The men must have sat there with Abraham for quite some
time. The dough had to be worked out,
the calf slaughtered and cooked, all the preparation for the feast would have
taken some time. Abraham's initial
promise was "a morsel of bread" after which they could pass on and
continue their journey. He didn't just
meet them, he ran to meet them and bowed to the earth in greeting. Does Abraham recognize his visitors or is he
this way with everyone, calling himself "your servant" and putting on
such a spread for all passers-by. It
seems quite likely that he knew something about these three men doesn't
it? Sarah's reaction to the announcement
is no different from Abraham's in the previous reading, she laughed, it seemed
so ridiculous. The story ends strangely
doesn't it? Why is the story of Sodom
right here at the end of this beautiful moment?
Jesus walks on water and no one asked the "how"
question when they follow Him, they only want to know when He came across. The disciples know but they don't seem to
tell anyone. Jesus sorts out the entire
crowd's motives very quickly. Why are
you following? That is the truly
important question, nothing else, why.
They are following not because they saw a sign that pointed to something
greater but because of the bread, because of the food and anyone who will put a
chicken in every pot will get elected to higher office. His questioning of motive is something we
should absolutely take to heart. Why are
you seeking Jesus? Are you seeking
because you want something earthly or because you want something eternal? God is always on the move, always calling us
higher and we allow ourselves to be satisfied with lower things. His response to them seems drawn from Isaiah
55 - Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your
labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is
good, and delight yourselves in rich food. Incline your ear, and come to me;
hear, that your soul may live…" The
sign of food points to something more, in the same way the woman at the well
ultimately understood that it wasn't water Jesus was talking about. They seem to be spiritually dense.
In the old covenant there was no sacrifice for
"deliberate" sins, what were known as sins with a high hand,
premeditated sin. This writer, Paul,
James and Peter all speak of the importance of endurance. Frequently we hear them asking of those who
began well but now falter, what happened to you? Endurance is only possible by living from the
power of the Holy Spirit, we don't have faithfulness in us. Abraham is amazing in that he persevered for
so long awaiting the promise of God to be realized. The man's faith endured, all the way to the
mountain where he was willing to sacrifice his son. Endurance is based on what we make of the kingdom
of God, is it the prize towards which we run or do we run for something
else. Maybe it is time to read Pilgrim's
Progress again lest we are tempted to take a break from running and enjoy
something less than the promised reward.
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