Accelerated Depreciation
So God heard their groaning; and God remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Exodus 2:24 NASB
Remembered – American Christianity is unique in its stress on the victorious life, its expectation of rescue at any moment, its theology of personal salvation, its assumption of assured deliverance, and its spiritualization of Kingdom battles. In American Christianity, the specter of duplicitous motivations strikes terror in the hearts of religious men and women who are convinced that production of inner spiritual attitudes will guarantee winning ways in the world.
The Jewish perspective is different. In the Hebrew paradigm, perseverance is paramount. Righteous deeds are redemptive regardless of inner motivation, fulfilling the mitzvot is a sign of victory even if it results in death, and life here and now has much more meaning and priority than the confusing and opaque idea of life after death. The Hebrew paradigm is about reward and punishment, worked out in the daily walk.
In American Christianity positive and tranquil relationship with God is supposed to produce success in the world. But apparently someone forgot to tell that to Moses, David and the prophets. In the Bible, victory often takes more than a single lifetime. Most followers of YHWH never see the day of vindication. They follow His instructions for living because they are His instructions, not because following them will bring about a happy life.
The Hebrew verb zakar principally describes actions that bring something to mind. But this isn’t simply a cognitive exercise. It’s not like remembering that the capitol of Paraguay is Asunción. Zakar is both personal and relational. To remember is to “take to heart” with the intention of acting upon the matter. This creates a biblical paradox because it seems as if God takes a very long time to take things to heart. It took centuries for God to “remember” His covenant. Generations of people were born and died during Egyptian bondage. God didn’t act quickly. The same circumstances apply to the Flood, the Incarnation and now to the Second Coming. The Bible focuses on straight-line depreciation while it seems that our contemporary flavor of Christianity prefers accelerated depreciation. We want to get to the finish line fast. The Bible doesn’t seem to be in much of a hurry. Perhaps we should reflect on the protracted nature of God’s view of history. Perhaps the program is just a bit bigger than our need for instant attention. Perhaps it is enemy infiltration that has convinced us that God should remember according to our measurements of time. Moses asked the right question when God told him that he would bring the people out of Egypt. He just didn’t understand the question he asked. “Who am I that I should do this thing?” Yes, well, you are the one God chose. I wonder if that’s enough for us.
Topical Index: remember, zakar, time, Exodus 2:24
There was Moses that was chosen, then there were the generations (4, I think) that were also “chosen” to bear up under increasing persecution and disfavor with the people whom they were dwelling among. It’s often hard (for me, at least) to keep focused on the long term work of God, ie the working out of sin and unrighteousness, especially considering that even in the “distant translations” of the Word of God, we still get more than a glimpse of who we are in Yeshua the Messiah. I’m learning that eternity starts now, and everything I do pertains to it now. It may be easier in times of persecution or in the face of obvious evil to say, “though He slay me, yet will I trust….” but how about in the day to day “slow grinding down” of righteousness and everything good? Can I say I trust Him now? He’s good and there’s no other.
God is faithful to His promises and His Word, but often it seems awfully delayed. Perhaps Bob Dylan is right; the answer is blowing in the wind. Only is it coming or going?
Yep.
“We want to get to the finish line FAST”. Skip, others, so much truth in this Hebrew Word Study!
Americans in general want to do everything instantly; I would like to say especially the younger generations, but then there is my 82 year old husband of 58 years that I repeatedly say to, you are not on the basketball court running with the ball to get if off for someone else to shoot, or as the guard to shoot it yourself. Slow down and THINK-IN ALL AREAS– YOU ARE NOT 20 YEARS OLD! SLOW DOWN IN EATING, DRIVING, DO IT CORRECTLY–RECALL, REMEMBER THE IMPORTANT THINGS, AND APPRECIATE WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNED THROUGH THE YEARS!——
But here, in this e-mail, I need to FOCUS ON WHAT I HAVE BEEN INTENDIND TO DO FOR A FEW WEEKS. WILL SOMEONE HELP ME FIND, OR THAT PERSON HERSELF, A LADY WHO SENT IN A PRAYER REQUEST FOR FINANACIAL HELP– –AND THEN STATED SHE RECYLED USED CLOTHES TO SEW AND MAKE THINGS TO SALE. I WANT TO GET IN CONTACT WITH HER. It was approx three months or so ago that she wrote.
I am a seamstress ( not professional or to make money– but for the necessity of it and then learned to love it) in many areas, and have fabrics, good garments, etc. etc. that I will box up and send her, if I can contact her personally. I am sending my personal e-mail so we can discuss her preferences of items, and what she prefers to work with and use: ex: doll clothes, baby quilts, hand work of embroidery, jackets–out of good used fabric, throws, quilts— just some of the things I have extra stuff for. LaVaye/Ed melshad@cebridge.net THANKS AND BLESSINGS IN THE FULLEST OF THE HEBREW MEANING—–
Her name is Monica Lacy. She lives in Cortex, CO. Her email is ironduck2000@yahoo.com
THANKS A LOT SKIP ! I AM E-MAILING HER NOW. L.B.
This is such a needed message and not one preferred by most. But it is what has been taught in my past ‘christianity’ and why coming into truth in deeper ways is somewhat challenging. Those who are searching for Him with all their heart will never settle for anything but the truth even if it shakes our present level of understanding. Our spirit man will respond. LOVE (YESHUA) draws me deeper
“Perseverance is the action of hope.” This is from your TW article on 11/5/10 (“Who Wins the Race?”) and it has stuck with me! Thank you, Skip, for your faithfulness in shedding greater light on the written Word of the LORD.
Thanks for this reminder during these 50 days of being dilligent to count the omer (and learn to be dilligent in all that I understand of the Torah). After I have done my small dilligent part I must just watch to see God give life to the plants that produce fruit! And as some fruits mature at the beginning of the harvest season (barley), so also other fruits only mature at the end of a season(olives and pomegranites).