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?
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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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