RABBONI...which is to say, Master

Barb and I are reading the “One Year Bible” this year. Yesterday and today’s passage from the Old Testament is dealing with Moses confrontation with Pharaoh. The death of the first born will be tomorrows reading, and not to many days ahead we will read about the people that witnessed God’s wonderful and powerful displays of power as they turn in distrust and begin to complain to Moses and against God.

I used to scratch my head in dismay and wonder how in the world a group of people could be so blind to the hand of God and His blessings. Yet I realize more and more everyday that we are not so different from them. You and I are on the other end of the spectrum, in that we have had the blessings of God for so long we forget how blessed we really are. We live in a country that thrives on “boot strap” theology and thinks there is really little you can do for the poor that won’t just march right out of their poverty to success. Example of a few exceptional folks are always given as examples of those who made it out and therefore serve as an excuse to do nothing and expect the same from all.

Then to make matters worse you have the Health and Wealth gospel preachers with their opulent life styles whose basic message is that your financial status is a matter of faith. There message is one of give to get as if God with holds his blessings until you plant a “seed” gift---in their pocket by the way.

The scriptures are filled with verses that deal with our responsibility to help the poor. And it is not that we don’t do some things. We start programs and have places we can send folks that need help, but does this remove our individual responsibility to do something? Could it be that there are blessings and rewards from God that are missed when we don’t do what He says when it comes to the poor. Could it be that we, as Israel, miss so much by not trusting the Father? We are familiar with the passages in Proverbs and Psalms, but this one is from the prophet Isaiah 58:6-11

6 “No, this is the kind of fasting I want:
   Free those who are wrongly imprisoned;
      lighten the burden of those who work for you.
   Let the oppressed go free,
      and remove the chains that bind people.
 7 Share your food with the hungry,
      and give shelter to the homeless.
   Give clothes to those who need them,
      and do not hide from relatives who need your help.

 8 “Then your salvation will come like the dawn,
      and your wounds will quickly heal.
   Your godliness will lead you forward,
      and the glory of the Lord will protect you from behind.
 9 Then when you call, the Lord will answer.
      ‘Yes, I am here,’ he will quickly reply.

   “Remove the heavy yoke of oppression.
      Stop pointing your finger and spreading vicious rumors!
 10 Feed the hungry,
      and help those in trouble.
   Then your light will shine out from the darkness,
      and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon.
 11 The Lord will guide you continually,
      giving you water when you are dry
      and restoring your strength.
   You will be like a well-watered garden,
      like an ever-flowing spring.