Why are we told they made bricks? What it tells us is that they were becoming
more self-sufficient, that they no longer simply relied on things like stones
to build with, natural things provided by the Lord. They could exert more control over their
environment, build according to their own plan rather than working with
God. The temple was not to have dressed
stones, masons weren’t needed to shape the stones, the Lord provided all the
material for its construction and it was ready-made for the job. Here, the intention is to make a name for
themselves that will reach into heaven, so even God can be impressed with them,
“lest we be dispersed over the face of the earth.” Not only was arrogance an issue, the desire
not to fill the earth but rather the heavens, is disobedience to the first
commandment. The Lord’s solution was to
confuse their languages and they were then dispersed over the face of the
earth. He was concerned that they had
become one people and this was only the beginning of what we could do through
complete cooperation and a single vision.
Does the church today share the vision of God? If so, why are we accomplishing so little?
This is my favorite chapter in John’s Gospel. Jesus didn’t have to pass through Samaria, He
chose to. Most Jews would have taken the
long way around to avoid Samaria and the Samaritans. They were a hated people because they claimed
to be the true Israel. They had
separated themselves from the Jews prior to the building of Jerusalem and the
temple. They believed they had an older
claim to be the truly obedient ones, worshipping in the right place and if
provenance were all that mattered, they were right, their worship center was
older but it wasn’t the place God chose.
The woman is there at mid-day and that is a tip something is wrong, women
came early to draw water for the day to avoid the heat. She spoke to a man, a stranger, and a Jew, so
she is unconventional and probably less religious than other Samaritan. Jesus is unconventional in His behavior with
her as well, she likely thought He was flirting with her, women wouldn’t expect
strangers to talk with them. Her
response is to the Samaritan/Jewish divide even though she is clearly not
really part of her own people. She even
points out the provenance of the well, “our father Jacob” gave us this well, a
not so subtle jab at who is the real Israel.
Jesus, however, sizes up the situation concerning her presence at the
well and knows her pain and by offering water from within that will no longer require
her to come here alone, draws out her deepest desires but the fulfillment of
that desire will only serve to further isolate her. That is not His plan.
God made an oath or covenant promise to Abraham to bless and
multiply him. Abraham received the
promise “having patiently waited.” I am
glad we have the entire story of Abraham so that we can know that patiently
waited doesn’t mean perfectly patiently waited.
It is a blessing to know that during this season of waiting Abraham took
matters into his own hands and made a mess of things on one occasion and lied
to two different rulers on other occasions and laughed when he was told that he
and Sarah would conceive in their old age.
Waiting isn’t easy and patience is not natural to most of us. The Lord, however, has promised on oath that
He will return and swallow up death forever.
While we wait we have been given something to do, build His kingdom over
the earth. Let us commit anew to that
work rather than building our own kingdom.
For the love of God is
broader
Than the measure of our mind;
And the heart of the Eternal
Is most wonderfully kind.
Than the measure of our mind;
And the heart of the Eternal
Is most wonderfully kind.
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