Grains of Sand

Genesis 4:23b, 24 “ I have killed a man for wounding me, a young man for injuring me. If Cain is avenged seven times, then Lamech seventy-seven times.” Lamech was Cain’s great-great grandson. Considering how long people lived in those days it is likely that Cain was still alive when Lamech said these words. During his lifetime how many times did Cain tell the story behind his exile, and at what point did it get to be his parents’ fault, his brother’s fault, God’s fault? When did the story began to be about how he had been wronged and how justified he had been in killing his brother, Abel? From Lamech’s words we get the idea that there was no longer any sense of wrongdoing associated with murder. History somehow got twisted. On Cain’s part there was no acknowledgment that he had offended God, that he was wrong in killing his brother, that God was justified in the punishment that He meted out—in fact, merciful in the judgment He meted out in banishing Cain. All God go...

Reading: Luke 17, 18 “ So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty’ ” –Luke 17:10, NIV. A number of years ago this verse came up in a Bible study I was doing with a group of ladies. I got a surprising reaction from one of them. She took serious exception to the word “unworthy,” declaring that all that she was doing “for the Lord” made her very worthy–in God’s sight and in the sight of everyone who should be admiring her dedication. Not too much farther over in Luke Jesus tells the story of the Pharisee and the publican who came to pray in the temple. The Pharisee was full of himself, and went away without God’s forgiveness. The publican recognized his unworthiness and went away rejoicing and at peace with God. Jesus said: “ For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted ” (Luke 18:14, NIV). Unhappily, the gal in my Bible study never did learn that ...

I hover on the edge of anger. No, correct that—I'm well over the edge. There is always someone, or something to blame. And I can quote chapter and verse to justify the rage I feel. Anger stems from not getting what I want. People disappoint. Things don't work as programmed. Schedules get adjusted without consideration for me. Even I don't function as anticipated. Yes, I can place blame easily and legally embrace my anger. Then, slowly but certainly, a truth overtakes me, sneaking underneath the barriers and defenses that anger erects. If uncontrolled anger is the result of not getting what I want, who is ultimately to blame? God, who gives, takes, and withholds until the time is right, is the ultimate "culprit." Can I justify blaming the One who knows what's best for me, who knows my needs better than I know them myself and who has always supplied what is necessary to satisfy them? I know the answer. And somehow in understanding who my anger is really directed...