The Lord is Not a Tool

Scripture: Then they sent messengers to the people of Kiriath Jearim, saying, “The Philistines have returned the ark of the Lord. Come down and take it up to your town.” So the men of Kiriath Jearim came and took up the ark of the Lord. They brought it to Abinadab’s house on the hill and consecrated Eleazar his son to guard the ark of the Lord. The ark remained at Kiriath Jearim a long time—twenty years in all. 1 Samuel 6:21-7:2a

Observation: It is only seven months since the ark was captured by the Philistines. They have returned it by way of heavenly-inspired cows pulling a cart, and the people of Beth Shemesh decide to send it to Kiriath Jearim, where it will now sit in one man's house for 20 years. This begs the question ... why not return it to the Tabernacle?

The Tent of Meeting - aka the Tabernacle - has been in Shiloh for centuries, with the ark inside and the alter still working, and it is the place where Israel comes for their sacrifices. The ark will now stay in this small village until David chooses to move it to Jerusalem. The basic reason is tied to the historical fact that the Philistines did in fact destroy Shiloh, and the Tabernacle and alter had been saved and moved to Gibeah. So why not take the ark to Gibeah? This has been answered by the Lord already ... the Lord already declared he has abandon the priestly line due to the sins of Eli and his sons. While someone will still administer sacrifices, the Lord will no longer abide with the priests and receive their sacrifices as he did before.

Therefore, the Lord manages the situation so that it is clear to Israel: Due to their collective sins in worshipping other gods, and their individual sins evident by the behavior of the priests, the Lord is separating himself from Israel, as physically represented by the separation of the ark from the Tabernacle.

Application: It is difficult to understand the presence of the Lord the way that Israel understood and experienced it. Today, we have the Holy Spirit in our lives, and I do experience periods of stronger and weaker connection with the Holy Spirit. However, that isn't the same as having a place where the Lord had been, watching a nation regularly come to him for prayer and celebration and feasting and repentance.

Israel turned the Lord's presence into a commodity and his seat into a weapon, so he withdrew. Do I ever turn the Lord's presence in my life into a commodity or tool? I seek guidance and strength and comfort from the Holy Spirit, but I hope I don't weaponize that or just use that ... I treat it as a relationship I depend upon in life. I feel weak when that connection is weak, and I feel strong with that connection is strong. However, I hope I do not then use that strength to attempt to achieve worldly goals.

Yahweh is my Lord and my God and my savior, who loves me enough to show me the proper path for my life. He is not a tool to be used to achieve my own path. May I always have His wisdom to help me discern the difference.

Prayer: Lord, I will be on a new physical path the next two weeks as I travel. May I personally and spiritually and mentally remain on your path, doing your will, obeying your commands, and seeking your purposes in my life. Amen.

Putting it All Together

Scripture: “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.” John 11:21-27

Observation: Jesus is on a mission to raise Lazarus from death, though no one understands that yet. As he enters Bethany, this is the greeting he receives from Martha. Despite the fact her brother has died, it is a greeting of complete and total faith. While living through the worst disaster of her life - the death of the man who was the caretaker to her and her sister, both unmarried - she declares belief in Jesus' authority over life and health, her understanding and faith that Jesus has total authority over everything else on earth, her understanding of eternal life through faith in Messiah, and her total belief that Jesus is, in fact, the Messiah.

We have seen others "believe" in Jesus. They state a belief in his healing authority, or in his authority as a teacher. The disciples follow him in the belief he is Messiah and have so stated it. However, no one has gone as far as Martha. Martha effectively, over the course of about five sentences, declares the entire gospel message, perhaps summarized as well as any 'creed' the Church will later try to create to clarify Christian faith.

Martha says ... Jesus is the Messiah, the son of God. He has full authority over everything on earth and everything in heaven, and by faith in Jesus we will have everlasting life. She is the first to put it all together.

Application: The fact Martha's statement here doesn't get more attention in sermons and lessons is a little surprising, likely because it's overshadowed by what's about to happen next ... the greatest miracle of Jesus' ministry. However, like I said above, hundreds of years later the Church will summarize their core elements of faith - a statement today known as the Apostle's Creed - and the core of it is just what Martha said, elaborated by some of the elements of Jesus' ministry.

Martha and Mary appear multiple times in the gospels, and every time they are a lesson and example to me of how to both believe and respond to that belief. My life would be so much better if I tried to be like them.

Prayer: Lord, I think you for the lessons of Martha. May I always face every situation with the same faith she showed. Amen.

Simple Judgment without Discernment

Scripture: As she kept on praying to the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk and said to her, “How long are you going to stay drunk? Put away your wine.” 1 Samuel 1:12-14

Observations: Eli is the Priest to Yahweh, serving at the amazing Tent of Meeting - which is now hundreds of years old - erected at Shilo. However, Eli doesn't do the work of the priest. As we learn, he has his two sons do all the priestly duties overseeing sacrifices, and they abuse their power. The two sons coerce the finest portion of the offering from those making sacrifices, threaten any who won't obey their orders, and even use the female assistants for sex. Eli knows of all of it and says so. As the actual Priest, Eli has all the authority and could put an end to the behavior immediately, but he does nothing to stop it.

Meanwhile, Eli sees a woman praying. Hannah is from a devout family, the wife of a Levite who makes all the annual pilgrimages and all the sacrifices, who honors the Lord and loves his family. Hannah is distraught, and has been verbally and publicly taunted by her husband's other wife while they have eaten their sacrifice. Now, she prayer fervently from her heart, the words pouring out to the Lord for her heart's desire of a son, and ... Eli berates her for being a drunkard.

Eli is clearly focused on the wrong behaviors in need of correction. He won't discipline his sons who are becoming a scourge to all of Israel and are actively offensive to Yahweh, yet he will correct a woman who is praying because he assumes she is drunk (which isn't necessarily an offense either). Eli knows of, yet ignores, the terrible acts of his sons, however he sits in a chair seeking out tiny improprieties in others - just assuming the worst in everyone as he does - and quickly and publicly pronounces correction upon them.

Here's the real issue. Eli should be the man in all of Israel with the most authority, and whose actions direct all honor to Yahweh. Instead, he is a side-character in the story of a prophet, best known for failing to correct his sons. His failure begins to turn the hearts of the people against the sacrifices to Yahweh, for they detest and even fear going through the ritual due to Eli's family. Serving the Lord becomes traumatic. All the while, Eli nit-picks the "regular" people, but won't take the actions necessary to truly bring honor to God.

Application: I no longer like the idea of 'fighting' about issues, problems, or work. I used to, but no more. However, I see a trap in this mindset, too, and perhaps it is the trap Eli warns of.

The trap I am thinking of is the idea that there are small matters that I can judge and then "fight" because they are easy enough to address without bothering God. Eli knew fighting his sons would be hard and involve major assistance from God, but he believed that judging a muttering woman and giving her two sentences of correction was an easy matter ... no need to discern the will of God there!

I fall into this trap when I pass simple and obvious judgments in my mind on others. When I think someone is stupid because of how they drive, or that someone is mean for ignoring politeness, or someone is inconsiderate because they are loud in a quiet public space. I judge, and furthermore don't need God's wisdom to help me judge the obvious truth.

This is another way to consider how to break my cycle of judgment ... if I never assume that judgments are 'simple' or 'obvious'. If I look at everyone and ask, "Lord, what is this person's issue?" he may reveal to me that they have hardship, challenges, or struggles worthy of kindness and patience.

Prayer: Lord, may I remember Eli's interaction with Hannah when I grow frustrated with people in simple and obvious circumstances. I do not want to be quick to judge. Amen.

Being Okay in the Confusing Parts

Scripture: Israel, apart from Benjamin, mustered four hundred thousand swordsmen, all of them fit for battle. The Israelites went up to Bethel and inquired of God. They said, “Who of us is to go up first to fight against the Benjamites?” The Lord replied, “Judah shall go first.” Judges 20:17-18

Observation: In this dark time, the rest of Israel has gathered to punish the tribe of Benjamin for their great sin. Benjamin rallies 26,000 soldiers, but Israel has 400,000. It is a 15:1 ratio, a numerical advantage so great that military leaders don't even discuss strategy and tactics in such situations because it's pointless

However, Israel then does what they always do ... they divide and send only one tribe, approximately 10 percent. Over the next two days, Benjamin kills them all - 40,000 over two days. So the question is, why does Israel regularly divide its armies and fight as tribes? There is no military logic to it, but perhaps there is logic in the context of scripture.

Judah was the one who swore to care for Benjamin when the brothers went to Egypt. In addition, when the kingdom divides after Solomon's rule, Judah and Benjamin will unify as the southern kingdom. There is one piece of logic here, which is that Judah could not be a party in the destruction of Benjamin. Even though they fought, Judah was removed from the battle after the first two days and thus did not participate in destroying Benjamin.

Application: The patterns in the bible are confusing sometimes. The above conclusion is just a blind guess, and while I could pull out my ol' English Lit skills and write a few thousand words to build the logical case and justify this conclusion, the truth is I have no idea if it's right. I am sure some other scholars have studied this and do have an idea, but even those may only be (highly educated) guesses, too.

Yes, the patterns are confusing, and often the logic is hidden. That is just the way of it. Faith and obedience to the Lord means acting on instructions when the reason is unknown.

Prayer: Lord, I say the patterns in the bible are confusing, but the patterns in our lives are just as confusing. I want to continue to learn how to be okay in the confusing parts of life. When I don't understand what you're doing in my life, I want to receive that as a positive sign, because it means you're in control, not me. Amen.

Flowers Grow in the Valley

I was looking for an upbeat song today ... and then this one just hit me. Dear Lord, I so hope this applies to my son today. Please.

It has Always Been this Way

Scripture: Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus earlier and who was one of their own number, asked, “Does our law condemn a man without first hearing him to find out what he has been doing?” They replied, “Are you from Galilee, too? Look into it, and you will find that a prophet does not come out of Galilee.” John 7:50-52

Observation: The pharisees continue to investigate Jesus, and are now casting dispersions on all who listen to him. They insult the guards who were sent to arrest him for being deceived, and they insult all the people who listen to him as being ignorant. They declare that none of them believe Jesus ... effectively stating that no intelligent, educated person with common sense believers what Jesus is teaching. We immediately see that isn't true, however, as the next person to speak is Nicodemus, a pharisee who has met with Jesus, is open to Jesus' teaching, and we know will become a believer if he isn't already.

Nicodemus doesn't disagree with the pharisees, but rather questions their methods, asking if their logic is aligned with scripture. The response is telling as ... they ignore the question, insult Nicodemus, and introduce logic that has absolutely nothing to do with the question or the truth (and is, in fact, inaccurate; Jonah was from Galilee).

In summary, the tools the pharisees use to argue against Jesus are:

-- Declarations of their own interpretation of common sense

-- Broad and inaccurate generalities about themselves

-- Insults against anyone who disagrees

-- Completely and provably wrong facts

The tool the pharisees reject and refuse to use when discussing Jesus is:

-- The known word and wisdom of the Lord

Application: I continue to wonder at the social issues of our day, and see this pattern over and over. Was this always human nature? Was this always the way humans work? Have we always, for centuries - millennia - chosen to ignorantly declare our 'common sense truth', while rejecting the Lord's teaching and insulting anyone who actually mentions the Lord as a possible source of truth?

Um ... yes.

The other day my wife and I discussed how exhausted we are just living in this part of the world, where every hour of every day is comprised of the echoes of this exact scenario. So many people just shout in anger to declare 'common sense' that is inaccurate and provably wrong, all laced with vitriolic insults toward anyone who would dare disagree, and actively rejecting the actual truth of God. It is everywhere here ... posted on walls in public venues, on local television, in conversations at restaurants, mentioned in business meetings.

It makes me wonder how Nicodemus reacted to this conversation. A learned peer, they insulted him to his face and hand-waved away his simple statement that - perhaps - they should consider the Lord's wisdom. He certainly felt insulted, angry, rejected, ignored, belittled, judged, isolated, and wearied. This is what we feel every day in almost every setting. However, Nicodemus also must have felt ... right, for he stayed with his path.

So yes, for Christians and all those who believe in Yahweh, it has always been this way. I don't know how much longer we can sustain it, though, in a place with such acute hatred.

Prayer: Lord, again today I say, may I look to you alone for my direction and walk. In everything, may I bring my work and thoughts to you for instruction. I believe in you, Jesus, and trust in the Lord. May my work be to your glory, despite the exhaustion and frustration of this time and place. Amen.

Recognizing God Right in Front of Me

Scripture: Then Manoah inquired of the angel of the Lord, "What is your name, so that we may honor you when your word comes true?" He replied, "Why do you ask my name? It is beyond understanding." Judges 13:17-18

Observation: An angel has decreed the birth of Samson to his parents. Samson's father Manoah is struggling to understand the nature of this individual. He first offers the angel food, and the angel responds that he won't eat and instead they should make a burnt offering to the Lord. He then asks his name and receives this reply.

This exchange reveals an aspect of Manoah's character that could be perceived either positively or negatively. From a positive interpretation, Manoah is attempting to understand and honor the Lord. He is curious about the Lord's message and messenger, first desiring to honor him, and then at least hoping to know his name so he can speak well of him in the future. From a negative interpretation, Manoah is questioning the activities taking place. He isn't trusting that this is a heavenly messenger, and is probing deeper, wanting to talk more, to validate authenticity, and it isn't until the angel is taken up into heaven that he believes him to be the angel of God.

Either of these perspectives could be true. In fact, both could be true. Manoah may be demonstrating partial faith ... he may be indicating that he believes in the general truth and accuracy of the message as if it were spirit-inspired prophesy, but he doubts the direct connection between this individual and Yahweh and therefore seeks a deeper understanding of the true nature of this individual.

The Jews knew that the Angel of the Lord could appear to individuals, as it had for Abraham, Jacob, Moses, and Joshua. However, they also were more comfortable with the idea that prophets received true words from the Lord, as happened more regularly and included the decisions of the judges and priests. Perhaps Manoah struggled to accept this was "the" angel of God because he felt himself unworthy, not in league with the great leaders and patriarchs of Israel. Perhaps he didn't think God really appeared as an angel anymore, as those were unique situations from hundreds of years ago.

Either way, Manoah's faith seems to have had a limit ... he could believe that a message was true and revealed the instructions of the Lord, but not that the Lord himself took time to visit people, personally comfort and instruct, and provide such messages directly.

Application: I struggle with believing the Lord would appear to me or interact with me directly. I know his Holy Spirit is a part of him, and therefore I interact with the Lord, in some manner, daily. I receive his guidance and love and hope and instructions and wisdom. However, the idea that Yahweh - in the form of Jesus, the Angel of the Lord - would appear to give me instructions or comfort or wisdom ... I struggle with that, knowing I am not worthy. Of the billions on earth, I'm less worthy than non-believers who really need such a revelation, and less worthy than believers who embrace their faith with a boldness that fills their lives.

I certainly associate with Manoah here, a man talking to the Angel of the Lord, believing the words, but trying to rationalize the "who" of the actual messenger. I know the word of God, but perhaps I don't know the Lord well enough to recognize him when he's standing right in front of me.

Prayer: Abba, my daddy and father in heaven, great Yahweh, whose name is wonderous beyond my understanding, I would actually like to know you better. I believe, but I know I keep you at arm's length. You know I keep everyone at arm's length. I don't know why this fear of being known is a part of the world I have held so close that I cannot even fathom a way to release it. However, I want to know you. I want to know you so well that I would recognize you walking down the street, greeting you like my most cherished friend. May my life continue to evolve in a way that would make that possible someday. Amen.

Blessing Should Change Me

Scripture: The Israelites said to Gideon, “Rule over us—you, your son and your grandson—because you have saved us from the hand of Midian.” But Gideon told them, “I will not rule over you, nor will my son rule over you. The Lord will rule over you.” Judges 8:22-23

Observation: The story arc of Gideon - both individually and that of Israel surrounding him - is quite the study. Gideon begins as an unknown and fearful man in hiding, rejecting even the idea that the Lord would call him to leadership. After defeating the Midianites, he punishes disrespectful city leaders, challenges commentary from other tribes, and passes execution on foreign kings. While he rejects the call to become king if Israel, he leans into the honors and power of being the chief 'judge' to the point that he fathers 70 sons by many wives and concubines.

Meanwhile, Israel had been oppressed by the Midianites due to their worship of false gods. Upon being liberated by Gideon's leadership, they immediately call on Gideon to be king (a sign of explicitly not returning to Yahweh as their Lord). They begin worshipping a gold ephod that Gideon made, turning it into an idol. They soon resume worshipping the baals. Upon Gideon's death, one of his sons will attempt to exalt himself as king, and many will follow him.

It is as if, everything the Lord did to aid Israel and lead them into repentance for their sins, they turned into a launch pad for perpetuating sin, even leveraging some of the outcomes of their 'salvation' into a new type of idolatry, a new way to reject the Lord, and a new model for prideful self-rule.

Application: There is a lesson for all of us, myself included, about what we do after the Lord has redeemed and restored us, or given us blessings. When we are thankful and acknowledge the Lord, but then go about our lives in the days to come as if nothing happened ... or even using the blessings we received for our selfish lives ... we are just like Israel and Gideon.

When the Lord blesses me, it should change my life in a way that draws me closer to him. I should respond to blessing with not just short-term thanks and worship, but with a renewed alignment of my daily walk that reflects his path for me, not my path, and certainly not the world's path. Blessing should change me on the inside, with my outward actions then reinforcing that change.

Despite life's hardships, I am overwhelmingly blessed. I need to give more of the blessing back into the kingdom, in the form of what I do and how I think on a daily basis.

Prayer: Lord, you are my portion in life, and I am very, very aware that all I have is from you. May my life become a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to you. I will try to align my thoughts to your thoughts, and my ways to your ways, all the more. I will not bargain and ask for something specific that I may then respond to, for you have already given me more than I could ever repay. Amen.

Prepared by the First Task

Scripture: That same night the Lord said to him, "Take the second bull from your father’s herd, the one seven years old. Tear down your father’s altar to Baal and cut down the Asherah pole beside it." Judges 6:25

Observation: The Lord has appeared to Gideon and given him instructions to lead Israel against the Midianites. However, his first task isn't to call an army, or announce his intentions, or to rally a small group of supporters. Instead, his first task is to turn his entire hometown against himself by tearing down the items of worship to other gods.

Gideon is a hesitant leader. He already doubted why the Lord would call him, the least member of the least family of the least clan. He required a sign to prove that the angel of the Lord was really speaking to him, and will do so again before he fully engages. Therefore, the fact that the first task is to tear down the alter and idols likely has four purposes.

First, this task is physically doable. Gideon is afraid of others so he does it at night, but the point is he does it knowing people will react in the morning. He has to do three things, and Gideon is able to do all three in the course of that night, and do them exactly as the Lord prescribes. For a man who is fearful and worried that he just spoke to the angel of the Lord face-to-face, this is a 'quick win' and early taste of success.

Second, this act calls into sharp relief exactly how far Israel has fallen and thus is in need of a judge. The people are actively worshipping the fertility goddess and the false gods of Canaan. They respond with anger when the items of these false gods are removed and replaced with an alter to Yahweh. By this, it is made even clearer to Gideon that the people of Israel are on the wrong path, as they aren't just worshiping false gods in addition to Yahweh, but have swung into a mindset of elevating those false gods above Yahweh.

Third, the fact that even in their anger the entire village is dissuaded from attacking Gideon would give him courage that his actions were supported by the Lord. They do respond with anger, but are persuaded that, if Gideon has acted against baal, and if baal is real, then baal should have the ability to strike Gideon down. In this manner, Gideon is protected from retribution, and thus gains confidence that his task and mission is truly from the Lord.

Fourth, Gideon receives a new name, Jerub-Baal, which means 'let baal contend with him'. Names - and especially adults who receive a new name - give strong identity to Jews. Gideon now knows that Yahweh himself has spoken to him, has given him instructions, and is protecting him. He also knows baal is a false god who doesn't exist. By giving him a name that such a false and powerless god is the one who will 'deal with' Gideon, he must feel invulnerable. Imagine if everyone said the only being that could harm you is non-existent, and meanwhile the being that protects you is the almighty creator of the universe!

Gideon will now go fight an entire nation with only 300 men. His courage and journey to do so began when he simply obeyed the Lord and dealt with the root-cause issue in his own family, and succeeding at that task equipped him for the rest of his work.

Application: I don't know what large mission I have in my future, and therefore I don't really know on a daily basis what small task I should be doing to prepare my heart. I do know this ... all the stuff my family and I are currently going through - big and small - boils down to a test of faith and prayer. I have been praying more, especially in small bursts, though also mostly in the form of questions. In those questions, I have faith there is an answer even when I don't know it.

Are there baal alters and ashera poles I need to destroy ... small tasks the Lord wants me to do to prepare my heart for other activities? Probably. Certainly some basic faith around career is part of that.

Prayer: Lord, you know the challenges that lie before my family, from physical ailments to significant career instability to daily work issues. I look to you, knowing that the one God and creator of the universe is here with me, and so none of these issues can really contend with and destroy me. May your hand be upon me and my family, today and every day. Amen.

Yes, This Is a Test

Scripture: “Unless you people see signs and wonders,” Jesus told him, “you will never believe.” The royal official said, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” “Go,” Jesus replied, “your son will live.” The man took Jesus at his word and departed. While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living. John 4:48-51

Observation: When this rich man - a "royal official" perhaps indicating he is a member of King Herod's inner circle - hears of Jesus, he goes to Jesus and asks for his son to be miraculously healed. What Jesus does next is more than a healing ... it is a test. He first challenges the very idea that the primary reason people come to see him is not out of faith, but out of need. Therefore, he tests the man's faith, pronouncing the son is now healed without going to him (in fact, while being dozens of miles away, for it is at least a two day journey for the man to return home). And, at Jesus' pronouncement the official ... "took Jesus at his word and departed." In other words, he had faith and believed, and his son was healed.

Application: I do believe the Lord tests us. These are not tests to be cruel, nor are they tests to punish us if we fail. However, they are tests to see if our hearts are prepared for something more, and if by engaging in the tests our faith can grow into a closer relationship with Jesus.

In the case of this royal official, the test is pretty straightforward. Jesus effectively says, 'you think you have faith that I can heal, then show me if have faith that I can heal by my word and not just my touch'. The man does.

I have been tested by the Lord, and sometimes I pass and sometimes I don't. I do know how I have grown from the tests, and that is key. The tests aren't about passing, they are about developing my testimony and my faith so I can better serve the Lord and tell others about Jesus in my life. Sometimes, I feel I have wasted the tests by not using what I have learned to its full potential.

I do think our family is in the midst of several tests right now. Some are subtle but involve almost continual reliance on the Lord, perhaps intended to adjust our hearts. Some are huge and difficult, likely producing an overhaul in our faith and relationship with Jesus. I trust the outcomes will be good, as they always are.

Prayer: Lord, I lean in today to the test before me. May I continue to seek you in the current circumstances, and in so doing find how you are adjusting my heart and my faith to your purposes. Amen.

Just Given by a Father

Scripture: So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. John 4:5

Observation: This chapter is about Jesus meeting the Samaritan woman at the well. However, there is something interesting going on in this verse about its description as the ground Jacob gave to Joseph.

From Genesis 33, we know this land is actually the first "livable" land that the Jews owned in Canaan. Abraham bought a cave with a field near Hebron, but never lived there (it was used for burial). Jacob bought this land and lived on it. There were significant events that occurred here (that aren't relevant here). However, while it makes sense that Jacob would need to dig a well in the place he was living for an extended period, nowhere in that Genesis narrative is there mention of him bequeathing this land - the only land he owns - to his 11th born son Joseph.

Furthermore, this location is between Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal, the mountains where - upon crossing the Jordan - Joshua split the tribes and had them shout blessings and curses from the mountaintops. Those pronouncements poured down upon this exact spot. Again, this is a special location, and again that information isn't stated here, but instead what is stated is something not found in the scriptures.

It seems like tying this event to important scriptural facts would make sense. However, considering that raises some interesting thoughts. One is that ... Matthew, who was present at this event just like John was, doesn't even mention this at all, and his gospel focuses on tying Jesus to Jewish scripture. If anyone was going to point out that Jesus first told someone he was Messiah at the only piece of land Jacob ever owned, it would be Matthew.

Application: John chose to describe this location through an undocumented fact instead of making the scriptural references, and the reason may have to do with the very nature of the "new covenant" that God makes through Messiah. Jesus is a new promise of salvation to all people, not the old Abrahamic promise of blessing upon the Jews. The prior events here are directly associated with the 'promised land' element of the old covenant. There is no need to harken back to that promise, as Jesus is actively declaring for the first time that the new promise is here. Jesus says as much, when he says it doesn't matter where the Samaritans and Jews think they should worship - on Mount Gerizim or in Jerusalem - for instead they will worship in spirit and truth, within the new covenant of faith in the Messiah.

The old promise of God was one of works and worldly rewards. The gospel message is the promise of heavenly salvation through faith. Therefore, as Jesus declares himself as Messiah to a Samaritan woman, there is no need to recount how Israel (the man and the nation) received the land. The fact that some things are just "given" by a father is the better context for such an event.

Prayer: Lord, you know the challenges my family has now days. The challenges are quiet and nowhere near the terrible issues others face, but they drag upon us. Today, may you just give to us as our father, and may we live in your promise of salvation by faith. We don't need stuff other than your love and the hope we have in Jesus. Amen.