David Bahn – Reflections

Mention well-known Bible stories, and sooner or later someone will mention Noah and the Ark. I suppose it’s somewhat understandable. We envision cute little animals, bunnies, squirrels, kittens, and puppies scampering up the ramp into the ark. Let’s not forget the giraffes, camels, and elephants. These are the makings of the children’s Bible illustrations. Cute, but maybe a bit misleading.

Having visited the Ark Encounter in Williamson, Kentucky, I’ve learned a bit more about the challenges and necessary accommodations that were necessary to carry off this rescue mission. There had to be means of feeding the animals, disposing of their waste, providing for Noah and his family – eight people in all – including living quarters. The size of the ark impressed me as we saw it in full scale. The number of different animals “according to their kind,” was also explained.

Our visit was truly an ark encounter. It was surely worth the trip. We were edified and inspired – and tired after wandering through the various levels and displays inside the ark replica, and outside on the grounds.

All that said, the encounter of Noah with God and the flood would have been even more impressive. Noah and his family were spared from the destruction of the flood. And although Noah was a righteous man, his behavior following the flood showed that he was flawed – righteous as he may have been.

To some extent the entire Old Testament Scripture is a giant object lesson of what does not work. That’s not all that the Old Testament is by any means. But it does offer some food for thought. In this case, God’s direct intervention and decisive judgment on the wickedness of sinful men makes a point about his holiness and justice.

But the larger purpose of the Old Testament is to point us to Christ. We not only see what doesn’t work, but we are given promises of God’s ultimate deliverance through his Son. And while the ark provided salvation for 8 people, Jesus offers life and salvation to all who believe. And the New Testament speaks of baptism, connecting it with the flood and Noah’s deliverance.

The ark pointed ahead to something far greater: the cross of Christ, where God’s judgment and mercy met in full. In him, we find not only rescue from destruction but the promise of eternal life.

I walked into her classroom and asked the woman sitting at the desk in front of the classroom for Nici. Nici was a fifth grade teacher at the school. This was her classroom. I wondered where she was. She said, “Yes?” I had not recognized my own daughter-in-law! The ravages of cancer had attacked her so relentlessly. My heart broke for her. Within a year she was dead. I hate cancer!

When Job’s friends saw him from a distance they did not recognize him either. Pain, suffering, and disease does that to a person. Cruel. Sad. Devastating.

The devil is always God’s devil. That quote is often attributed to Martin Luther, although not likely a direct quote. It is, nevertheless, true. We see that in the passage from Job. “And the Lord said to Satan, ‘Behold, he is in your hand; only spare his life.’” God put a limit on Satan’s influence over Job. 

God did not put a limit over the cause of Lazarus’ death nor over the extent of Nici’s cancer. But God did something better. In the case of Job we see his friends sitting in solidarity with him – silent for 7 days.  Though they would ultimately fail him, they did bring that brief time of comfort. Job will point toward Jesus who is the “Resurrection and the Life” (cf. John 11:25). Job will confess, “I know that my Redeemer lives” (Job 19:25).

That is our only true hope in the face of death and the devil. Not only are the limits set on both, Jesus Christ is our Redeemer, the Resurrection and the Life.

Even when suffering leaves us unrecognizable, we are not forsaken. Our Redeemer lives—and in him, death and the devil meet their match.

Randy Alcorn’s book, If God is Good, had a very positive impact on me. His opening thoughts about our judgment of God’s goodness – based on our very limited and focused observations – spoke to me deep within. He pointed out a Barna poll that asked: “If you could ask God only one queston and you knew he would give you an answer, what would you ask?” The most common response was “Why is there pain and suffering in the world?” C. S. Lewis realized, after his wife’s death, “If I had really cared as I thought I did, about the sorrows of the world, I should not have been so overwhelmed when my own sorrow came.”

So here we have a woman who was obviously suffering terribly. Jesus heals her. And everyone is happy about it, right? Not so fast. Can you believe the Pharisees actually use this as an opportunity to criticize Jesus?!? Really??? They don’t care about human suffering. They only care about getting rid of Jesus. They’ll do anything to discredit him – including stepping over a once bent-over woman to criticize Jesus’ act of steadfast love.

The psalm says, “Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!” Jesus who is God in the flesh (try to get your head around that concept!), cannot do anything but express the goodness of God. He shows how God’s steadfast love is enduring and present in that moment in response to the woman’s plight.

Jesus’ words to the Pharisees are also words from which we must learn. Shouldn’t this “daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond?” he asks. We too easily get caught up in our own pain and suffering and become blind to the greater pain and suffering in the world. If we are to reflect the heart of God, we must see others from hearts made pure by the love of Jesus inside us. His steadfast love is for all people. He showed that to the bent over woman by straightening her up. She glorified God. 

A quick internet search reveals just how relatively wealthy most Americans are by global standards.

If you have an annual income of $15,000, you are among the top 10% of earners globally. A household income of $30,000 places you in the top 5%. Earning between $60,000 and $70,000 a year puts you in the top 1% worldwide. In terms of net worth, having $93,000 in assets places you among the top 10% of the world’s wealthiest individuals. To reach the top 1%, a net worth of approximately $870,000 is required. In fact, an American with even a modest home, some retirement savings, and a vehicle is often wealthier than 90–95% of the global population.

In Jesus’ day, such comparisons would not have been so easily quantified. There were no investment firms or stock markets as we know them today. But people still recognized wealth when they saw it. The man who wanted Jesus to intervene in a family dispute over an inheritance shows that people were just as concerned about wealth then as now.

Jesus’ response points us to a different measure of wealth—and offers a clear warning against covetousness and greed. He knew how easily our heads are turned and our eyes grow green with envy. “Be on your guard,” he says. There is real danger—eternal danger—in being rich in the world’s goods but poor toward God.

Jesus undoubtedly drew from the Old Testament, including passages like Psalm 49. His parable of the rich man echoes the truth of verse 20: “Man in his pomp yet without understanding is like the beasts that perish.”

Yet Jesus’ warning and the psalmist’s message, while similar, have different emphases. The psalm encourages us not to fear when others grow rich. Jesus warns us not to be drawn into the pursuit of riches. In both cases, the reason is clear: wealth is not the true measure of life or happiness. Our hope is eternal—anchored in the promises of God and his salvation.

We cannot pay our way into heaven. We cannot buy our way into the kingdom of God. The price would be too high; there is not enough money in the world to settle that debt.

But what money can never achieve, faith in God and trust in his unfailing love can. We need not envy our wealthy neighbor, nor fear the powerful entrepreneur. Their fortunes will come to an end. But those who fear, love, and trust in God above all things are eternally rich in his grace, provision, and steadfast love. Whether rich or poor by human standards, those who belong to God are rich beyond measure.

Over the years that I served as pastor at St. John Lutheran Church in Cypress, Texas, I realized again and again that I stood on the shoulders of those who had gone before me. Whether as pastors who had served over the years, or the people who had faithfully gathered and served in the church. On one occasion, it dawned on me that a pastor who had served led the people to appreciate and respect him and the pastoral office. What a blessing he provided me – well before he retired and even before years later I came on the scene. I didn’t create the high level of respect. But I certainly benefited from it.

How much more significant are the gifts of God – which come to us without any work on our part. Jesus turns the disciples’ attention away from their success at casting out demons, to the blessing that their names are written in heaven.

But there is a danger in receiving these gifts for which we did not work. God speaks to his people in Deuteronomy about this danger. When we receive these gifts by God’s grace, we must be careful not to forget that they come from God. He is the Giver of so many good things: great and good cities that you did not build, and houses full of all good things that you did not fill, and cisterns that you did not dig, and vineyards and olive trees that you did not plant—and when you eat and are full. 

Our eternal salvation – names written in heaven – and our earthly wellbeing – homes, vineyards, food and drink to enjoy – both come from God. He is the only One who gives these things. He may mediate them through others – like the disciples casting out demons. But he is the source. He is the One whom we should fear, love and trust in him above all things.

After reflecting on Job’s anger and bitterness in yesterday’s devotion, I was glad to see that Psalm 23 one of today’s readings.

David wrote this psalm which has been a favorite of many, and has been studied extensively. It is even the subject of at least one book by W. Phillip Keller, A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23. His key thoughts:

1. “The Lord is my shepherd” means complete trust and contentment. We don’t look to others for protection, provision, or direction. God provides that to us, and perfectly so in Jesus, the Good Shepherd.
2. “He makes me lie down in green pastures” requires the shepherd’s intentional care. God is not aloof or uncaring. He has his eye on us and will take us to his perfect place of rest and peace.
3. “Even though I walk through the valley…” is about the Shepherd’s presence, not the absence of danger. We must never ignore the real dangers of the world’s ways. But we can rely on God’s ultimate victory over all our enemies. Forever.

To those three key thoughts, I would note that a change takes place when we move from green pastures to the valley of the shadow of death. In that second place, we stop talking about God. We talk to God. “He” becomes “You.” It is good to voice our confession of faith. It is encouraging to others to express our hopes out loud. It is very good to talk to God. He is open to our words, thoughts, anxious thoughts, and urgent cries. Especially in those moments of fearful challenges God’s direction and protection are so very precious.

We may not wish to consider the implications of being a sheep, but knowing we have a Good Shepherd is a precious truth to hold. And that shepherd laid down his life for the sheep, and then took it up again, and promises that we can be with him forever.