A Spider Web

Frederick Nolan, a Christian living in Africa, told the story of the time he was a being pursued by a group of unbelievers because of a stand he had taken for the gospel. If this mob could get their hands on Nolan, he was certain they were going to kill him. After hours of pursuit Nolan finally collapsed from exhaustion. He had run into a cave to hide, but his strength was gone, and he feared he would be found and captured at any moment. 

 

While he was lying on the ground anticipating being found, he watched as a spider began to weave a web at the opening of the cave. In almost no time at all Nolan saw that spider produce an elaborate web from one side of the cave’s mouth to the other. Suddenly the men pursuing Nolan came upon the cave, but after observing the spider web, decided he could not have been inside. They decided the search was hopeless and called it off. 

 

Nolan would later write these words: “Where God is, a spider’s web is like a wall. Where God is not, a wall is like a spider’s web.” Obviously a spider web is not strong enough to keep people from tearing through it; in fact, we have probably all had the pleasure of accidentally walking through one and having to pull the web from our hair. But when God is with us, something as weak as a web becomes like a wall. 

 

Jeremiah once spoke of the power of God when he wrote, “Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for you (32:17).” Because of this truth Paul was able to add, “And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me (II Corinthians 12:9).” When a spider web keeps an army at bay, God gets all the credit. That is a case of the power of God coming through in our weakness. 

 

Maybe you can relate to Frederick Nolan. You know what it is like to be pursued by an enemy that wishes you harm. I am not talking about a real army of people, but maybe your trials feel like that. The mounting debt is chasing you down. The pressures at work are pursing you. Your marital problems, your addictions, or a hundred other things can bring you to the point of exhaustion. When you are at your weakest, look up; God may just send a spider to weave a web—a hedge of protection—to keep the enemy away. The God who made the heavens and earth can certainly make a web around you, so keep praying, and don’t loose heart. 

Don't Make Me Come Back There!

In honor of Father’s Day, I have been thinking about some of those classic lines our fathers said to us over the years. When riding in the car, how many of us heard our fathers ask, “Do I need to pull this car over?” Maybe you and your siblings were arguing, and he would threaten, “Don’t make me come back there!” Dads don’t have to say what they are going to do when they pull the car over or when they come back there; it is understood. If he pulls over, punishment will soon follow. 

God, the Righteous Father, gave similar threats to His people. Most notably through the prophet Jeremiah, God said, “Behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings 23:2, KJV).” Through Moses God promised to “visit the iniquity” of those who hated Him (Exodus 34:6-7, Numbers 14:18, Deuteronomy 5:8-10).  When God promises to come for a visit, He isn’t coming for dessert and coffee. He doesn’t need to describe exactly what will happen when He comes; it is understood. When God comes to visit people because of their iniquity, punishment will soon follow. 

Yes, God is a God who is rich in mercy and slow to wrath, but there is a time for everything, and that includes discipline and judgment. Just like a good Father, God first warns His children of the consequences of their rebellion, so they cannot be caught off guard when God “comes back there.” We have been warned, so the ball is in our court. If we do not want God to come to us in discipline, then we simply need to live in accordance with His instructions for us. 

The good news is that God’s corrective action is to make us better people, not to simply inflict pain or suffering. The hardships He may bring into our lives are meant to get our attention, to steer us back into right living. When we repent, God relents. When we stop doing whatever caused Him to visit us in discipline, the discipline subsides. 

Not every visit from God is for judgment. In Revelation 3:20 God says He stands at the door and knocks, and if anyone lets Him in He will come in and dine with them. This kind of visit is a warm one between friends. Jesus wants to have a relationship with us, so if we let Him in now, He won’t have to come in judgment later. 

The Balm in Gilead

In Jeremiah 8:22 God’s prophet asked a rhetorical question: “Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there?” The question was rhetorical because the answer was obvious. There was plenty of balm in Gilead, and there were plenty of physicians there to apply it.

The balm in Gilead was an ointment used as a perfume, but more often as a cure all. Although this balm does not grow there now, it was once exported all around the world. It began to be used to refer to a metaphorical healing as well. Those who were sick would apply the balm, but those who were in a jam would say they needed the balm in Gilead. If there were no crops and no money, they would say they needed the balm in Gilead. If they were stressed and depressed, they would say they needed the balm in Gilead. No matter what was wrong with the person or the country as a whole, the balm in Gilead could bring the cure.

Jeremiah had just prophesied the coming disaster for the southern kingdom of Judah because they were refusing to live according to God’s law. After giving them a warning about God’s judgment, he asked the question in verse twenty-two. In other words, if the nation would repent of their sins and come back to Christ, they would receive the balm in Gilead because the promised calamity would not come.

Jesus is the Balm in Gilead who, according to the old spiritual, heals the sin-sick soul. Yes, He is the Great Physician, and we call out to Him for physical healing. More importantly, He heals our greatest need, and that is to be brought back into a right relationship with our Creator. Many people look a hundred different directions to find peace, but Jesus offers a peace that passes our understanding. We take the twelve steps, only to find we aren’t any closer to peace. We can change houses or change spouses; we can shop till we drop; we can lose weight or go on a date; we can buy a new car or spend time at the bar, but those things only offer temporary relief at best. They offer a temporary solution to our permanent problem.

Jesus offers a permanent solution to our permanent problem. If we allow Him, He will remove the sin that separates us from God.

The final part of Jeremiah’s question was this: since there is plenty of balm in Gilead, “Why then is there no recovery for the health of the daughter of my people?” The solution is available, but the people are not reaching for it. The doctor has prescribed the remedy, but they are not taking their pills. If you are not at peace with God—if your sin still separates you from Him—then simply take what the doctor has ordered. Jesus is the Balm in Gilead, and He wants to heal your sin-sick soul.   

Bethlehem's Story

What is Bethlehem famous for? Our first thought is that Bethlehem was the birthplace of Jesus, but for a long time the little town had a bad reputation. In Genesis 35 we read that Rachel died and was buried “on the way to Bethlehem,” just after she gave birth to her second son Benjamin.

Remember Rachel’s story? She was the beloved wife of Jacob, who was the grandson of Abraham (and whose name God changed to Israel). Jacob was tricked into marrying Rachel’s older sister Leah, and eventually he married Rachel as well. Leah was having no problem having children, but Rachel was barren. Both sisters gave their handmaidens to Jacob for the sake of childbearing (a common practice then), but Rachel continued to struggle with her infertility. This was a cause for sorrow, leading Rachel to lament, “Give me children, or else I will die!”

She finally had a son, Joseph, whose name means, “The Lord will add.” Rachel was glad to have a son, but she believed God would give her another. He did, but it would cost Rachel her life. Knowing her life was leaving her, Rachel named her son Ben-oni, “Son of my Sorrow,” but Jacob changed it to Benjamin, “Son of my Right Hand.” For Israelites, Bethlehem was always thought of as the place of death for their mother.

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem King Herod put out an order to kill all baby boys two years old and under. Matthew said that event fulfilled Jeremiah 31:15, the voice of Rachel weeping for her children. When Jeremiah wrote those words he was speaking of Israelite mothers weeping for their children being taken into captivity, but Matthew saw it as a fulfillment of Messianic prophecy.

For so many years Bethlehem signified the birth of Benjamin, but the death of Rachel. Now, because of Jesus, Bethlehem represents not the Son of Sorrow, but the Son at God’s right hand. It is no longer a place of death and sadness, but of life and victory. So what is Bethlehem famous for? It is no longer death, but life.

That’s what Jesus does. He redeems things. He turns death into life. When we were dead in our sins and trespasses, Jesus brings us to life in Himself. I was once like Bethlehem, a picture of death because of my sin; but now thanks to Jesus, I am alive and well.

When Does Life Begin?

This past week marked the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision that essentially has led to abortion on demand in America. The Southern Baptist Convention has designated the week as a time to pray for the unborn and stand up for innocent life. In light of this I wanted to write about something that is a fairly recent discovery in the science of the unborn.

Just two years ago scientists were able to observe a flash of light when a human egg was fertilized in a laboratory. When the egg is fertilized there is a surge of calcium, causing zinc to shoot out of the zygote. The flash of light can be seen using fluorescence microscopy.

While this information may not mean much to some, it is vitally important. Proponents of abortion like to say that there is no way of knowing when life begins, and if we cannot know for sure, then abortion is just the removal of an unwanted mass. But this flash of light—this zinc shooting out from a fertilized egg—is a fireworks show celebrating the start of a new life.

We also know that every zygote is genetically complete. At that very second of conception the fertilized egg has all it needs; the unborn child’s gender, hair and eye color, and height are already locked into its unique DNA. This is not a potential person, it is a person in its smallest form.

The Bible also gives us an indication that life inside the womb is special. David said God knit him together in his mother’s womb (Psalm 139:13). God told Jeremiah that He knew the prophet before He formed him in the womb (Jeremiah 1:5). All life is created by God, and is therefore special. We must always stand up to protect innocent life, for they were created in the image of God, and are fearfully and wonderfully made.