God At Work

“The world is too much with us…” writes Milton. Many of us — myself included — wonder where God is during times of crisis. Will God ever move to comfort those carrying COVID, or those frustrated by socio-economic developments? Scripture to be read this weekend contains passages of assurance of God’s Presence during challenging situations.

We continue the story of the formation of the People of Israel, as they put Egypt behind them (for the most part) and wandered in the Sinai peninsula. In Exodus 17:1-7, we hear of how the thirsty pilgrims doubted that God would take care of them, until Moses struck the base of the mountain with his staff–God showed him where–and good water streamed forth. Did this convince them? Probably not the Back to Egypt committee, the first but not the last to say, “We’ve never done it this way before”. (Interesting reference to Wells Fargo here, but don’t get sidetracked.)

Paul’s fatherly advice to the Philippians, 2:1-13, is delightfully full of reminders to be imitators of Christ. Be “in full accord and of one mind….the same mind in you that was in Christ Jesus.” The disciple is to think beyond her own ambitions, thus to participate in the life and pattern of the group/ church/nation. As Jesus engaged life even to a horrible death, and entered into God’s fullness (“the name that is above every name”), so we Philippians are to understand that God is doing something wonderful in our lives whether we’re aware of it or not! This process of emptying begins when we respond to the Christ-light despite “the slings and arrows of daily fortune”.

Matthew’s Gospel remembrance tells of the now-renegade Jesus at the Jerusalem Temple during Holy Week (21:23-32). The credentials board asks him about his authority–“Who gave you the right to do all these healings and teachings? And what about the money-changers??” Jesus turned the question back on them (in rabbinic style) by asking where John the Baptizer got HIS authority: from God or from human origins. Was this also an occasion of God being at work?

So here are three instances of God turning the world as we know it upside-down. Who would expect water from a hidden spring in the middle of a desert? Who would expect that an outside-the-box-of-Jewish Law reformer and iconoclast should be exalted in heaven as part of the Godhead? Who would expect this Jesus to lay his life on the line for the good of the world? The Church may yet be the surprising alternative to the business-as-usual of the rest of the world…

In the process of unfolding, Horace Brown King

My encounter with lessons assigned to the upcoming weekend can be found every Tuesday at this space on Facebook; or at horacebrownking.com