I wanted to dive into the cloud covering bar Levi but I felt immobilized and as though my six feet were firmly glued to the menorah. What was going on in there? My curiosity was pushing against its limits. Though I had never seen it before, the cloud was strongly familiar. Why? Think; think----. Wait; hadn't God manifested himself to the ancients as a pillar of cloud to lead them by day in the desert? Of course; you knew that, Noah. But, old boy, you can't be faulted for being confused. After all, how often have you been in the presence of God before? Well, everyday, sort of, as a matter of fact. Yes, that's true but------. Stop! Quit arguing with yourself before your brain turns to porridge. Maybe if you'd noticed bar Levi's slippers were out from under the cloud you wouldn't have become so befuddled.
"Tell me, son of Levi, do the rich, the powerful and the leaders of my people treat them well? Do they have compassion for the weak, the sick, the elderly, the poor, the children and those on the fringes of society?
"You know, Lord."
"I am quite aware of what I know. I'm asking for your observations."
"My observations lead me to say there is little or no compassion forthcoming from those in control. They desire recognition in the marketplace and the Temple and hearing their name praised is precious to their ears. How they love being pointed out on the streets as someone of importance. They expect the highest seats at feast tables and they never tire of seeking after this world's goods."
"Just as I have noticed. Do you think I may require too much from my children?"
"No, Lord," bar Levi replied. "Your prophet Micah said, 'He has shown you, O man, what is good: And what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God?' If we do these things we keep the covenant and the Law."
"Yet," the Lord said with a sigh, "Israel has apparently found that doing these three things consistently is much too difficult for them. To do them requires change and personal sacrifice. This they are not willing to do. In the first place it requires an admission that they need to change. They would be insulted at the suggestion that anything in their lives is wrong. They would say they 'are children of Abraham' as though that entitled them to do as they pleased.
They have not heeded my prophets. Time after time Israel has called out to me in their distress. When I answered and delivered them they promised to obey Me but instead they soon drifted off into idol worship and concerns for their own affairs."
"But," bar Levi said. "When Messiah comes all that will change for the better. They will finally become the people who will be worthy of you. The people will welcome Messiah with praise and adoration. Love, peace and compassion will abound throughout the world. Each person, to the farthest edges of society, will have significance in the eyes of his neighbor because they will know they are all equal in the sight of God and are all loved equally by You."
For several minutes, but what seemed an hour to bar Levi, there was no response to his glowing forecast. He felt his enthusiasm slowly fading as a sense of foreboding took its place. It was not to be. Then the Lord spoke
"You are to say no more to your colleagues or to Noah about Jesus," the Lord said. "Jesus will declare himself in due time. Eventually, Noah will play his part; minor and seemingly insignificant though it will be. In the meantime, though he has memorized the Scriptures, guide him in depth through the writings of Moses and the other prophets. Do not force-feed him. Let him arrive at his own conclusions.
Until just before Noah's death, he has been loaned a mind, will and emotions. In other words: a soul. Now he has a voice and, generally, those of his kind who have heard him speak, want nothing to do with him. He is different and other flies, without understanding, become frightened, angered or threatened by his strange utterances. The majority are indifferent, they ignore him and go about their lives as usual. Noah is not defeated in his loneliness and rejection. He soon realized where his abilities came from and submitted himself to Me and dedicated himself to learning My ways. I am more pleased with that than all burnt offerings and the works of ten thousand who cry 'Lord, Lord,' but who have yet to seek and abide in My ways. Nurture Noah. One year from now I want him to be studying the Messiah prophecies of Isaiah."
"I hear and will obey, Lord," bar Levi said.
From my perch on the menorah I saw the cloud suddenly evaporate. Al bar Levi stood, his back to me, head lowered. After a moment or two he raised his head, slid his feet back into his slippers and turned toward me. I was not prepared for the sight of the golden glow covering his face and his brilliantly shining eyes. I almost lost my grip on the candelabra.
"Noah," bar Levi said in a voice saturated with awe. "I've been in the very presence of God."
Overcome by bar Levi's appearance and the powerful holy aura still in the room I blurted out: "What did He look like?"
"I only heard His voice. Otherwise I would be stretched out dead on the floor."
"How foolish of me," I said sheepishly. "I knew that." I felt like kicking myself with all six of my legs. "Can you share anything He said?"
"Yes. You are to diligently study the scriptures with my guidance Together, we shall extract the full meaning of God's words."
"I'm ready."
"In all fairness you should know that, when the time comes, you will be bereft of your extraordinary
abilities. You will die as an ordinary fly," bar Levi said, a hint of sadness in his voice.
"I am not the least bit dissuaded," I replied. "Nor do I have any regrets. I understand who I am in God. He knows me by name and He cares about me individually. What more could I ask from the gift of life He has given me? I rejoice in the certainty that I am part of God's plan."
"Noah; you have more wisdom in your tiny body than in most of Israel," bar Levi said quietly.
Friday, July 29, 2011
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Noah, the Jewish Fly Chapter 4
As Al bar Levi approached I could tell by his grin he had spotted the two Pharisees scurrying in the opposite direction. I hitched a ride on top of his turban for what turned out to be a two block journey to his house. The Pharisees had said enough for me to know that bar Levi was very likely the one I was looking for. Or, has God picked him out? Hm. That's kind of presumptuous. Why would God take even the least notice of me?
At his house we passed through a gated wall into a courtyard cooled by a fountain and shaded by two palm trees. Inside, a male servant met us in the entry, removed bar Levi's sandals and washed his feet, dried them and put house slippers on his master. That looked like it would be refreshing for my six feet also but I wouldn't have survived even the gentle scrubbing. We moved on into the study where the rabbi placed the two scrolls, he had carried from the Temple, on a large table and his coin bag in a cabinet. He selected, and ate, a few dates from a brass plate presented by a female servant. The dates looked delicious and I was sorely tempted to get a nibble but summoned enough will power to resist. Maybe later. After the servant retired and the rabbi was seated I hopped over to the top of a nearby empty seven-branched candle holder. I took a deep breath and thought,"Well; I guess this is as good a time as any to introduce myself.."
"Al bar Levi," I said softly, my voice quivering.
Bar Levi slid from his chair and knelt with his palms and forehead on the floor. "Here I am, Lord," he said.
"Uh,---It's not the Lord, Rabbi," I replied. "It's me, Noah."
"Noah?" Bar Levi raised himself to a sitting position, still on his knees. "Where are you?"
"Over here; on the top branch of the menorah."
"I can't see you. Are you a spirit?"
"No, I'm not a spirit. I'm a --uh--fly."
Using the table top for support, bar Levi pulled himself up to his feet. He smoothed his robe and took two steps closer to the source of the voice he had heard. Leaning forward he squinted at the candle holder.
"Well so you are," he chuckled. "You had me going there, Noah."
"You don't seem at all surprised that a fly can talk."
"Is anything too hard for God?"
"Well no; of course not. But why do you think God is involved in this meeting?"
"Surely you remember the story of Balaam's donkey speaking to Balaam," the rabbi said.
"I do," I responded. "I'm also reminded that Balaam wasn't surprised to hear his animal talking."
"God opened Balaam's eyes so he could understand why the donkey spoke to him."
"Do you think God will open your eyes? And/or mine?" I asked,
At that moment I heard a sound like distant thunder; a compelling sound unlike anything I had ever experienced. From bar Levi's stricken expression it was evident he knew the sound was not due to an approaching storm. A cloud enveloped the rabbi and he immediately fell to his knees again in his former pose. From then on until the thunder ceased and the cloud dissipated, I didn't speak nor did Iunderstand any thing that transpired between the intermittent thunder and bar Levi, now hidden within the cloud.
"Arise, Al bar Levi. I already know you are my devoted servant. You don't need to demonstrate. Besides you're getting too old for that up and down business." The voice was calm and gentle.
"Lord, I am not worthy that you should come to me," the rabbi mumbled.
"Do I need an invitation to come to you?"
"Oh, no. Heaven forbid----I mean,------goodness gracious I don't know what I mean."
"Calm down, son of Levi. I merely want to discuss Noah the fly with you. Why do you think I have visited you?"
"You know, Lord."
"Yes, I know. Since you have not had time to get acquainted with Noah, I should like to point out some of his attributes and characteristics that I find very pleasing; more pleasing than all burnt offerings. I also have some instructions for you."
Chapter 5 in the next blog. What do you suppose God would find pleasing about Noah?
******************************************************************
Now, a completely different but spiritually related matter:
I recently had open heart surgery; quite unexpected since there was no heart attack and symptoms were mild. So mild in fact that I, like most men, would have dismissed them. But not my faithful wife. Off to the family doc and then to the cardiologist. Multiple tests, poking and prodding. Serious deterioration of aortic valve. Go to Houston for conference with noted heart surgeon. Valve must be replaced. We left his office at 5:00 pm, I was in a hospital room by 7:00 pm and wheeled into operating room around 7:00 am the next morning. I told the surgeon I had changed my mind and wanted a tummy tuck instead. He had great sense of humor. Three days in Intensive Critical Care Unit, then back to hospital room. All was well.
Two cows were talking about a steer who had recently been placed in the corral with them.
Bessie said to Lucy, "He's such a bore. All he wants to talk about is his operation."
My operation is just the setting for the point of this story. This is the point: From the moment it was apparent an operation was necessary I did not have one nano-second of fear, anxiety, worry or concern about the proceeding or the outcome. Why? Because I had perfect peace in Jesus Christ.
This was not a case of my bravery or "manning up" or a show courage. The peace had nothing whatever to do with my personal resources. Instead I was totally assured by the scripture: "To live is Christ; to die is more of Christ." I was in a win-win situation; I couldn't possibly lose.
I am no spiritual giant and God is no respecter of persons to single me out. I only know that Christ is exactly who he says he is. He has proven that over and over in my life and the lives of others.
John 14:27
John 14:21
At his house we passed through a gated wall into a courtyard cooled by a fountain and shaded by two palm trees. Inside, a male servant met us in the entry, removed bar Levi's sandals and washed his feet, dried them and put house slippers on his master. That looked like it would be refreshing for my six feet also but I wouldn't have survived even the gentle scrubbing. We moved on into the study where the rabbi placed the two scrolls, he had carried from the Temple, on a large table and his coin bag in a cabinet. He selected, and ate, a few dates from a brass plate presented by a female servant. The dates looked delicious and I was sorely tempted to get a nibble but summoned enough will power to resist. Maybe later. After the servant retired and the rabbi was seated I hopped over to the top of a nearby empty seven-branched candle holder. I took a deep breath and thought,"Well; I guess this is as good a time as any to introduce myself.."
"Al bar Levi," I said softly, my voice quivering.
Bar Levi slid from his chair and knelt with his palms and forehead on the floor. "Here I am, Lord," he said.
"Uh,---It's not the Lord, Rabbi," I replied. "It's me, Noah."
"Noah?" Bar Levi raised himself to a sitting position, still on his knees. "Where are you?"
"Over here; on the top branch of the menorah."
"I can't see you. Are you a spirit?"
"No, I'm not a spirit. I'm a --uh--fly."
Using the table top for support, bar Levi pulled himself up to his feet. He smoothed his robe and took two steps closer to the source of the voice he had heard. Leaning forward he squinted at the candle holder.
"Well so you are," he chuckled. "You had me going there, Noah."
"You don't seem at all surprised that a fly can talk."
"Is anything too hard for God?"
"Well no; of course not. But why do you think God is involved in this meeting?"
"Surely you remember the story of Balaam's donkey speaking to Balaam," the rabbi said.
"I do," I responded. "I'm also reminded that Balaam wasn't surprised to hear his animal talking."
"God opened Balaam's eyes so he could understand why the donkey spoke to him."
"Do you think God will open your eyes? And/or mine?" I asked,
At that moment I heard a sound like distant thunder; a compelling sound unlike anything I had ever experienced. From bar Levi's stricken expression it was evident he knew the sound was not due to an approaching storm. A cloud enveloped the rabbi and he immediately fell to his knees again in his former pose. From then on until the thunder ceased and the cloud dissipated, I didn't speak nor did Iunderstand any thing that transpired between the intermittent thunder and bar Levi, now hidden within the cloud.
"Arise, Al bar Levi. I already know you are my devoted servant. You don't need to demonstrate. Besides you're getting too old for that up and down business." The voice was calm and gentle.
"Lord, I am not worthy that you should come to me," the rabbi mumbled.
"Do I need an invitation to come to you?"
"Oh, no. Heaven forbid----I mean,------goodness gracious I don't know what I mean."
"Calm down, son of Levi. I merely want to discuss Noah the fly with you. Why do you think I have visited you?"
"You know, Lord."
"Yes, I know. Since you have not had time to get acquainted with Noah, I should like to point out some of his attributes and characteristics that I find very pleasing; more pleasing than all burnt offerings. I also have some instructions for you."
Chapter 5 in the next blog. What do you suppose God would find pleasing about Noah?
******************************************************************
Now, a completely different but spiritually related matter:
I recently had open heart surgery; quite unexpected since there was no heart attack and symptoms were mild. So mild in fact that I, like most men, would have dismissed them. But not my faithful wife. Off to the family doc and then to the cardiologist. Multiple tests, poking and prodding. Serious deterioration of aortic valve. Go to Houston for conference with noted heart surgeon. Valve must be replaced. We left his office at 5:00 pm, I was in a hospital room by 7:00 pm and wheeled into operating room around 7:00 am the next morning. I told the surgeon I had changed my mind and wanted a tummy tuck instead. He had great sense of humor. Three days in Intensive Critical Care Unit, then back to hospital room. All was well.
Two cows were talking about a steer who had recently been placed in the corral with them.
Bessie said to Lucy, "He's such a bore. All he wants to talk about is his operation."
My operation is just the setting for the point of this story. This is the point: From the moment it was apparent an operation was necessary I did not have one nano-second of fear, anxiety, worry or concern about the proceeding or the outcome. Why? Because I had perfect peace in Jesus Christ.
This was not a case of my bravery or "manning up" or a show courage. The peace had nothing whatever to do with my personal resources. Instead I was totally assured by the scripture: "To live is Christ; to die is more of Christ." I was in a win-win situation; I couldn't possibly lose.
I am no spiritual giant and God is no respecter of persons to single me out. I only know that Christ is exactly who he says he is. He has proven that over and over in my life and the lives of others.
John 14:27
John 14:21
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