The Angel of the Lord and the Burning Bush

 

God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘The LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations. Go and gather the elders of Israel together and say to them, ‘The LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, has appeared to me, saying, “I have observed you and what has been done to you in Egypt, and I promise that I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt to the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, a land flowing with milk and honey.”’ (Exodus 3:14–17 ESV).

 

Today we continue to explore “down the rabbit hole” as we look at the Angel of the Lord and the Burning Bush (Exodus 3:16). Actually, our reading today covers four verses with the central verse of God’s love and care tucked in the middle of the paragraph. It is amazing the “Angel of the Lord” would speak to Moses out of a bush that was burning, but not consuming any of the bush itself; however, it is even greater to see the care and concern that God expresses to Moses for the people of Israel. He was deeply concerned about their affliction in the foreign land of Egypt. His promise of redemption is wondrous indeed. Before we go much further it may be of interest to try to identify who the “angel of the Lord” is. Some have pointed to other uses of this name in the Scripture. He finds Hagar in the wilderness and gives her a promise concerning her son, Ishmael (Genesis 16:7–12; cf. 21:17–18). He stops Abraham from sacrificing Isaac (Genesis 22:11–18). He delivers a message to wayward Israel (Judges 2:1–4). He commissions Gideon and performs a miracle for him (Judges 6:11–24). He brings a plague on Israel during David’s time (2 Samuel 24:15–17). He appears in a vision of the prophet Zechariah (Zechariah 1:11–13; cf. 3:1–10). It is also of interest that this angel does not appear to anyone in the New Testament. For these reasons there are many scholars who identify him as the preincarnate Christ.

 

Certainly, that could be the case; however, we can not say with absolute certainty more than this is a very special being who is delivering the message of God to Moses. It is at this point that we find the most comfort and encouragement. There are four things that seem to pop out for me.

 

First, notice this is the first time we are introduced to the precise name of God. God tells Moses, "I am who I am," identifying Himself as "I Am." In Hebrew it is אֶהְיֶה (Ehyeh). It is most often pronounced Yahweh or Jehovah, though the Jews never spoke this name aloud and substituted “THE LORD” in the Septuagint, which is the Greek translation of the Old Testament. There is no doubt as to who is giving Moses the message of deliverance.

 

Second, we also see the Covenant Heritage as God connects His identity to the historical patriarchs—Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—establishing this name as an eternal memorial for all generations. The people of Israel, though suffering are not forgotten nor abandoned by God. And, now He is going to deliver them from their bondage. That is our promise as well. As believers in Jesus, we have this “new covenant” built on the old covenant that God has delivered us from sin and death through Jesus.

 

Third, notice the mission to the Elders (v. 16): Moses is commanded to gather Israel’s leaders and relay that God has seen their suffering in Egypt and has visited them. Isn’t this a precursor to the birth of Jesus. God in human form comes for one purpose. Jesus’ mission was to deliver the people of God. And, so He has!

 

And fourth there is the promise of deliverance (v. 17): God vows to bring the people out of oppression into a rich land occupied by the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. When we see Jesus celebrate His last Passover Meal with His disciples we se the extension of that promise to all of God’s chosen. What a promise! This is the heart of the Gospel!

 

Down the Rabbit Hole with Don

 

I promise I will get to the Scripture very quickly, though this series I’m beginning today requires a brief introduction. It is one I’ve never done in any of the sermons or Bible studies I have written before. It has been referenced by some other writers as “the 3:16s of the Bible.” With my penchant for going a bit deeper in my personal study and reflection, I have in the past taken the time to read and examine all the Scripture passages found in the third chapters and sixteenth verse of each. It really is quite fascinating how impactful each of these verses are; especially when you realize that the original writings of the books included in our canon of Scripture did not contain chapter or verse separations.

 

And, of course the title, “Down the Rabbit Hole with Don,” reflects both the meaning of the idiom and the hope that it will be as interesting and encouraging to you as it has been for me. The idiom itself means entering a complex, bizarre, or unexpected situation, or getting deeply absorbed in a chain of tangential research. My hope is that this will cause us to look at each of these verses in a way that will be unique in the fact that we don’t often study “a little deeper” when reading the Scripture. Oh, just to be clear at the outset, this caricature of me popping out of the rabbit hole was created by AI.

 

Our first 3:16 comes from the first book of the Bible. It is a part of five books written by Moses as God gave him the inspiration. I’ve included the entire paragraph, though there is much to be learned from the first of these verses. Here’s the text:

 

To the woman he [God] said, “I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you.” And to Adam he said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, ‘You shall not eat of it,’ cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground,            for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” The man called his wife’s name Eve, because she was the mother of all living. And the LORD God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them. (Genesis 3:16–21 ESV).

 

What is often cited in this verse is the judgment of pain in childbearing. God tells the woman that childbearing and pregnancy will involve severe pain and hardship as a consequence of the Fall. There are no serious dissents to this very clear message. What was intended to be an easy, natural part of God’s creation. After God finished creation He simply said, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” (Genesis 1:28 ESV). God designed reproduction to be desirable and easy. Though I have not experienced this part of the judgement, I have been a witness to three births, all different, and none easy for Mary.

 

Now we come to the second part of the judgment: "Your desire will be for your husband…" Scholars debate the exact meaning of the Hebrew word תְּשׁוּקָה (teshuqah), which translates here as “desire”. There are some interpreters of the Scripture who see the meaning of this word as a relational or romantic longing. They interpret this as a deep emotional or physical draw toward her husband. I am not one of those interpreters. After all, that would not be a judgment. That was God’s original design when He created. I see it as a power struggle between men and women in a marriage relationship. When compared to Genesis 4:7, where desire seeks to master, it is an adversarial urge to control or dominate her husband. While this verse deals with the woman, the application of dominance rather than cooperation and communication applies equally to husband and wife.

 

Go down this rabbit hole a bit further with me. As I have counseled hundreds of married couples, both before marriage and during the struggles that often follow marriage, understanding this gives us the basis to apply the grace of God and learn to live relationally rather than positionally, especially in our communication with one another.

 

This verse is another example of God giving us the information we need to live the life He desires for us free from conflict and trial, even though we live in this fallen world. It is an expression of love from our heavenly Father. Notice the last verse of our reading. God knew they were ill equipped for the world they were being thrust into as a result of their sin, so He made them clothing to cover them. This is both a practical action as well as a prophetic action. It is a picture of our spiritual need to be clothed in the covering of Jesus, which could only be possible through the shedding of His blood and death. God is a God of love! What a message in this first of the 3:16s!

 

The God Who Comforts

 

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort. (2 Corinthians 1:3–7 ESV).

 

Paul the Apostle was born and raised a Jew (cf. Philippians 3:4–5), and his Jewish heritage comes out in today’s reading. The Apostle’s opening benediction of this letter is similar in form to the benedictions used in the Jewish synagogues during the first century. These benedictions, like the one Paul pronounces, offered blessings to God for His great mercy. That is no surprise, because the Old Testament frequently highlights the merciful nature of God (ie.: Exodus 34:6). However, Paul does not merely repeat the Jewish benediction; rather, he makes it distinctively Christian, referring to God as the “Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (v. 3).

 

In this benediction Paul also speaks of the Lord as the “God of all comfort” (v. 3). Indeed, the idea of comfort from God appears frequently in these opening verses and the rest of this epistle. The Apostle does this intentionally. The Prophet Isaiah highlights the comfort that the Lord will provide when He inaugurates the messianic age (cf. Isaiah 40-66), so Paul’s stress on divine comfort is a subtle reminder that believers are living in the messianic age. Although the fullness of this age awaits the return of Christ to bring the new heavens and earth (cf. Revelation 21:1–22:5), we are in the era of His salvation even now and should expect to receive great comfort from the hand of God.

 

Paul also that the comfort of God comes to us “in all our afflictions” (v. 4). Here, “afflictions” refers to the inner turmoil and trouble we feel from external difficulties, particularly those difficulties that we face from a world that is hostile to Christ. Later in this epistle, Paul warns against the false apostles who troubled the church at Corinth and called Paul’s Apostleship into question because of his suffering for the sake of Jesus (cf. 2 Corinthians 11:1–12:10). Paul will expand on the idea that suffering actually demonstrates the validity of his Apostolic call, but here the idea that the Lord comforts believers in their afflictions is a reminder that suffering for the gospel is part of true Christian discipleship. Moreover, we should note that the comfort promised is for the inner turmoil we experience when we suffer. God never promises to free us from suffering entirely. Instead, He promises to be with us in our suffering to comfort us and to give us the grace to endure (cf. Deuteronomy 31:8; 2 Corinthians 12:8–9).

 

Suffering should be understood as a gift from God. It is not that pain in itself is a good thing; rather, as we share in Christ’s sufferings—as we suffer for His name’s sake—we are granted the privilege of sharing in God’s comfort. This, in turn, allows us to comfort others (vv. 5–7). John Calvin comments on today’s passage that “The riches of the Spirit … are not to be kept by us to ourselves, but everyone must communicate to others what he has received.” God allows us to suffer for Christ so that we may encourage others who are suffering for Christ. This means that our suffering can actually be used for the benefit of others.

 

This is the kind of God we have. He is a Father who does indeed comfort us in a way that is inexplicably good!

 

Joy in the Journey

 

I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is your shade on your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore. (Psalm 121 ESV).

 

Mary and I are home in Texas after visiting our beloved Smoky Mountains. I have finished all the unpacking and needed to write a bit to begin posting today. I am, as usual, at a loss as to where I want to go in November. Thinking about “going” took me along a mental journey of where I had just been. That thought took me to our last day in Gatlinburg and a final visit to The Village. We usually park near the back entrance (pictured here). It’s a bit closer and less crowded than the entrance off the parkway. The entire area is closely laid out and an easy walk, even with Mary needing to use the wheelchair now for longer jaunts. It was a very pleasant walk along the brick-paved walkway browsing through the shops and stopping for a Donut Friar cinnamon twist and a fresh brewed cup of coffee (of course, Mary had the coconut frosted donut with a coke). It was a perfect fall day, just the two of us enjoying life! That memory then took me to Psalm 121, our reading today.

 

Many people look forward to going to favorite places year after year. There is a familiar journey, with anticipation building as landmarks are passed along the way. Finally, there is the joy of seeing what has changed and what has stayed the same. For the ancient Hebrew, going to the temple for feasts must have been something like this, yet for them the journey was likely far more difficult than our annual journeys are for us. Psalm 121 is a “Song of Ascents” that many of them would have sung as they traveled, and it gave them the hope that the Lord preserves His people throughout their pilgrimage.

 

To get to Jerusalem, many Israelites had to walk hundreds of miles. They had to pass through valleys and dry places, alongside cliffs and past caves. They walked through wilderness areas where there were wild animals and danger from bandits. Many would come by way of the paths along the Jordan River valley, which meant they later had to climb thousands of feet in elevation to get to the temple. As the psalmist considered that difficult climb, he wrote, “I lift up my eyes to the hills, from where does my help come?” (v. 1). It is a question for anyone facing a journey, a trial, or even death itself.

 

The right answer is found in the next verse: “My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.” This line is really a tremendous confession of faith. The hills were big, the challenges sobering. Yet the psalmist confessed that his help came from Jehovah, the truly existing God, who keeps all His promises and who is the Maker of the heavens and the earth. He is the Lord of the hills and the valleys. This is a firm profession of faith in almighty God.

 

It is an appropriate confession of God’s people as they start a week, and it ought to be our confession as we draw ever nearer to the heavenly throne of God. Without Him, we can do nothing (cf. John 15:5). In the person and finished work of Christ, who has ascended to the true Holy of Holies, we find our help and our hope. Even more, He has promised to send the Helper, the Holy Spirit, for the advantage of His disciples (cf. John 16:7). The Lord sustains, watches over, protects, and preserves His children. Though many would face dangers, and all eventually would die, the psalm ends with an eternal promise: “The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore” (v. 8). Think of your journey, whether in your special place or along the dark valleys and know the help and strength of the Lord!

 

The Smiling Scarecrows

 

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:31–39 ESV).

 

I am writing this devotional while traveling home from the Smokies. Yes, our respite has ended for this year and by the time this posts we will be home in Texas. And, it is scheduled for Halloween (I know… what could go wrong… LOL!) I’ve decided to also attach a photo from the Village decorations in Gatlinburg. There are pumpkins and “scarecrows” placed throughout the city. Fall mums mixing with the foliage colors are beautiful. That reminded me of a graceful approach to Halloween, or All Hallow’s Eve.

 

You may remember that in Christianity, the true meaning of Halloween is All Hallows' Eve. For some it is a sacred evening of preparation and vigil that precedes All Saints' Day (November 1st) and All Souls' Day (November 2nd). The word "Halloween" is a contraction of "All Hallows' Eve," meaning the night before All Hallows' (All Saints') Day, which commemorates the “saints. Historically this day was established or popularized in the Western Church by popes like Gregory III and Gregory IV, the season honors all saints, martyrs, and the faithful departed who have entered Heaven. The Communion of Saints emphasizes the connection between the Church Militant (living believers), the Church Triumphant (saints in Heaven), and the Church Suffering (souls in Purgatory) according to the Romans Church. Early traditions were developed in Europe like "souling,” which involved the poor going door-to-door collecting "soul cakes" in exchange for prayers for the dead. This became the practice of modern trick-or-treating.

 

With all of that in mind, I want to draw your attention to a clear declaration of the Scripture. Believers have nothing to fear from this world or the next. The Apostle Paul says, “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (v. 31). All the scary things that we are struck with this evening are no match for the work of Christ on our behalf! Go ahead… put a smile on all your scarecrows!

 

 

The Colors of Fall in the Smokies

 

Say among the nations, “The LORD reigns! Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity.” Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it; let the field exult, and everything in it! Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy before the LORD, for he comes, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness, and the peoples in his faithfulness. (Psalm 96:10–13 ESV).

 

The setting for the photo I’ve attached is looking toward the south from the John Oliver Cabin in Cades Cove. Two things are apparent as I think about this place at this time. First, though life was hard during the days in which the Olivers lived in this idyllic setting, a cup of coffee from their front porch toward this view must have given them great satisfaction. The harvest was in, they had stored food for the winter soon coming, and a moment of reflection was easy. My second thought is what that reflection might have been. The colors of fall are have often been seen through Christian symbolism and biblical themes, representing God's creation, the character of Christ, and the natural rhythms of life and faith. For me, I am taken to our reading today from Psalms. Additionally, I think of three distinct truths.

 

First, Fall reminds me to wonder. This time of the years the creativity of God just shouts at you: “Look at these amazing things!” The creativity, diversity, detail, and stunning beauty of God are just everywhere in this season. I know that the colors of the season are different in other parts of the world. Where I live (North Texas) the colors are short-lived and certainly duller than in the Smokies. However, it is still a loud reminder of the wonder of God’s creation. No wonder David wrote: “The heavens declare the glory of God and the sky above proclaims His handiwork.” (cf. Psalm 19). Creation is amazing! And it’s all made by a God who never stops creating.   

 

Second, Fall reminds me to trust in the Lord. When I feel the crisp autumn air and see the kaleidoscope of colors and smells, I am reminded that God is with me. That God is in this. His hand is on creation—sustaining, renewing, and restoring. God isn’t a dead stone statue that sits on an altar somewhere; He is a living, personal, and creating God! His presence exists in the cycle of seasons and the changes around us. And He reminds me that He is worthy to be trusted. He reminds me that His promises to renew and restore creation are just as true for me.

 

Third, Fall reminds me of the sacrifice of Jesus on my behalf. Inevitably this beautiful time will fade into winter’s chill and silence. The changing colors of leaves reminds me that death is happening. Winter is coming; death is a part of life. Just as the leaves are slowly fading unto death, so too am I. That is not me being maudlin. It is me reminding myself that heaven is waiting for me; and, it is greater than anything every imagined in the mind of man (cf. 1 Corinthians 2:9).

 

It’s a sobering thought—that just like Fall, none of us lasts forever on this earth. But here is where the beauty of this season comes in. It also reminds me that death isn’t the end. One man broke through the death of winter and brought new life! Jesus spent three days in death – much like the brown leaves I see withering in the dirt.  But just like the trees will come to life again in the spring, Jesus came back in everlasting glory.  Jesus broke the curse of death for you and me.

 

Death has no sting; winter has no bite. With Jesus we will flower again in the eternal glorious presence of God. What a promise!

 

It Is Well with My Soul

 

But now thus says the LORD, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.” (Isaiah 43:1–3 ESV).

 

My body clock hasn’t had time to really change since we’ve been in the mountains. I still awaken about sunrise no matter how late I might have stayed up the day before. That was a bit before 7 am today. My regular routine is slightly different when I’m in the mountains, though some things remain. One of those “different” things is actually walking our dog, Teddy, on his leash for his mourning routine. Usually, when I’m at home I let him out in our fenced backyard and let him take care of all his exploration for the morning on his own while I sit on the deck and meditate through my prayer list. Since there is no fenced area at the cabin we are staying in and there was a bear nosing around yesterday, I thought it best to walk him down the street. Walking back I was surprised with the vivid colors of sunrise across the river behind our cabin. I’ve attached a photo, though it does not do justice to the actual sight!

 

Well, I got to the cabin and came back inside, unleashed the dog, and turned on the television to one of my favorite YouTube channels that plays instrumental old hymns and the first one was “It Is Well with My Soul” with the Scripture verse across the screen from our reading today: “Fear not, for I am with you…”

 

You may not know the background of this great old hymn. It was written after traumatic events in Horatio Spafford's life. The first was the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, which ruined him financially. He had been a successful lawyer and had invested significantly in property in the area of Chicago that was extensively damaged by the great fire). His business interests were further hit by the economic downturn of 1873, at which time Spafford had planned to travel to England with his family on the SS Ville du Havre, to help with Dwight L. Moody's upcoming evangelistic campaigns. In a late change of plan, Spafford sent his wife, Anna, and their four daughters, Annie, Maggie, Bessie, and Tanetta, ahead while Spafford was delayed on business concerning zoning problems following the Great Chicago Fire. While crossing the Atlantic Ocean, the ship sank rapidly after a collision with a sea vessel, the Loch Earn, killing 226 people, including all four of his daughters. His wife, Anna, survived and sent Spafford the now famous telegram, "Saved alone ...". Shortly afterwards, as he traveled to England to meet his grieving wife, Spafford was inspired to write these words as his ship passed the spot near where his four daughters had died. Bliss called his tune Ville du Havre, from the name of the stricken vessel. Let me remind you of the lyrics:

 

When peace like a river, attendeth my way,

When sorrows like sea billows roll;

Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to know

It is well, it is well, with my soul.

 

Refrain

It is well, (it is well),

With my soul, (with my soul)

It is well, it is well, with my soul.

 

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,

Let this blest assurance control,

That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate,

And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

 

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!

My sin, not in part but the whole,

Is nailed to His cross, and I bear it no more,

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

 

For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:

If Jordan above me shall roll,

No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life,

Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.

 

But Lord, 'tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,

The sky, not the grave, is our goal;

Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord!

Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul.

 

And Lord, haste the day when the faith shall be sight,

The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;

The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,

A song in the night, oh my soul!

 

It is indeed… “well, with my soul”! All because of the grace and love of Jesus! Thank you Lord for the reminder today!

 

Headrick's Chapel

 

But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For “God has put all things in subjection under his feet.” (1 Corinthians 15:20–27a ESV)

 

Mary and I are still in the Smokies. The weather and fall foliage has been incredible. The picture I’ve attached today is Headrick’s Chapel, taken in Wears Valley, Tennessee, sometime ago. We’ve gone by this church many times on our way to Cades Cove. It is situated on a hill next to the main road. It cannot be missed by anyone travelling through this small mountain town. I haven’t stopped there, though I may before this trip is finished because of the “Legend of the Funeral Tree” that is associated with this church. It sits right on a curve high on a hill, surrounded on three sides by a beautiful, historic cemetery. Interestingly this iconic little church was born out of a literal bolt of lightning.

 

Throughout the 1800s, there was no church building there. Funerals were held entirely outdoors. Mourners would gather under the branches of a massive, ancient oak tree that stood in the cemetery to shelter themselves from the mountain rain and snow. But in 1902, a violent storm moved through the valley. Lightning struck the legendary "funeral tree," destroying it. According to the legend, it was “blasted to pieces.” Left with no shelter, the community knew it was time to build a chapel. A local named Peter Headrick donated the land, and the valley went to work. Because materials and resources were scarce, four completely different denominations joined forces to build it. They signed a unique deed that split up the weekends of the month so Baptists and Methodists could share the space in harmony.

 

Because it was designed and built to replace the funeral tree, community law stated that funerals always took priority over regular church services. Whenever a valley resident passed away, someone would climb up to the belfry and ring the heavy church bell exactly once for every year of the person's life. If the bell echoed across the ridges 82 times, the whole valley knew a long-lived elder had gone home. The chapel was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2001. No regular services are held there anymore, but that timeless bell is still tolled by valley residents to honor the dead.

 

Now, I don’t know if a bell will ring once for every year I’ve lived on this earth, but I know that my death will not be the end of my life! Our reading today clearly proclaims the victory Jesus has won on my behalf: “The last enemy to be destroyed is death” (v. 27). Bells, whistles, horns, maybe even an angel or two shouting “hallelujah!”… none of those things will matter as much as being taken in heaven to greet Jesus face-to-face and reunite with all those loved ones and friends who have already gone!

 

Now… every time I see this picture of Headrick’s Chapel, I can be reminded of that great day!

 

A Mama Bear and Her Cubs

 

But I am the LORD your God from the land of Egypt; you know no God but me, and besides me there is no savior. It was I who knew you in the wilderness, in the land of drought; but when they had grazed, they became full, they were filled, and their heart was lifted up; therefore they forgot me. So I am to them like a lion; like a leopard I will lurk beside the way. I will fall upon them like a bear robbed of her cubs; I will tear open their breast, and there I will devour them like a lion, as a wild beast would rip them open. (Hosea 13:4–8 ESV).

 

Mary and I have arrived in the Smokies! Earlier we were traveling though the mountains to 11crossover to Cherokee, North Carolina. We were hoping to see some of the bolder colors of fall… and we did! We also saw four bears in a tree near the road. Of course, I had to stop to snap a photo (attached) as everyone in the car admonished me not to get too close. It was a Mama bear and three of her yearling cubs. Black bear cubs stay with their mother for about 1.5 years, while grizzly/brown bear cubs stay for 2.5 to 3 years. The mother acts as a full-time teacher, showing her cubs how to dig for roots, find safe plants, fish for salmon, and tear open logs for insects. And for black bears, she teaches the cubs to scramble up tall trees with rough bark to rest or escape danger. A mother bear is notoriously protective ("mama bear") and will aggressively confront anything or anyone they sense and danger from toward her cubs.

 

In our reading today, God is warning the northern kingdom of Israel (often called Ephraim) of approaching judgment. We see the reason in the earlier verses of the reading (vv. 3-4). God reminds Israel that He rescued and provided for them in the wilderness, but once they grew prosperous and full, they became proud, turned to idolatry, and forgot Him. God uses fierce predator imagery—an enraged mother bear and a hungry lion—to illustrate the sudden, unstoppable, and severe nature of His discipline because His people broke their covenant with Him.

 

We would do well to understand the imagery in our culture. God has made a covenant with His children through Jesus. When we become apathetic toward our relationship and drift from His purpose and will. There are often serious consequences. Of course, I am not suggesting that salvation is lost; however, the fruit of that redemption can certainly be “torn apart.” This verse is also a warning to false teacher who lead others away from the Lord. God see these people as predators of His young and will not hesitate to fiercely confront them.

God instructs and protects us. Do not turn away from His love and care for anything else!

 

Kuwohi

 

Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man against whom the LORD counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit. For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Therefore let everyone who is godly offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found; surely in the rush of great waters, they shall not reach him. You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance. (Psalm 32:1–7 ESV).

 

This is the last devotional that I will write before going “live” in the Smokies. Today I am thinking of Kuwohi (formerly known as Clingmans Dome) is the highest point in Tennessee, the highest peak in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and the third-highest mountain east of the Mississippi River, sitting at an elevation of 6,643 feet. The name “Kuwohi” is the ancestral Cherokee name for this peak. For hundreds of years before European contact, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and their ancestors knew the mountain by this name, which translates to “mulberry place” in the Tsalagi language. It is considered a focal point of traditional Cherokee homelands. Cherokee medicine people historically climbed the peak to pray, fast, and seek spiritual guidance from the “creator” before returning to advise tribal towns. As you can see from the attached picture, there are some incredible views available from this point straddling the state lines between North Carolina and Tennessee.

 

Perhaps more interesting is the fact that this mountain was believed to be a prominent place for important council meetings held by the bears of the Smokies! Regardless of the truth of that assertion, we do know that during the forced removal and the Trail of Tears in the 1830s, the rugged, remote slopes of Kuwohi provided a hiding place and haven for Cherokee individuals and families who managed to stay behind in their native land.

 

That reminded me of our reading today. David in writing this psalm, speaks of the refuge we find in the forgiveness of the Lord. That is our only real “hiding place! Only in Him do we find a protective shelter, hiding place, and shield during times of trouble and distress.

Have you ever noticed someone who just has that inner peace about them when difficult times enter into their lives? They cannot be shaken because their joy comes from their personal relationship with God through Christ. They know Him as “Father,” and their hope is in the truth of their adoption as His children through faith in Christ. As children of God, they are forgiven of all sins. That is the kind of peace and a happiness the world knows nothing about. It is a peace that does not go away when flood waters and fires take our homes, when cancer is detected in our body, or when a tragic car accident takes the life of an innocent child. God’s peace and the happiness it brings are unshakable to those who find their refuge in Christ!

 

 

A Time for All Things

 

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace. (Ecclesiastes 3:1–8 ESV).

 

Once again I am compelled to write a devotional with a topic I am anticipating, rather than experiencing first-now at this time. At this writing, I am still a couple of days away from leaving for the mountains. As you may be aware this is the time of the year when the peak fall colors will be showing in the various trees of the Smoky Mountains. The picture I have attached is a picture I took in October, 2024. As Mary and I were traveling through the mountains we found a spot where we could pull off the road and stretch our legs a bit, while I also took a few photos of the colors. I am not a professional photographer by any means, though it is hard to deny the beauty captured in this shot. The yellows, oranges, and reds were vibrant as the trees began to prepare for winter. Looking at this photo and the anticipation of seeing it again brought to our reading today. There is a time for all things.

 

Seasons are not only a matter of weather. They also describe the chapters and circumstances we move through in life. I’ve noticed that the turning of the year often coincides with changes in our lives. Personally, I eagerly anticipate the shift from summer to fall. Most of the outdoor activities I enjoy take place at this time of the year. Though in the case of this year’s football season for Texas A&M, I must admit it has been a bit disappointing. Life’s transitions are similar. Some are exciting and welcome, while others are harder. Ecclesiastes uses seasonal language to describe this very reality. As the “Preacher” — the book’s main voice — puts it, “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven” (Ecclesiastes 3:1, ESV).

 

However, we must remember that all of these “times” are appointed, not an accident. The word translated “season” in our reading carries the idea of an appointed time. That’s an encouraging truth when we’re walking through a season we would not have chosen for ourselves. The season you are currently experiencing may feel accidental or unexpected, but it is not outside of God’s knowledge or care. It may surprise you, but it has not surprised Him.

 

Today is a good day, regardless of the circumstances, to remember the power of God, who loves each of us and works all things toward our good!

 

The Majesty of God

 

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun, which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy. Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them, and there is nothing hidden from its heat. (Psalm 19:1–6 ESV)

 

I am writing this devotional days ahead of our trip to the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. In fact, as you are reading this, if all goes according to plan, we should be arriving in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, at a cabin located on the Little Pigeon River which flows through the park. You may be familiar with this area of Tennessee. It is located just a bit from the border between Tennessee and North Carolina. Mary and I have been coming here for nearly sixty years, as we made our first trip a couple of years before we were married so that the North Carolina relatives could meet me. For a young man (really just a boy at the age of 19) who had never traveled farther from home than from Galveston to College Station in Texas, it was quite the adventure. You can see some of my amazement from the view on I-40 just east of Knoxville, Tennessee I’ve attached. As we made the turn I recognized the grandeur of mountains on the horizon, though I had no idea of what more was yet to appear.

 

Every time I see this first glimpse of this place so dear to us, I am reminded of our psalm today. It was written by King David to lead us to revel in the majestic handiwork of God in His creation. I have traveled to many parts of the world; however, this place seems to bring me closer to the sheer joy of knowing the Lord than any other.

 

I hope you have such a place. Regardless of where it is geographically, today would be a great day to remind yourself that the Lord is indeed a great God who loves us and has given us all that is necessary for redemption and restoration to an eternal relationship with Him. Today join me in singing another one of the psalms:

 

Oh sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things! His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him. The LORD has made known his salvation; he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations. He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises! Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of melody! With trumpets and the sound of the horn make a joyful noise before the King, the LORD! Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; the world and those who dwell in it! Let the rivers clap their hands; let the hills sing for joy together before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity. (Psalm 98 ESV).

 

Make a joyful noise to the Lord today! I can assure you Mary and I will be!

 

Jude - Contend for the Faith - Pt 8

 

Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. (Jude 24–25 ESV).

 

Jude does something surprising at the end of his letter. Many letters in the New Testament end with benedictions. We’ve become accustomed to the Apostle Paul saying something like this at the end of his letters, “Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” That’s a benediction from God to his readers at the end of the letter. And at the end of Paul's letters, we feel like we need that blessing from God, because usually in the second half of those letters he gives us some difficult challenges, some strong exhortations, some words calling us to action in the Christian life. And by the end of those words of exhortation, we need to rest on the power and grace of God, and so we are delighted to hear those words of blessing come: “Grace, mercy, peace.” Our heart is saying, “Amen, Lord. Yes, we need Your grace and Your mercy and Your peace.”

 

But, here we are with a doxology instead of a blessing. The doxology is a praise to God for His exclusive deity. Jude is reminding us that He is the only God. We bless God because He's the only God. This doxology is ascribed to the only God. And Jude is making this point: There is only one God. There is one God only. The Triune God of the Bible, Jude says, is the only God. Now that's not politically correct. But it's good, Christian theology, and it's plainly stated int the Scripture.

 

However, that is not Jude’s finale. He also draws our attention to the truth that He's not only the only God; He is God our Savior. Jude is reminding us that God the Father is our Savior. Now it's true that the New Testament refers to Jesus as our Savior fifteen or sixteen times, but the New Testament also refers to God the Father as our Savior on at least eight occasions. And that's the focus of Jude here. He is reminding us that the Father is the source of our salvation. And so the focus is on the love and the salvation of the Heavenly Father. And Jude is just reminding us that we must look to God the Father alone for our salvation, that we must trust completely that He is able to deliver. It's God and God alone who saves. It's our perversity to look somewhere else for salvation than the one, true God. And our God loves to save and He delights in salvation, and so we must trust in Him if we are to experience eternal life. And so, Jude praises God for His exclusive deity and because He alone is God our Savior. Now that really is good news!

 

Jude - Contend for the Faith - Pt 7

 

But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. They said to you, “In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.” It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit. But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh. (Jude 17–23 ESV).

 

As I have mentioned previously, one benefit of studying “The General Epistles.” The General Epistles (also called the Catholic Epistles or Catholic Letters) are a group of eight New Testament letters written to a broad, universal Christian audience rather than to a single local church or individual. They are: Hebrews; James; 1 and 2 Peter; 1, 2, 3 John; and Jude. Despite the diversity of these letters the unified message of the Gospel becomes clear. In today’s passage we find another good example of this unified apostolic witness, which Jude calls “the most holy faith” (v. 20).

 

Having warned us about what will become of false teachers (vv. 5–16) and that their existence was foretold by the apostles (vv. 17–19), Jude calls us to contend actively for orthodoxy by building ourselves up (v. 20). Commenting upon this passage, John Calvin writes that Jude means “… the foundation of faith ought to be retained.” In other words, believers are always to rest on the foundation laid by the prophets and apostles and to use their words alone to build upon it. This is in keeping with the apostolic command to long for the “pure spiritual milk” of God’s Word (cf. 1 Peter 2:2) and to supplement our faith with the godly characteristics described therein (cf. Galatians 5:22–23; 2 Peter 1:5–7). Moreover, building ourselves up in the faith is not something we do alone; it is also a corporate exercise, for we are to encourage one another in the truth (cf. Ephesians 4:15–16; 1 Thessalonians 5:11).

 

In addition to heeding the doctrinal and ethical admonitions of the apostles, Jude also exhorts us to “pray in the Holy Spirit” and keep ourselves in the “love of God” (vv. 20–21). We pray in the Spirit by being attentive to His instructions about God-glorifying prayer found in Scripture. Keeping ourselves in the love of God does not mean our efforts apart from grace secure redemption, for Jude understands we are kept by God for Christ Jesus (v. 1). However, while God’s redemptive work provides the foundation of our security, His Spirit leads us to take part in that preservation by devoting ourselves to fellowship with Him and His people (cf. 1 John 4:16–21).

 

Finally, Jude calls us to stand firm by waiting for the mercy of Jesus that leads to eternal life (v. 21). Eternal life is our present possession, but we do not yet fully experience it because we have not yet been fully sanctified or glorified. Eagerly anticipating this final act of redemption motivates us to stand firm, knowing our efforts to contend for the faith will not be in vain.

 

Building ourselves up in the most holy faith provides the content we need to refute falsehoods. Praying in the Spirit gives us the power we need to stand firm. As we keep ourselves in the love of God, our assurance of the truth of God grows and enables us more confidently to proclaim it. Looking forward to the mercy at the last day gives us hope that our faith in Christ will prevail!

 

Jude - Contend for the Faith - Pt 6

 

It was also about these that Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of his holy ones, to execute judgment on all and to convict all the ungodly of all their deeds of ungodliness that they have committed in such an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things that ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” These are grumblers, malcontents, following their own sinful desires; they are loud-mouthed boasters, showing favoritism to gain advantage. (Jude 14–16 ESV).

 

Our reading today mentions another little-known prophet, Enoch. It is another example of Jude, knowing his first readers not being inclined to give any supporting details. We can be sure, however, that the Holy Spirit’s inspiration included that in His plan for future audiences. So, we should begin with what we know historically. We do know that the period of time between the Old and New Testaments was marked by a great deal of international upheaval. The Maccabean revolt (ca. 164 BCE) ended the tyranny of Antiochus IV who defiled the Jerusalem temple. Israel subsequently enjoyed independence from foreign rule. This continued until 63 BCE when the Roman general Pompey made Palestine a part of the Roman empire.

 

Though prophets were silent during the intertestamental period, the Jews continued to produce many religious works. These works came to be known as the deuterocanonical books, and many of them, such as 1 and 2 Maccabees, are included in the canon of the Roman Catholic Church. However, many other works were produced at this time and were never recognized as inspired, even though they may have been used as devotional aids by some Jews.

 

One of these is known as the Testament of Moses and is the likely source for Jude’s description of the fight over Moses’ body (cf. v. 9). Jude’s reliance on an uninspired source immediately raises concerns for us. These concerns are only compounded by today’s passage. In verses 14–15, Jude quotes 1 Enoch, a pseudepigraphal (falsely attributed) work written between the third and first centuries BCE. This book is based on the enigmatic “Enoch” of Genesis 5:18–24, and was a favorite of the Dead Sea sect.

 

It is natural for us to then consider whether Jude viewed the aforementioned works inspired? If so, then we need to add to our Old Testament canon. If not, maybe Jude ought to be disqualified as an apostle for quoting an uninspired work as if it were inspired? Indeed, many in the early church had problems accepting Jude as canonical because of his use of these sources. But we need not resort to such a thing, for Jude’s use of this material does not mean he recognized these works as a whole were inspired. While operating under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Jude was led to include portions of these sources in his inspired letter. The apostle could distinguish the truths from the errors in these apocryphal books, and thus his use of a non-canonical writing is perfectly in keeping with the inspiration and inerrancy of his letter.

 

All truth finds its origin in God Himself. Therefore, we should not be dismayed that Jude quotes from sources not inspired by God. We can be sure Jude, under the superintendence of the Holy Spirit, was able to sift the wheat from the chaff in these non-canonical sources. Thus his letter, like all of Scripture, remains authoritative. Thank the Lord for giving us His Word and study it so that you may apply its truth to your life.

 

The message is clear. Jesus is coming and He will judge the living and the dead. Those that Jude singles out (“… the grumblers, malcontents, following their own sinful desires; they are loud-mouthed boasters, showing favoritism to gain advantage”) will face the wrath of the Sovereign Lord. Take care to stay away from such people! Contend for the one true faith!