Have you ever looked at a tapestry and marveled at how many different threads intertwine to compose the picture that you see before you?  If you turned the tapestry over and looked at the back, you may have been fascinated by the amount of threads needed to make the picture clear and precise.  But if you only focused on one particular thread in that weaving, you might never see the big picture.  The great covenants of the Bible have something in common with those threads.  If we only focus on one, we miss the beauty of the Big Picture and the blessings that all mankind receive from these covenants.

            The covenant blessings actually begin in Gen. 3:15, when God promises that a "seed" will come from Eve and that the seed will cause a fatal wound to the seed of the serpent.  Two important aspects should be noted concerning what we call the "Adamic Covenant" (a fancy way of saying the Covenant God made with Adam through Eve).  First, it is unconditional, that is only God Himself is required to make sure it is fulfilled.  And secondly, it is made with mankind in particular, in that Adam and Eve were the first of all humanity, not a particular nation or ethnicity.

            Gen. 12:1-3 (the Abrahamic Covenant) another great covenant is woven into the tapestry.  In this promise we learn that Abraham is not the seed, but through his seed, that is his descendants which are represented by seed, all people will be blessed.  This is a key point, because it is the foundation of all the promises we inherit when we, as Gentiles, profess faith in The Seed (who we later learn is the Messiah, Jesus Christ).  Although Abraham is childless when he receives this promise from God, we can follow the fulfillment of this promise and its continued fulfillment through the story of Isaac (Gen. 15:1-6; Gen. 21; Gen. 26:1-5; Gen. 26:24) and Jacob (Gen. 28:12-16).  This promise is repeated several times throughout the final chapters of Genesis, the most notable is Gen. 35:9-13 where Jacob's name is changed to Israel and the promise moves from a person to a nation.  The covenant remains "unconditional" in that God will be the one to bring it to pass.  A nation is a large entity to pull one promise out of, especially when that nation is formed by not 1, but 12 sons!  So the conduit of the promised Seed moves to a particular tribe, Judah (Gen. 49:8-12).

            The thread of this promise will not emerge again until 2 Sam. 7:8-16 (the Davidic Covenant), when a descendant of Judah, takes the throne.  Here God makes an astounding promise to David, Judah's descendant, that unlike other earthly kings, David's descendant will sit on the throne forever.  Humanly speaking this is impossible.  And just to confirm that the fulfillment of this promise is not dependent on human initiative both David, and his heir apparent Solomon, die as do all the generations after them.  So within the eras of Israel's history the promise of The Seed submerges once again and it does not resurface until many generations later.

            Now we'll take a great leap forward and land in Luke 3:23-38 which concerns the genealogy of Jesus Christ.  Luke's record is very careful to include not only David's lineage, but it continues to go all the way back to Abraham AND Adam.  Luke wants you to understand that God has always intended the promise of Gen. 3:15 to be a promise made for everyone.  It was a promise that was made when Israel as a nation was only a glimmer in God's eye, so the promise is not particular to one people group, but all inclusive.  Luke not only makes this one of the themes of his Gospel, it is also the main theme of the Book of Acts which was also written by him.  Later on, when Paul writes to the Romans (a group of believers composed mainly of Gentiles) he goes to great lengths to call attention to the all-inclusiveness of the Gospel and its blessings to all who believe it.  Romans chapter 4 is a monumental tribute to Abraham's descendants, not only the ones in his "fleshly" family tree (his physical descendants) but those in his "spiritual" family tree; those of us who exhibit his spiritual attributes of faith.  It is a fitting conclusion to the thread of the Promised Seed and the Big Picture of salvation which is woven in the Covenant tapestry of Scripture.  There is The Promised Seed (Jesus), but also a harvest of seed who believe, and that's you and me!
 
Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.
https://www.annhlefevre.com; Olivetreeann@mail.com; https://www.linkedin.com/in/annhlefevre; https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre

            I have a picture which always brings a comment from those who see it.  It shows a young couple in a sporty convertible stopped at a T-shaped intersection.  A map is spread out before them as they stare ahead at a massive wall of street signs pointing in all directions and making absolutely no sense.  The picture states, “Life just isn’t that simple anymore”.  The photo brings a smile because people commonly believe it’s true.  As our culture moves further and further away from established guidelines life really does appear to be complicated and difficult to navigate.  Life isn't simple anymore.  It appears that there is no sense of right and wrong.  Values and ethics have been blurred and judging a person's character is out of style, therefore anyone can be a “role model” or the reason for destructive behavior.

            Why do people shy away from making character judgments?  In many cases it is because no one wants to be considered judgmental or biased.  But this is not so in the Bible.  The Wisdom literature of the Old Testament has a clearly defined description of a godly man (or woman) and has no problem distinguishing between the godly and ungodly by those terms and labeling them accordingly.  Psalm 1 describes a godly person as one who “meditates” (literally chews and digests) on the Word of God, that is, the Law.  As the godly man becomes intimately attuned to God’s teachings, his life is blessed.  He is fruitful and secure.  For example, the word “streams” (vs. 3) in Hebrew means canals or channels of water, depicting a garden which is cultivated, not left to the whims of nature. The godly man is secure because his life is cultivated by God’s Word. The godly man knows God and God knows him because his thoughts and actions are tended by God.  And this is true for the godly woman as well.

            It doesn’t take any stretch of the imagination to see that Jesus was the ideal of the righteous man described in Psalm 1.  He was so in tune with the Law, He fulfilled every aspect of it (Mt. 5:17-18).  Jesus made it clear that He has come to do the will of the Father (Jn. 6:38-39; Mt. 26:39).  He not only did this out of love and obedience to His Heavenly Father, but also to demonstrate to us the life God demands of His children.  Jesus did not change the intent of God’s Law.  He demonstrated what the Law looked like when it was lived to its fullest.  In fact, the Apostle John states in 1 John 2:3-6, if we truly love and know Him, we will follow God’s commands just as Jesus did.

            The extent to which we live by and follow God’s commands, demonstrates our understanding of the way of the righteous.  But we do not need to find ourselves at the mercy of a wall of confusing road signs like the forlorn couple in my old photograph.  We have God’s instructions right at our fingertips through His Word.  And we can see how obedience to the Word will look by following Jesus.  If you read through Psalm 1 carefully you will notice a progression in the words walking, standing, and sitting as well as counsel, seat and way.  These words show us a growing level of intimacy and the exchange of thoughts and ideas.  The godly man directs these towards God; the ungodly towards those who mock Him.  The emphasis in the godly life is on the Law; not just knowing it, but doing it because we love God.  Jesus understood this and was obedient to His Father’s will, even to the point of death (Phil. 2:8).

            I have taken many trips to unknown places as a "Soccer Mom".  Setting out for tournaments and matches was always an adventure in the days before GPS and cell phones.  But I always had printed directions and a map.  Without them my chances of finding our destination and arriving on time would have been questionable.  I always read the directions and studied the map first.  Sometimes I’d read them more than once and although GPS has made finding your destination much easier, I still prefer looking at a map!  The point is always to familiarize myself with the directions so that I won’t have to worry about them while I am driving. 

            God’s directions are always clear and direct unlike that massive wall of highway signs encountered by that hapless couple.  If you are truly meditating on them as the words of Psalm 1 indicate and moving along the path described by its actions (walking, standing, sitting) there will be no question on the route your life should take.  This is the result of the meditations of the godly man/woman.  Christ is the fullest expression of its practice.  First John 2:3-6 then becomes our life’s ultimate mile marker.  As we meditate on and follow God’s Word we will be able to recognize when we are traveling along the Right Way or veering off track.

Ann LeFevre, M. Div.
https://www.annhlefevre.com; Olivetreeann@mail.com; https://www.linkedin.com/in/annhlefevre; https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre                                        

            Have you ever looked at a picture and although you knew it was impossible, you had to believe it was true because your eyes were seeing it?  I have a picture which I took of a clear glass ball sitting on my wooden floor.  I know the ball is sitting directly on the floor because I placed it there.  But if you were to look at the picture, you’d be convinced it’s floating just above the surface.  I am not sure of the science behind why the ball appears to be floating, and I know it isn’t because I personally placed that ball on my floor, but that’s what it appears to be doing.  It’s an optical illusion.  Optical illusions can be achieved in a number of ways but they all have one thing in common.  Optical illusions are visual brain teasers.  Some are geometric; others are illustrations which have hidden objects, or subjects that change appearance depending on which side of the brain is active when you view the picture.  Whatever shape or form they take, optical illusions are just that- illusions.  They are not what they appear to be.

            The Bible tells us there is a grand and dangerous optical illusion which we encounter in life and we run into it on a daily basis.  It is the temptation of sin.  Proverbs is so mindful of this illusion it repeats the warning two separate times (Prov. 14:12; 16:25).  Sin looks harmless at first glance, even good at times, but in the end, its reality is death.  And like optical illusions which dazzle our eyes and override the brain's rational process, our eyes are the instruments which introduce both godly and sinful thoughts into our lives.  Jesus illustrated it in this way, "The lamp of the body is the eye; if therefore your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light.  But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness.  If therefore, the light that is in you is darkness, how great the darkness!"  (Matt. 6:22-23).  Simply put what goes into your being through your eyes has a direct effect on both your heart and mind.  So, as the children's song goes, "Be careful little eyes what you see".

            One time, when my sister and I were in high school and our parents were out for the evening, we stayed up late to watch a Rod Serling’s Night Gallery.  The show was a compilation of stories that had a dark edge to them.  I've never really liked watching scary things, but my sister had talked me into it.  In spite of the fact I didn’t really want to watch it, I found myself unable to turn away as the story progressed.  It just so happened to be a dark and stormy night, so the stage was set for our nerves to be on edge as well, yet we kept watching.  As the climax approached and the fright factor increased we were both mesmerized and at the same time trying to will ourselves to turn off the TV.  At the exact moment our fears reached peak level a bolt of lightning and a clap of thunder pealed across the heavens and sent us into each other's arms followed by a frantic dash to the TV's OFF button!  We never watched another episode.   What had appeared to be fun, turned out to be anything but fun.  It was an optical illusion.

            I am no longer tempted to watch scary movies.  I’ve learned they give me nightmares or cause a tremendous amount of anxiety.  But it doesn’t mean I’m not prone to believing an optical illusion or two when it comes to sin.  The apostle Paul told the Corinthian believers that everyone is prone to the temptation of sin (1 Cor. 10:13) but it is not a hopeless situation.  He also reminded them that the Lord will always provide a way to escape that temptation.  For some it is an accountability partner, for others it is prayer, and for others it is literally removing themselves from the situation which produced the temptation in the first place.  Whatever it takes is whatever you must do and the Lord has given you the ability to do it.  While support from others, physical action and prayer are powerful tools in battling temptation, there is still one tool that is even stronger.

            The greatest scene of temptation in the New Testament is the encounter between Satan and Jesus (Matt. 4:1-11; Mk. 1:12-13; Lk. 4:1-13).  No matter what Satan enticed Jesus with, fame, power or pleasure, Jesus steadfastly refuted those temptations with God's Word.  It is the most powerful lens by which to view the optical illusion of sin.  Jesus knew that Satan's promises were optical illusions and what was true for any aspect of life could only be found in God's Word.  Like a lamp turned on in a dark room, God's Word dispenses light which shows everything for what it truly is.  If you are being fooled by the optical illusion of sin, immerse yourself in God's Word and surround yourself with His people (Ecc. 4:9-12).  This is the way a disciple keeps his/her eyes healthy.

Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.
https://www.annhlefevre.com; Olivetreeann@mail.com; https://www.linkedin.com/in/annhlefevre; https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre

          There is a decorative term in painting and flooring called "distressing".  This process involves deliberately removing paint from the furniture in small sections or putting dings and dents in the floor on purpose to give it a well-worn, rustic look. “Stressing out” something works in decorating, but no one really wants to deliberately introduce stress into their lives.  Yet, time and time again, we often put ourselves in that position by taking on too many activities and responsibilities.  Sometimes stress comes into our lives not by our own doing rather the current events and circumstances we find ourselves in introduces unexpected stress we’re not prepared to handle.  We find ourselves struggling to deal with what life has tossed our way.  Life makes us feel as if we are caught in a hurricane and we can’t wait for the storm to be over. 

            If there ever was a man who understood pressure and stress, it was King Hezekiah.  Hezekiah became king of Judah, the Southern Kingdom of Israel, in 715 B. C.  His first act as king was to remove the many high places built to worship idols and destroy pagan worship artifacts.  Because of his devotion to Yahweh, the Lord blessed him with military victories against the Philistines.  Shortly before Hezekiah became king, the Northern Kingdom of Israel had fallen to the Assyrians.  They were brutal warriors and ruthless conquerors that carried the people of the Northern Kingdom into exile and slaughtered the ruling class.  After the fall of the Northern Kingdom, the Southern Kingdom carried on but their security was always tenuous.

            Fourteen years into Hezekiah's reign, Assyria turned its attention toward Judah and according to 2 Kings 18:13, Sennacherib, King of Assyria, seized all of the fortified cities with the intent of also taking Jerusalem.  Sieges involved forcing all the inhabitants of a city to remain behind the protection of the city wall.  Sieges could last for years, sometimes even a decade.  Eventually though, either the city wall was breached, or the inhabitants starved to death from lack of food and water.  To surrender was to accept a gruesome death or a demoralizing form of slavery.   In the year 701 B. C., Sennacherib attacked the city of Lachish and destroyed it.  With the threat of attack on Jerusalem mounting, Hezekiah sought help from Egypt, but any assistance from the Egyptians died when Hezekiah’s envoy was attacked and massacred at Elteqeh.

            The trouble with stress is that it often sends us seeking solutions in the wrong direction.  And for Hezekiah, seeking assistance from Egypt was asking for failure.  In the long run this solution only added stress to the situation, rather than removing it.  When we encounter stress in our own lives how often do we seek solutions that don't resolve the problem?  We look for solace in entertainment, exercise, possessions and/or food.  We think if we relax with a good book, enjoy a bowl of ice cream or join a gym our stress level will decrease.  The trouble with these remedies is that although they may be helpful at first, in the long run none of them will relieve the effects of stress in our soul.  We are in the same way as Hezekiah turning to worldly solutions for a spiritual problem and like Hezekiah we won't find the answer in those earthly things.

            The devastating and brutal destruction of Lachish can still be seen in its ruins today in a layer of soil so thickly soaked with blood it remains red in color.  As word reaches Hezekiah of the loss of this massive but key city, an emissary of Sennacherib also arrives to taunt and ridicule the king for seeking help from Egypt.  The appearance of these messengers could have added more stress upon the beleaguered king. But this time, Hezekiah turns to the right Source for stress relief- the Lord Himself.  In a humble prayer, Hezekiah seeks help from the Lord and his prayer is answered (read 2 Kings 18:13- 19:37; Is. 36 & 37 for the whole story) in a miraculous way (Is. 37:36-38).

            Where will you seek relief from stress when you feel it threatening to disrupt your life?   Truth be told, stress will always be a factor we will deal with.  It can come from any number of sources: family, jobs, unstable times, neighbors, children, and so on.  How will you respond to the pressure?  Will you seek outside help or will you turn to The Helper?  If we learn anything from the life of Hezekiah, it’s that seeking help from the Lord can result in experiencing the unexpected ways He will help to relieve our stress.  So where will you turn the next time you encounter stress (Ps. 9:10; 54:4; 56:8-11; 105:1-4; 121:1-8; Is. 55:6; Jn. 14:16-18; Heb. 13:5-6)?

Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.
https://www.annhlefevre.com; Olivetreeann@mail.com; https://www.linkedin.com/in/annhlefevre; https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre

            Even in ruins Ephesus is an impressive site.  Ergin, our tour guide, described Ephesus as a metropolis, calling it the “Big Apple of Asia Minor”.  It certainly had similar features to many big cities, busy streets, theaters, a public library, places of worship, two thriving markets and even a brothel that advertised its location with a carving (that included directions!) in the street.

            Life here was probably quite pleasant as long as there were no uprisings to disturb the peace of Rome.  What strikes me most as I take pictures of the ruins is the sophisticated culture the early church was up against.  The people that lived in this city had a public sewage system, paved streets, stunning architecture and heated their homes.  They had jobs and families too.  But their culture was also steeped in pagan worship practices, amoral indulgences and greed.  Knowing this makes me realize the fortitude the Ephesian believers needed to turn away from this lifestyle even more impressive.  It is not hard to see then how the word “ekklesia” (eck-clay-see-uh) became associated with the church.  The Christian lifestyle involved a drastic change from the usual course of life.  Christians saw themselves as “called out” (the literal meaning of the word) from their former life (just like Israel had been called out of slavery in Egypt) to a new life in Christ.

            Luke notes in Acts 19:25-27 the impact the Gospel had in Ephesus.  He records the words of Demetrius, a silversmith whose business and livelihood were affected by the conversions.  “Men, you know that our prosperity depends on this craft, and you see and hear how not only in Ephesus but throughout nearly the whole of Asia this fellow Paul has won over and led away a great number of people telling them that gods made with hands are not gods at all.  There is risk for us that not only our business may come into disrepute but also that the shrine of the great goddess Artemis may come to be held of no importance.”  Demetrius’ compelling speech seems altruistic at first glance, but careful scrutiny of its content reveals his true motivation; he was losing money!  So his passion concerning his culture and tradition is suspect.

            Demetrius and his fellow silversmiths gathered to save their incomes, however, the Christians gathered to find strength in their fellowship.  Their actions were similar to philosophy students of the day who were commonly seen in the market places, gathering around a particular philosopher in a communal lifestyle to study and learn.  But the difference between a philosophical convert and a convert to Jesus is a supernatural one which Paul addresses in many of his letters.  To the Ephesians he wrote:  For by grace you have been saved through faith, and not that of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not as a result of works, that no one should boast.  For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus, for good works which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them (Eph. 2:8-10).  Paul recognized the churches he planted, like the one in Ephesus, were not of his doing, but God’s.  He wanted the believers to recognize this truth as they came together in fellowship.

            The believers of Ephesus, the "called out ones", stood before the culture of their day like David before Goliath.  They appeared small and ineffective before a gigantic foe.  But those individual believers were not alone- they had each other.  It became imperative to Paul that the church remain unified.  If they succumbed to division, they would become ineffective.  Paul knew with God’s help the believers in Ephesus would succeed.  “I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, entreat you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing forbearance to one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” (Eph. 4:1-3)  We too are challenged to remain true to Paul’s teaching here in our church; to strive for unity among our brothers and sisters in Christ.  Our concerns for each other should not be driven by the media or current events, but rather our attention and desire should be focused on fulfilling those good works were created to do.  If being Christ-like is our goal and we remain unified in that goal as the early church did, we will have just as great an impact on our culture as they did upon theirs.

Ann LeFevre, M. Div.
https://www.annhlefevre.com; Olivetreeann@mail.com; https://www.linkedin.com/in/annhlefevre; https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre

            Do you remember the “Name Game” song?  It was a game that took a name through several variations making silly rhymes by changing the beginning letter of the name throughout the song.  I’ll probably mix up the order here, but it went something like this- “Hannah Hannah bo banna, fe fi fo fanna”…and so on ending with the words “the name game”.  I think someone even made a hit record out of it during the 50’s or 60’s.  I remember singing it always produced several rounds of laughter.  While this game was merely for fun, names in the Bible were quite significant and never a laughing matter.  Names not only identified a person, they revealed something about the essence of that person as well.  Take the well-known names of Jacob and Esau for example.  Esau’s name was not only associated with his fiery red hair, but his earthly nature.  Jacob’s name described the matter in which he was born (grasping at his brother’s heel) and also his conniving nature throughout most of his life (Gen. 25:19-34)

            Names were never in short supply at Caesarea Philippi.  Herod the Great called it Paneasar Panias after the god Pan.  It became Banais when the area was under Arab control because Arabic has no “P”.  When Philip the Tetrach made it his capitol, he called it Caesarea after Caesar and Philippi after himself!  But King Agrippa II named it Neronias after the emperor Nero.  Kings came and conquered, constructed, and consigned names to Banias (the name that has stuck the longest and what the area goes by today), but they merely represent segments in history.  Of all those rulers who attempted to change its name, none really left a legacy which stuck.  Yet this place, this site, is the place where Jesus makes a point to be concerned about names (Mt. 6:13-18).

            Banias is peaceful now.  The land remains undeveloped since it is a national park.  The gentle pools of water which are situated not far from the impressive rock cliff that overlooked the hub of the city belie the chaos that once was part and parcel to the region.  It is hard to picture the wall to wall temples and shrines which once dominated the base of the cliff and yet standing before it, I am able to imagine Jesus here questioning Peter and the disciples in the midst of that noise and confusion, “Who do people say that I am?”  In essence Jesus is asking, “What names are they giving me?”  After the disciples respond Jesus goes further.  At a place where a myriad of gods could be worshipped and every sensual urge satisfied Jesus by-passes confronting the degrading aspects of paganism or refuting and discouraging the incorrect understanding of the crowds which followed Him and point blank asks the disciples, “Who do you say that I am?”

            A second twist in this story also involves names.  That Banias changed names so often and usually based on the whims of popularity, stands in contrast to the “renaming” of Peter.  No longer Simon (his Hebrew name), Jesus calls him “Petra” meaning rock.  As solid as a rock is, this name becomes firmly associated with Peter (and surprisingly it’s Greek too!).  Names were very important in Peter’s culture and background.  They signified something particular about the person, so this name was no accident.  Of course much can be written about the theological and historical implications of this incident (and it has!), but what impressed me about this account is how Christ knew Peter so well.  Peter may have needed more time to fully understand his confession concerning the person of Christ- “You are the Messiah”- but Jesus knew Peter so well he gave him a more appropriate name- even though Peter had some very un-solid moments in his future. 

            Peter’s purpose and personality in establishing God’s kingdom on earth are captured by this name better than his Hebrew one.  Amazingly, this is how well the Lord knows me.  Though he did literally rename me, He knows what makes me tick.  And like Peter, I have a purpose and personality which He will use to build His church.  You have a name.  God has given it to you.  He knows it because He made you.  What does this mean?  It means that God knows and loves you in the most intimate and deepest way possible.  How great is that?!  But do you know Him in the same way?  I hope you do.  However, I want to encourage you today, that no matter where you are, no matter what you’re going through- God knows your name and like Peter, He wants to use you to build His church.

Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.
https://www.annhlefevre.com; Olivetreeann@mail.com; https://www.linkedin.com/in/annhlefevre; https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre

            A little boy stoops beside a waterspout on the side of a building peering into the hole to see what is there.  A Red-Shouldered Hawk sits on top of the neighbor’s shed with his “catch of the day” clasped lifeless between his talons.  A father cradles his newborn son in his hands and lovingly gazes at his face.  A vibrant green leaf cradles a small collection of pine needles in its crevice where the stem meets the leaf itself.  Each picture is different from the other.  One is sweet, one is heart-breaking but honest, one is tender, and one is eye-catching.  But they all have one thing in common.  All of these images tell a story in visual form.

            Seeing the picture is only a part of being a photographer.  Good photographers recognize they are more than just “picture takers”.  They are also storytellers.  However storytelling is the less thought-of component in photography.  After you have seen the story the next step is deciding how you want to tell the story.  Writers would call this developing the story.  It is the part of your creative process that determines how your picture will convey the story.  Some of the greatest visual storytellers convey the story without words but there have also been some great verbal storytellers who have the ability to paint pictures with their words so that every reader “sees” exactly what they are writing about.

            Jesus was a masterful story teller.  He told His stories in parables based on scenes from everyday life- planting gardens, working in vineyards, baking bread, commerce and trades, and the way nature works.  Some of Jesus’ greatest stories came from the Galilee region as He traveled around teaching and preaching in its villages and towns.  Like the itinerant teachers of His day, Jesus traveled around the Galilee region and wherever He went, He attracted quite a crowd.  In fact Luke tells us that if the people heard Jesus was in the area they would travel to see Him.  But Jesus understood His followers.  He knew that many of them enjoyed listening to Him but they didn’t HEAR Him, that is, they did not truly understand what He was talking about.  So Luke takes note that Jesus “spoke in parables”.      
    
            Parables are short, pithy stories that convey a spiritual truth usually by way of an illustration.  In Luke 8:1-15 Jesus draws His story out of the scenery surrounding his audience.  He tells the story of a sower who has stepped into his garden to plant some seeds.  When we read these well-known verses we tend to picture the kind of garden we are familiar with but those images, although they may seem to fit the bill, are not correct.  The garden in Jesus’ story would have looked more like this.  Imagine a property that is set on a hillside and you now have a good idea of the land in the Galilee region.  As a gardener the difficulty of balancing yourself on the side of a hill to grow and harvest your crop would compel you to come up with a better, less slanted way to garden.  Enter the process of terrace gardening.  Tiers are carved into the hillside with a path along the edge of each tier enabling you to walk along the path to sow your seeds- easy breezy!  Now you get the “picture” of the sower in Jesus’ parable.  He is walking along the path of his terrace garden tossing the seeds to the left and right.  We have to imagine it in our minds what this looked like but Jesus’ audience could see it right before their eyes.  They couldn’t miss the picture in the parable, but only the spiritually attentive would be able to understand its application (Lk. 8:8-10).

            As it is with parables and faith, seeing is an integral part of a picture’s story.  With parables it is the art of seeing the spiritual truth embedded in the illustration.  With faith it is the art of seeing beyond the physical world and understanding the spiritual world behind it (Mt. 13:16; Heb. 11:1).  In photography the art of seeing involves first seeing what the photographer saw and then seeing it for yourself as you look at his/her picture.  If you’re in a gallery and looking at pictures by briskly walking past them you will never see the story or the mindset of the photographer who took it.  You will be just like the crowds who came to listen to Jesus but never really heard Him.  But if you stand in front of the picture and look carefully at how the storyteller took it, you will gain understanding of both your world and the world of the artist.  You will see their compassion, their interest, their humor, their attention to detail, and the things that move them.  Seeing and understanding the story of a picture is the same as having “ears to hear” the truth of Jesus’ parables.  So, how is your eyesight?

Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.
https://www.annhlefevre.com; Olivetreeann@mail.com; https://www.linkedin.com/in/annhlefevre; https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre

            When my boys were younger one of the ways I kept them occupied in the car was to make them keep track of the state license plates that we saw.  While watching to see what state the cars were from, we'd learn the state’s nickname too.  It's fun to learn how those nicknames came about.  Take my state for example.  Do you know that besides "The Keystone State" which alludes to Pennsylvania's role in Early American History, that Pennsylvania has four other nicknames?  The Quaker State refers to the early settlers here.  The Oil State represents one of Pennsylvania's three greatest industries.  Quaker State Oil is a well-known brand which originated here in Pennsylvania.  The Coal State and The Steel State represent the other two industries for which Pennsylvania is known, coal mining and steel manufacturing.

            The land of Israel also has a "nickname" which is derived from Exodus 3:8.  It is called "The Land of Milk and Honey".  We often associate the phrase milk and honey with the things that are familiar to us.  We hear the word milk and think of cows.  We hear the word honey and think of the sweet bounty of bees.  But if you were to travel about Israel in the days when God spoke these words to the people of Israel (Dt. 11:8-9; 26: 9, 15), you would have a hard time finding cow farms and bee keepers.  Goats were (and in many cases still are) the primary source of milk in Israel and the word most of our translations call honey was a sweet syrupy liquid made from dates.  These two words poetically describe the two general environments in Israel.  The Land of Milk describes the way of life in the southern and eastern regions, and the Land of Honey describes the way of life in the north and west. 

            There are three main characteristics of the Land of Milk: shepherds and herds; wide open space with plenty of room for herds to roam; and desert areas such as the Negev (Gen. 13:1), the Wilderness of Paran (Num. 12:16), and the Wilderness of Zin (Num. 27:12-14).  There are three main characteristics of the Land of Honey as well:  farmers, less or no space to roam, and mountains with lots of water.  Life in the Land of Milk is unpredictable because of its low rainfall and sparse population.  It is a silent and lonely place.  Life there is demanding and exhausting.  It drives home the need for community.  Life in the Land of Honey though is quite different.  It is very predictable with its cycles of seasons and years.  Because there are many villages and cities in this area, it is noisy and congested.  Life here is manageable and busy.

            When you are reading the Bible stories, it is always a good idea to keep in mind whether it takes place in the Land of Milk or the Land of Honey.  Putting these stories within their regional context helps to drive home their meaning.  When you read about the Red Sea, wadiis and cisterns (Gen. 37:18-24), Abraham, Isaac, Jacob or Moses and Mount Sinai (Ex. 19:1-2), think about the Land of Milk.  When you read about The Sea of Galilee (Mt. 4:18), mountains, terrace gardens (Lk. 8:5), the prophets and Jesus, or Mount Zion (1 Ki. 8:1), think of the Land of Honey.

            It is still possible to see all the attributes of the Land of Milk and Honey today and if you are blessed to be able to visit the land, these regions still bring the Bible to life.  Bedouin still roam with their herds in the Land of Milk.  The Negev is thriving, but there is still a vast amount of land that is undeveloped and breath-taking.  The Land of Honey is still bustling with lots of people in the cities of Tiberias, Tel Aviv, and Jerusalem.  Israel’s most ancient history is mixed with its recent past everywhere you look.  Not only are the Biblical holy days observed there (Lev. 23) but so are significant days such as May 14th which celebrates the day in 1948 when Israel declared that in spite of pogroms, dispersions and the Holocaust, the land of Israel was the natural and historic home of the Jewish people.  Therefore God's command to pray for the peace of Jerusalem (as well as the whole land) should not be taken lightly or ignored (Ps. 122:6).  Pray for the peace of Israel.  Keep in mind our understanding of land and diplomacy are not the way people think in the Middle East.  The root of their different perspectives on this issue goes back thousands of years.  There is much to be hopeful about as the leaders of these nations meet and work out their plans.  Pray for God’s wisdom to be with them as they make these decisions.  The people of the land, or common folk, as we might say, truly desire to live in peaceful coexistence.  Pray that extremists will not inhibit the prospect of peace but that all hearts will be turned toward the Messiah (Rom. 11:25-27) and waiting for His return.

Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.
https://www.annhlefevre.com; Olivetreeann@mail.com; https://www.linkedin.com/in/annhlefevre; https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre

            Water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink!  That little ditty ran through my head several times during the first full week of March 2011.   Not only did we see record rainfall here in the Northeast, but an earthquake in Japan set off a tsunami which destroyed property and beaches in the Northwest.  The rainfall coupled with melting snow caused rivers and creeks to overflow their banks and commuters to detour around the more troublesome areas of flooding.  At the opposite end of the spectrum was the run on bottled water when our area was forced to go into “lockdown”.  One day the shelves were lined with it; the next day they were empty.  Many of us know how important water is for survival and when we feel that life is tenuous it’s one of the first things we stock up on.

            Sometimes I marvel at people who build houses along the coast or next to a river.  They must know about the risks, but the setting is so appealing, it's worth the risk I suppose.  I have to confess I've daydreamed about living near the ocean.  I love the vast horizon, the sound of the waves, and the shells!  There are appealing places like this in Israel too.   One such place is mentioned in Psalm 23:2.  We often translate the word in this passage as "green pastures", but this Hebrew word actually relates to the well-watered and green area at the bottom of a wadi (wah-dee).  "What's a wadi?" you ask.  Wadiis are like canyons, but not as wide.  They are carved out of the limestone rock found in the wilderness area of Israel in the same way the Colorado River carved out the Grand Canyon in the United States.   One Israel’s more beautiful wadiis is the Wadi Avdaht.  The entrance to Avdat (Ahv-daht) is misleading.  It is wide and semi-barren with high limestone walls flanking either side.  The greenery there is due to a small stream found near the center of the gorge.  As you walk alongside the stream heading deeper into the wadi, its width grows until you reach a silvery thin waterfall cascading over the upper rim at the end.  A large pool of water collects there and it is absolutely beautiful!  As nice as a wadi can be, the comfort they offer is tenuous.  Shepherds who raised their flocks in this area knew the layout of a wadi inside and out, and the wisest shepherds knew it was best to get your water and leave, rather than make yourself comfortable and stay.

            Jesus had this geographical characteristic in mind when He told the parable of the two builders in Luke 6:46-49.  It's not necessarily convenient to build on the top of those tall rock walls.   It’s so much easier when you don't have to lug those big water urns up and down the path.  It's not so stressful and much more comfortable.  But, Jesus warns, building in the sand, is unsafe!  Wadiis are notorious for flash floods that often come without warning.  Rain from miles above them can come rushing through the gorge like the way rainwater pours through a broken gutter.  When the rain comes down through a wadi (and it will), if you’ve built your house in the bottom of a wadi, it will most certainly wash away. 

            Wadis hold a great spiritual lesson for us (which is why Jesus used them as an example!).  It's tempting for us to "build our lives" in the conveniences of the world.  We have come to believe that life should be easy and comfortable, so we put all our energy into accomplishing that. We’ll finance, work overtime, get the best education for a better paying job, and do whatever it takes to achieve the “Dream”.  The trouble is, putting trust in the comforts of this world, and doing whatever it takes to get them, is like building a house in the bottom of a wadi.   Our life may look good, but it’s dangerous because when storms come rushing in, the sandy foundation upon which we’ve built dissolves in those rushing torrents of water.  And in this day and age people are facing more and more uncertainty about what the future may hold proving there are no guarantees that anything will last.  Still, many of us continue to build in the bottom of a wadi.

            If the bottom of a wadi is not where a believer should build, then where should we build?  Jesus says in verse 47 that those who come to Him, hear His words, and act on them have built their life on the rock- those tall sides of the wadi that are flood-free.  Jesus tells us in this parable that the rock is God’s Word.  If we are letting the Bible guide us in the way we live and what we believe, when the storms of life come (and they will come), we will be able to withstand the tempest.  It is certainly more popular to build on worldly things.  It's easier, more comfortable.  But it's unstable.  Today's fads are tomorrow's history lessons.  The latest trends are forgotten tomorrow when the "next big thing" becomes news.  So, why build on this shifting sand?  Build your life on God's Word so that you will stand firm when storms come your way (Proverbs 3:1-8; Colossians 3:2).

Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.
https://www.annhlefevre.com; Olivetreeann@mail.com; https://www.linkedin.com/in/annhlefevre; https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre

            Our church has been studying the book of Jonah this Spring and the book’s central figure has brought to mind the old Sesame Street song that stated, “One of these things is not like the other; one of these things just doesn’t belong”.  Children were then asked to identify the object that did not match.  For the adults in the room the answer was usually quite obvious, but for the children it was a fun way to figure out (usually by the process of elimination) which object was out of place.  Jonah is the odd man out among the prophets.  Lined up against Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Hosea and the rest, he would easily stand out as “not like the others”.  His book is not a collection of oracles or symbolic actions; it is a didactic narrative.  It is not a sympathetic portrayal either.  Instead the book of Jonah is a satire about a man who was neither an obedient nor a compassionate prophet.  Unlike the others who carried out some of the unusual commands of the Lord (see: Jer. 27:1-3; Eze. 5:1-4; Hos. 1:1-3) he was disobedient, judgmental, biased, and sour.  In fact, unlike his peers he was not only sent to Israel, he was also sent to Nineveh the persecuting pagans of his day.

            The reference to Jonah in 2 Kin. 14:25 gives us some insight as to the messages he brought to Israel while Jeroboam II was on the throne.  But the message God gave Jonah to bring to the great pagan city of Ninevah caused Jonah to do something we have no record of any other prophet doing- disobey!  Instead of heading southeast to Ninevah, Jonah boards a ship and heads in the opposite direction to Tarshish (Jon. 1:3).  Some have speculated that Jonah had a good reason to fear going to Ninevah.  The Assyrians had quite a reputation!  They were powerful and aggressive, showing no mercy to their captives or nations who rose up against them.  It appears that Jonah had also succumbed to the general mindset that God’s only concern was toward Israel.  It was hard for him to understand that God’s mercy could be extended to anyone outside the Covenant community.  But as Jonah learned, you can’t run from God, nor can you change the recipients of His message.  When He says, “Go to Ninevah!” it’s best to go!

            Many have portrayed Jonah as a whimpering and distraught man as he spends three (most likely gruesome) days and nights in the stomach of the fish.  But a careful reading of chapter 2 shows that Jonah understood exactly why he was there and that it was God’s way of saving him.  The situation seemed hopeless, but Jonah’s prayer is full of hope and he is resolved to follow through with the mission God has set before him (Jon. 2:1-9).  God calls Jonah a second time to go to Ninevah and Jonah obeys (Jon. 3:1-3).  Jonah is shocked to see the Ninevites respond to his message.  Some historical factors may have attributed to this.  A series of weak and ineffective kings had removed some of Assyria’s glory and might, a serious plague swept through the land in 765 B.C. killing many, and a total eclipse of the sun occurred on June 15, 763 B. C. causing more fear and panic.  In ancient times all these components would have been considered to be connected to the spiritual world.  Jonah’s appearance and message made sense in light of all these factors and the people responded.  True to human nature and still clinging to the last of his narrow way of thinking about God’s compassion, Jonah is bothered that the Ninevites actually repent (Jon. 3:4-4:1) and God forgives them!  Once again, God teaches Jonah about Himself through the natural world using a plant (Jon. 4:5-11) and the story of Jonah comes to a quick and unexpected end.

            We know that Jonah must have been a gifted speaker to have had such a powerful impact on that great city.  But we do not have a record of anything else that he said.  However, Jesus makes mention of Jonah in reference to Himself (Matt. 12:39-41) and confirms that Jonah’s preaching did indeed have a tremendous impact on the people of Ninevah.  And while it’s easy to see the parallel between Jonah’s days inside the fish to Jesus’ days “in the grave”, other comparisons and contrasts between the two can also be made.  Jonah is “sacrificed” by being cast into the sea in order to save the others on the boat.  Jesus was sacrificed to save all humans from the bondage of sin (Heb. 7:26-27; 9:11-14; 1 Pet. 3:18).  Jonah was not obedient to God’s call at first and somewhat reluctantly fulfilled his mission later, but Jesus never wavered in doing God’s will and was obedient at all times (Jn. 14:31; Phil. 2:5-8; Heb. 4:14-15). 

            How well do we listen to God’s call?  How well do we obey His commandments?  Personally, I don’t think I fare any better than Jonah!  But oh how I would love to be like Paul, who when given a vision by God to go in a different direction than the one he had planned, listened and obeyed (Ac. 16:5-12).  Jonah is a great encouragement to me.  I know I don’t always listen to God.  I know I often limit Him and the way He works in people’s lives.  But Jonah’s story demonstrates to me that God loves me enough to get me back on track when I’m not listening to Him and He can use me to proclaim His message even when I make mistakes.  I hope Jonah’s story encourages you in that way too!  Now, it’s time to go to Ninevah!

Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.
https://www.annhlefevre.com; Olivetreeann@mail.com; https://www.linkedin.com/in/annhlefevre; https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre