Sometimes there are pieces of Scripture which, though they give us a bit of history and explain partially why things turned out as they did, do not really seem to have much meaning or significance for us today. One of these pieces is today’s passage, which relates some of the ongoing rivalry between Jacob and Esau, and gives us a clue as to where it led, but doesn’t seem very relevant for us today.

However, New Testament writers say it differently. They saw it as an instance of God’s sovereign choice, His choice in not choosing as we might do--looking at things like appearance or intellect or social standing--or, in this case, birth order, but choosing the most unlikely--indeed the one who least deserved it. After all, Jacob was the cheat, the scoundrel, the supplanter, not a nice fellow indeed. Even so, God chose him--and He chooses us as well. Go figure.

Today’s meditation raises a rather important and contemporary issue and question: with people’s opinions these days often so firmly entrenched and immovable that they can’t even hear each other, much less change or modify their views, how in the world can God ever get through? I’m presuming that He does, as division, especially in the church, is ‘not His thing’ and often within the church world the divisions are just as pronounced as elsewhere. So, then, how can God get through? And is there anything that we can do?

In a sense, the apostle Peter was already one step further in the process than many of his contemporaries. He was away from his home territory, which sometimes is a help. He was filled with the Holy Spirit, which is always a help. And, he was stayed with Simon the tanner, which may have been one of the prohibited occupations. And furthermore, he had been in prayer when he received the vision of the unclean beasts.

Anyway, I, for one, find these divisions depressing, but then am very fearful of ‘wading into’ some of the contentious topics for fear of what I encounter. So here, then, is why I pray for God’s intervention.

As it so happens, very often when we are terribly down or depressed, it can seem as if we are totally alone and as if the world has closed in on us. This is unfortunate--and rather sad--because this is the very time that we need people, that we need community. The two people on the road to Emmaus felt this way--until, that is, a certain stranger came alongside them and walked with them. Little did they realize that it was Jesus.

But, as it was for them, so it is with us. Jesus comes alongside us and walks with us in our times of sorrow and difficulty, which means that we are never, ever alone--even though it may seem so. And furthermore, just as Jesus in our story, helped them gain some perspective and helped them through it, so too He does for us, if only we will let Him.

As you have probably heard me say so many times before, stubbornness is epidemic in my family. Often we would rather try it ourselves and muddle through things rather than ask for help. Here, today, Jesus offers us relief from our burdens and our weariness--it is there for the taking--but only if we stop trying to take care of it for ourselves and accept His help.

Today’s meditation concerning Ananias and the future apostle Saul of Tarsus (Paul) is one that really challenges me. Just how do I respond when I receive a prompting that seems to be from the Lord and that seems utterly ridiculous? Especially when it takes me out of my comfort zone and asks me to do something that I have never tackled before. That Ananias was able to say ‘yes’, and to say this unconditionally, immediately and without reservation is quite a challenge and inspiration for me.

I’m always amazed at how compassionate and kind God is. After all, He takes our mistakes, our bad choices--and our sins--in stride, and makes the best of them, using them for His glory and for the furtherance of His kingdom. To me, that is quite incredible.

If there was ever an adage that applied to the future King Saul, to numerous Biblical characters--and, to us as well, it is the adage that ‘God is free to change your plans.’ I am sure that Moses, growing up in the splendour and luxury of Pharaoh’s household, never expected to be a desert dweller and lead his people out of slavery and Egypt into the Promised Land. And likewise, Zachariah and Elizabeth never expected to have a son, the future John the Baptist, in their old age. Or Mary and Joseph, having their plans and lives upended with the birth of Jesus. Or disciples like Peter, Andrew, James and John, a bunch of fishermen, or Matthew, a tax collector. Or, of course, Paul, the persecutor of the infant church. In each case, God intervened and dramatically changed their lives and the future direction of their lives.

For us, God’s intervention may not be anywhere as sudden or dramatic or life-altering, but even so, it may still come. You never know what a ‘chance’ encounter or circumstance will lead, so it is best to be open and ready for it, and be willing to ‘roll with the punches’, to submit to whatever God has in store for you.

I guess that it is only human nature to try to attribute something organized, sinister and covert (hidden) behind many of the dodgy things taking place within our world. I, for instance, thought that there was something untoward about the City’s decision several years ago to authorize strip joints. And, in more of the present, I have wondered about efforts to outlaw livestock production or plastics or the oil or gas industry or trends that diminish the strength and the role of families and marriage. It is easy to imagine some humanly organized conspiracy behind such things. However, I think that it is closer to the truth to understand that, while there may well be a conspiracy, it is not one that is largely on the human level, but one that is envisioned and orchestrated at ‘higher’ level, that is, by destructive and malevolent spiritual forces, namely Satan and his minions. Interestingly, with the adult interment (strip joint) issue, all of our efforts came to naught, for we were clearly out-thought and outmanoeuvred. But ultimately, it was dealt a death blow from another source, namely itself. The sleazy clientele and atmosphere it fostered brought in the drug trade, and that led to its demise. God ‘interfering’? Perhaps. I would like to think so. The uptake on all this, as far as I am concerned, is simply to take whatever our issue might be to God, and let Him direct us, and intervene, when and how He sees fit.

It has often been said that it is better to be part of the solution than part of the problem, and certainly that should be able to be said of all Christians, all followers and disciples of Jesus. In our reading from Ezekiel, we hear pinpointed some of the problems facing our world, problems where a few enrich themselves at the expense of others, neglect their rightful care and regard for them, and actually despoil the resources these seemingly ‘lesser others’ might have used. God promises therefore to step in, intervene and correct these abuses and properly care for these His people. And then, in our gospel reading, Jesus gives Peter--presumably on behalf of the church (which is all of us)--the very same calling to care for and look out for other folks. And so, this leaves us with a profound responsibility and challenge, for it is far too easy for us to be complicit in our world’s systems that do just the opposite--us buying clothes or products made under unsafe conditions for instance, or us investing in companies or countries with dismal labour or environmental standards. If you’re like me, this is a challenge, for I often do not even think about these things.

Today has been something of a hectic whirl. The subject of my meditation is something that I have long wondered about, and that is, why so many modern Christians are lamentably tongue-tied when it comes to talking about God or Jesus, or indeed, about anything to do with their faith. My own denomination, the Anglican Church of Canada, has, from time to time come up with great plans for evangelism, but sadly, far too frequently, they came to naught. The situation became so bad that the ‘e’ word (evangelism) almost seemed to be treated like something one was forbidden to talk about. No wonder things, then, have come to be a mess in the church.

But then, what about us? Are not we often tongue-tied as well? Often nervous talking about this subject for fear of offending others or being pictures as cranks or fanatics? And often not knowing how to go about it even if the occasion arose? I would love to see some kind of program or training that would help ordinary people be a bit better at this? What do you think? Do you think my assessment of the problem is correct? And do you think that we, as a church, should be stepping up to the plate to assist people in this? Anyway, here is something to think and pray about.