone (Nehemiah 13:31; 2 Corinthians 5:9).

It gave him wisdom, courage, and drive to know that his effort mattered, regardless of human recognition or rejection and opposition (Nehemiah 4:14; Nehemiah 6:9; Hebrews 11:6; 1 Corinthians 15:58).

 

The Christian’s Motivation: God’s Approval and Eternal Reward

For a Christian today, this attitude changes everything. The moment a person trusts Christ for salvation God approves, forgives, and eternally places them into Christ (John 5:24; Ephesians 1:13–14; 2 Corinthians 5:17). We have a wonderful opportunity each day to live for the moment or to live for eternity (Colossians 3:1–4; Matthew 6:19–21).

We are also right to understand that there is only one assessment of our life that truly matters: the Lord's assessment (1 Corinthians 4:3–5; 2 Corinthians 5:10). The Lord longs to reward His children (Matthew 6:4; Revelation 22:12; 1 Corinthians 3:12–15), and we can invest every moment in eternity as we seek to serve and honor Him (Matthew 6:20; 1 Timothy 6:18–19).