Thank God for Art

Exodus 31:3,4

“I have chosen Bezalel … and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts to make artistic designs …”

My wife Janet is an artist. The images with this post are her work. If she were alive during Exodus 31 times she might have been on Bezalel’s team. I sometimes wonder whose team she is supposed to be on today.

During the protestant reformation much art was expelled from the church. It was a great loss. We have never recovered really. 

We can forget how much Christians have invested in art through the years. Chapel ceilings (Sistine Chapel, Vatican City) monastery walls (The Last Supper, Milan) and town squares (all over Europe) have been adorned with prize art, commissioned and paid for by believers. I wonder if the reason so much modern art is soulless and strange is because of who pays for it.

The precedent for a marriage of art and worship is here in Exodus. God commissioned art to adorn the Tabernacle. And, he equipped the artists for the work. The Spirit of God is the source of this artistic skill and craftsmanship. Preachers and artists are first cousins. Our abilities and callings originate from the same breath of God.

It is worth considering what these artists in Exodus are doing.

1. Illuminating. This is different from illustrating. You can’t make a drawing of God. He refuses to be imaged. But you can shine a light for those who seek him. The Eastern tradition emphasises “Icons” as windows through which worshipers look.

Artists should not be asked to portray only religious themes. To embroider a pomegranate or paint a lemon can be an act of worship. To patiently engage the finished product can illuminate mind and heart making worship richer and God more fully known.

2. Beautifying. Beauty matters to God. The colour, arrangement, diversity, detail, design and texture all suggest magnificence. The instructions in Exodus amaze me (Ex. 25-31). While it reads like a knitting pattern (pretty boring really), its purpose and detail is wonderful.

A believer is not constrained to produce only beautiful artefacts. His art may confront and question as well as please. It may expose pain and offer lament. But it will do Godly work. Christian art explores the colour of justice, the contours of mercy, the evidence of love, the smell of hope, the whisper of humility, the feel of faith and the taste of resurrection.

3. Celebrating. Much of the beauty described is for the delight of God and his people. The descriptions are extravagant. The art and craft in the Tabernacle was bold, expressive and lavish. It shouts praise to God and insists that worshipers approach in wonder. I think I would feel very happy worshiping in the midst of such beauty. It would stimulate celebration.

4. Obeying. The artists of Exodus are using their gifts to please God. They are doing what they are told. The work of a “skilled craftsman” and the word of a faithful prophet may be different in kind but not in commitment. Each has a vocation. Each has a calling and a choice to obey.

5. Leading. The art in the Tabernacle is purposeful. God mandates it and Moses celebrates it (Ex. 39:42, 43). The people would have enjoyed it for years to come. It would have coloured the thoughts of children as they counted cherubim on the curtains, and shaped the theology of Rabbis who meditated upon its beauty. Loveliness leads.

The Illuminated Bible is a project worth your attention. Makoto Fujimura is a committed believer and a contemporary artist. His style is abstract. He has a passion for God’s word. To celebrate the 400^th anniversary of the publication of the King James Version, Crossway publishers commissioned him to produce art illuminating the gospels. They published The Illuminated Bible early this year. To visit his website to view a few pages and watch a video click here.  

Questions

• What is your favourite work of art? Why?
• Does it help you worship God? How?
• Do you have a view on art and the church?

 

 PS - An Invitation to Artists

If you attend NewHope Baptist Church in Melbourne and you are an artist please consider contributing a piece of your work to the 60^th Anniversary Art Exhibition to be held later this year at the church. Talk with Janet for details. You can visit Janet’s website by clicking here.

Forgive My Empty Hands

Exodus 34:20

The Lord Said: “No one is to appear before me empty-handed”

When we go to dinner parties it is always Janet who reminds me, we shouldn’t go empty handed. So, we take flowers, baking, a seasonal gift, a card or a bottle of drink. To be honest, I sometimes debate the point. Is it really necessary? She is wiser and usually wins the exchange. The recipients are always grateful.

I came upon this verse of Scripture and realised that God and Jan are in sync on this point. But the verse raised some practical questions for me. And then it convicted me!

What should I bring to God? And Why? Here are my reflections starting with the last question first.

Why should I bring something to God?

NOT because he needs what I have. And not so I can buy his affection. These notions are ruled out by other sections of Scripture. I think it has more to do with my need to honour God, to show humility in his presence and to put my life in his hands. Here are three reasons as I see it.

1. To affirm my dependence. In chapter 34 the gift which God requires is a symbol or a substitute for the “first born”. When your first child is born, bring God a gift. When your animals give birth and your herds grow, bring God a gift. And when your crops yield and your harvest begins, bring God a gift. These are all measures of wealth in the ancient world. My gifts to God are recognition of my dependence upon him.

2. To celebrate our friendship. God and I are covenant friends. This verse appears in the context of a promise from God: “I am making a covenant with you ... I will do wonders never before done” (Exodus 34:10). God is inviting relationship. My offerings to him are an expression of gratitude and kinship.

3. To express my obedience. I should bring something to God because he asks me to. When I was writing my thesis, my supervisor asked me to bring new written work to every meeting. I obeyed. That is how I got the degree. God knows that I need the discipline of bringing, giving, yielding and obeying – that is why he asks this of me. My obedience is about building my life.

What can I bring to God?

Here are some of the things I purpose to have in my hands whenever I come to God.

• The first of my money. I get paid. I can give the first part of my income to God. I have done this for many years (giving ten percent to my church and more to various missions). Giving the first part of my pay is an act of dependence on God. He has always looked after me.
• The first gain of each success in my vocation. Anything that goes well is to God's glory. Business and ministry successes can be “given” to God. Sometimes that is money again. Sometimes it is a story expressed in prayer. Sometimes it is an artefact that can be shared with others who have a need.
• The first hours of my day. I choose to meet God in the morning and make the earliest time his. I come to God not to tick an obligation but to spend quiet sacred time.
• Words of gratitude. I will bring God words of thanks. This requires stoping to think and be specific.
• My full attention. This is a gift I am learning to give my children, my staff, my wife, my parents AND my God. Attentive listening is more costly than you think. It is hard work. It is a gift.
• First call on my possessions. Yielding my house, car, books and all my “stuff” to God is an act consistent with this invitation. I can “bring” things to God by sharing what I have.
• First option on my diary. I can give hours to causes. I can participate in ministries. I can spend time with others (including family and friends) expressing practical love. These moments can be “in my hands” when I come to God. I can even rest (Sabbath) as a gift to God!

For me the challenge of this verse is to be more thoughtful about what is “in my hands” as I come to God. I need to be aware and intentional. I want to be a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1).

God doesn’t require my gifts to complete my salvation. He invites my offering for what it does to me, not what it achieves for him. He knows that if I come empty handed I will not mature. But, if I come with gifts for God this feeds something very important in my spirit. 

Questions

• What do you bring to God? When and Why?
• How could this idea of giving gifts to God be abused?
• Is it always wrong to to come empty handed? Surely not.

Epilogue

There are other things that I will also bring. These are not really offerings so much as realities. I bring my sins to God. I bring my hurt and dark emotions. I bring my lament and disappointment. I don’t think these ugly things qualify as gifts but my God is no tyrant. These things too are welcome. And often he heals!

Exhausted? Here's Help.

Exodus 18:17

“What you are doing is not good … you will wear yourself out.”

Moses was an E-C leader. Are you one? He was Exhausted and Conscientious. It is a dangerous combination.

Moses was exhausted. His job was too big. At least that is how it appeared to his father-in-law Jethro, who came for a visit. The huge company of Israelites who had followed Moses out of Egypt now looked to him for religious and moral leadership. He was both leader and judge. His “position description” was unsustainable.

Moses was conscientious. He wanted to serve the people. But the amount of work was wearing him out. The people were probably not getting judgements quickly enough either and so he was wearing them out too. (Exodus 18:18)

Sadly, this is not uncommon. There are Exhausted-Conscientious people everywhere. They often plough themselves into despair and breakdown. Moses was fortunate because he got help.

This story suggests three great questions for exhausted people. I will apply them to myself first.

1. Who is watching me and giving useful advice? Jethro was an excellent productivity coach for Moses. He noticed things and gave great feedback. I need people in my life who will do exactly this. They will need to stand close to me. I probably don’t need a high paid consultant. I could ask my spouse, colleague, neighbour, or one of my in-laws (as with Moses). But I will need to give them permission to speak up. Humility and deference to their ideas will be essential (Numb 12:3). I have several people watching me for different aspects of my work. And, today I am reminded to encourage their feedback again. Key: COACHING

2. What explanations and excuses do I give? Moses had good answers for Jethro’s questions. He was busy because he was God’s appointed judge. But, the explanations he gave needed to be rethought. At least a part of Moses’ answer was actually an excuse. Constant reflection on my action is a key part of learning and growing. And having someone help me “hear myself” as I explain what I do can be eye opening. What am I doing that should be changed or re-evaluated or discontinued all together? Are any of my explanations really just excuses? Key: REFLECTING

3. Who is waiting to share the load with me? Jethro’s key advice was sage and simple. Share the load! Find good and gifted people to work along side you and get the work done more effectively together. There is a problem here of course. Delegation always makes you busier – initially. In the end it is the wisest time investment of all. Key: DELEGATING

Here is my five step approach to delegating in a volunteer context:

(a) Define the task. Think through what is required, how much time, what skills, to whom the role is accountable and how long the first term of service will be (always have a finish line). In many cases this should be written down. Be as honest and open as you can. Don’t make the role look small if it is really big.

(b) Brainstorm possible candidates. This is best done with the help of others. I try to list many more names than I will need. Don’t make other people’s decisions for them, list every valid candidate who comes to mind.

(c) Priorities the list with prayer. Decide who to approach first. I usually involve others in this part of the task as well. This can be a very spiritual step in the process as I seek God’s wisdom. I often use criteria like those listed by Jethro (Exodus 18:21).

(d) Make a two fold approach. First, ask the person to think about the role. Give them the description and as much information as possible. Explain the steps you have taken so far (a)-(c). Answer any questions and offer prayer support. Second, invite a response by a particular date and follow-up with appropriate support and the offer of more time if required. Repeat until the right person is recruited.

(e) Train, support and encourage liberally. Providing the right induction and ample on going support is critical for delegation to work. Good people thrive on constructive feedback and affirmation.

The boundaries of time cannot be altered. However, the choices made within those boundaries can change. We don’t need to be exhausted. God doesn't intend that you or I should wear ourselves out.

Questions

• Are you wearing yourself out just now? Does something need to change?
• What questions do you find helpful in evaluating your approach to time?

Just for Fun

(Link:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmnaQsvhytY&NR=1)

10 Life Changing Lessons from Manna

Exodus 16:4

"The LORD said to Moses, 'I will rain down bread from heaven for you.'"

Imagine leading 20,000 people* across the desert. Moses could have used a project manager, a logistics team and a serious supply chain. He had none of these. He had something better – God.

Not surprisingly, the people quickly became thirsty and hungry. Like any wanting mob they complained. Moses took the complaint to God who answered immediately with fresh water and food from heaven! Quail in the evening, manna in the morning (Ex 16:13, 15).

Manna

Moses called the morning food “bread” from the Lord. The people saw it and said “What is it?”, or in Hebrew “Manna?” The name stuck. Apparently the quail was a periodic treat, but the manna kept coming.

Each morning it arrived, wafer-like and white in colour. It formed with the morning dew and after the people collected what they needed it melted away with the sun's heat. They compared it with coriander seed and the flavour of honey. Each night the uneaten leftovers decayed, stinking and maggot ridden.

Fridays were different. Friday-manna lasted two days instead of one so they could collect more. This made it possible for the people to keep Saturdays free from work. They could rest, recharge, bless God and live well. They could keep a Sabbath.

The manna kept coming for 40 years. It sustained them in the desert but they didn’t always enjoy it. Nearly 15,000 serves of manna would tire anyone really. Not even a Jamie Oliver “Doing More with Manna” cookbook would revive their appetite! Israel complained. God provided variety. But Israel’s attitude was bad and God’s response was confronting (Number 11).

When they arrived in Canaan morning-manna stopped coming. From then on they ate the fruit of their new land of promise. Manna became a testimony. They even put some in a golden jar inside the Ark of the Covenant to remind future generations that God had been faithful to Israel. The story still feeds faith today (Josh 5:12, Ps. 78:24, John 6:31).

Here are my ten life insights from reading and thinking about manna:

1. Acknowledge God’s care for me. God provides. Not always what we expect or when , but he does satisfy our needs if we invite him.

2. Only take what I need! Leftovers spoil. Greed and selfishness bred maggots in my character and a stench in my soul. Travel light. Trust God to provide again tomorrow.

3. Focus on today. The manna story reminds me to take it a day at a time. To live sparrow-like or lily-like and not borrow future troubles. I can plan and dream, but I don’t have to worry about tomorrow or pretend I am in control. (Matt 6:25-34)

4. Participate in my own care. I notice that the people had to collect their own meals. God built no McMannas in the wilderness. He has built none in my path either. I work together with God.

5. Plan to rest and trust God to make my life sustainable. I love the fact that God provides seven days worth of resources in six days. My necessary work can be accomplished in six days if I am paying attention to what God is doing. I also note the necessity of planning in order to rest well.

6. Share God’s concern for the environment. Manna was an eco-friendly breakfast. All the unneeded manna “melted away”. No plastic wrappers, just biodegradable leftovers. Are my life style habits and God's global care values aligned?

7. Recognise my utter dependence. Food comes from God. Breath comes from God. Life belongs to God.

8. Don’t complain, be thankful. We all get tired of repetition. After awhile Israel got tied of manna and complained. “We have lost our appetite” they said. It would be better if I learned to foster gratitude instead. (Numb 11:6)

9. Pass God’s dependence “test”. Deut 8:16 says: “He gave you manna to eat in the desert ... to humble and to test you so that in the end it might go well with you.” I want to pass the test in flying colours.

10. Tell my stories of Gods' faithfulness. Each new generation needs a bold testimony. God preserved some manna in the Ark of the Covenant to help Israel tell the story to their young people. Stories of God's care encourage and sustain faith. (Heb 9:4)

Prayer: Thank you Lord for letting manna teach me. Thank you for feeding me every day. And Lord, please give me my daily bread again tomorrow. Amen!

Questions

• How have you experienced God’s daily provision?
• Which of these ten insights is most helpful for you? What would you add to this list?

 

Epilogue

Manna points to Jesus. It is a symbol of God’s provision, his food from heaven. When Jesus feeds you, his manna is life giving in a profound and death defying way. You won’t need to eat again. (John 6:58)

* The Population of the Exodus is debated. The word translated “thousand” in Ex 12:37 (600, 000 men) could also be translated “family”, “leader” or “tribe”. Estimates range from 20,000 to 2,000,000 people. Even the smaller of the estimates makes the point.

The Practice of Stillness

Exodus 14:14

“The Lord will fight for you; you only need to be still.”

Fantastic! What great advice for an activist. This verse was written just for me.The challenge is to internalise it.

The promise: God will fight for me! I am not alone. My resources are not the whole story. God is adding his strength to my capacity and together we will face each day's challenges.

Israel had a wonderful experience. God’s deliverance happened right in front of them. The impossible roadblock (the sea) became an amazing exit (God parted it!). If God can still do that, I want it.

The challenge: Be still! This is not my natural habit. I have to work at being still. My daily routine involves appointments, agendas, to-do-lists, action steps, measured outcomes and constant activity. That’s all great, but it can make me overly self sufficient. And when I face a serious problem (one the size of the Red Sea) I can too easily despair. Strange how I can forget to trust God and just worry about something that is plainly impossible for me change. I need to work on the discipline of stillness.

How can I practise stillness today?

Here is my short list of practical and personal ideas. This is a growing edge in my life. I am not good at stillness so this is a list of things I need to do better and more often.

1. Take God at his word and trust Him. Ex. 14:14 is a huge promise. I want to tuck it in my pocket and take it with me through the day. The Lord of heaven and earth will fight for me. That is decidedly better than my fighting for myself.

2. Sit down and pay attention to God. Literally sitting down, does help me. I am confronted by Jesus’ challenge to busy-Martha and his praise for quiet-Mary (Lk 10:38-42). I believe God wants to pepper my day with stillness. He wants there to be margin in my diary and quiet on my to-do list. The things that are impossible for me to "fix" need to be prayed about calmly and stared down in stillness. 

3. Expect the unexpected and expect it to be BIG. Neither the Hebrews nor the Egyptians were expecting the sea to open. Neither Moses nor Pharaoh saw that coming, but God did. What opening does God see coming today in my life? Constant activity blinds me to God’s magnitude. Today I will elevate my conviction that God WILL fight for me. I will expect more of God without telling him how (or when) to do it.

4. Exhale. It is uncanny how my physical posture and my mental/spiritual posture interconnect. Two or three minutes with my eyes closed and my attention focused on my breathing can be incredibly calming. As few as three deep, slow, sustained exhales can calm my whole universe. I picture Moses eying the fierce Egyptian army and exhaling very slowly. He knows what God can do and so he is calm. Huhhhhhhhhhhhh..... me too.

5. Talk to myself. My inner dialogue needs to be aligned with this wisdom of stillness. I need to tell myself: “God will fight for me”. I need to shout this loudly so other more common voices will be drowned out. Voices that say things like: “You haven’t solved that problem, you need to worry about it?” or "What kind of father/pastor/neighbour are you if you can't figure this out?" 

I will need to repeat this verse several times today. And I will choose stillness in the face of the impossible. I will wait for God, He has promised to fight for me!

Questions

How do you practise stillness? What works for you?

Where have you experienced God "fighting" for you recently?

Snakes Alive! God Swallows the Opposition

Exodus 7:10

“Aaron threw his staff down in front of Pharaoh and his officials, and it became a snake.”

Aaron’s staff was an impressive prop. He could throw it to the ground and it would transform into a slithering viper. Apparently the trick was not as unique as you might think. Magicians in Pharaoh’s court could do it too. So Moses and Aaron’s display of power got gazumped. The royal viziers did the same party trick. Snakes everywhere. (Apparently Pharaohs are OK with lots of snakes in the palace.)

But then, the unexpected happened. Aaron’s snake ate all the other snakes on the floor! Voila, the power of God. Very cool! Can I get a stick like this?

Wow … This story inspires me.

It exalts God. His mighty power overwhelms the enemy. The world is able to imitate great power, but it cannot win the final contest. God is in charge!

It humiliates worldly power. God overwhelms Pharaoh’s mob. Their symbols of royal power are eaten (alive) by a shepherd’s staff. Talk about humiliating.

It encourages me. God can defend me. I don’t stand against the enemy alone. When I obey him and do what he asks, his power is with me. The deliverance he offers may even surprise me. God's power is a wonderful blessing to those who love him!

But … It doesn’t impress Pharaoh (Ex 7:13, 8:19). At the end of chapter 7 the Hebrew people are still slaves. Moses has achieved nothing really and Pharaoh is still in charge.

Why is Pharaoh unimpressed? Probably because he thinks he has even more power. He can take Aaron’s staff by force. He can have Moses killed if he wants to. He is Pharaoh, the all powerful ruler, and he never sees it any other way. Raw power doesn’t impress him, nor does it ever change him.

I know people like this today. Confronted by God’s power they remain totally unimpressed. Raw power almost never converts anyone who is not looking for God.

So … This story challenges my view of power.

It spotlights the limits of raw power. Even when ten plagues have occurred and Pharaoh has lost his son, he does not stop fighting back. God’s power never softens him, it only hardens him. Locked in this epic power struggle, Pharaoh destroys his army and himself (14:28).

The same is true today for all who fight power with power. Parents and children; bosses and employees; unhappily married couples – they hurt each other more and more until one party in the struggle gets crushed. Raw power can swallow the opposition but it rarely mends a heart.

It challenges me to look deeper for God’s better strategy. Raw power escalates conflict. This is why Jesus says: “turn the other check”, “love your enemy” and “father forgive them”. It is in fact why Jesus lets himself be “led like a lamb to the slaughter”. Why he dies on a cross and why his followers are invited to take up their crosses also. (Matt. 5:39, 44; Lk. 23:34; Isa 53:7; Mk. 8:34)

It reminds me how it will all end. God will swallow up in judgment everything that opposes him. We are told that he waits so that others can repent, but the time will come when evil will be swallowed. This is God’s promise. (2 Peter 3:9-13)

Yes, it would be very cool to own the “baddest-stick” in town – to wield God’s power. But, power has limits. It can bring glory to God, humility to God’s opponents and encouragement to God’s followers; but raw power won’t change the hearts of people made by God and living in rebellion. Raw power can (and will) judge such rebellion, but it won’t save any rebels. That will require a very different approach – a great stick lifted up to hold a crucified Son. 

Jesus never says: "Here's a stick like Aaron's, go get'em Allan." What he says is: "Here's a cross like mine", go serve them." And in the end, I have access to more real power than Aaron and Moses dreamed.

Questions

• What have you learned about the benefits and limitations of power? 
• Have you ever been locked in an escalating power struggle? How did you (or will you) break free?

Epilogue

We are told a few times that God is responsible for hardening Pharaoh’s heart (Ex 4:21, 9:12). This is difficult to understand – I confess, I don’t really get it. But I do see power at work here. If God won’t back down because of his love for Israel, where does that leave Pharaoh? It leaves him needing to act against his nature. Imagine asking Pharaoh to turn the other cheek. It is not going to happen. So God’s unbending love for these people pushes Pharaoh deeper into his broken and hardened self. It is only when God acts in Jesus who lays down his life, that there is any real hope of salvation for all.