Thoughts for 1st May, 2020

Psalm 23; Exodus 3:16-22, 4:18-20; 1 Peter 2:13-17

Friday 1 May - Rev. Jerry Eve

I have a friend who likes to tell the story of a work book he had at school. At the end of each chapter there were questions, and from time to time these were set as homework. One day David discovered that he must have been given a teachers’ copy when he came across the answers to the questions at the back of the book. I won’t tell you whether or not he then handed it back in and swapped it for a pupils’ copy. But the point he makes with this story is that the Bible isn’t a teachers’ copy.

It’s not as though we can take what’s written in any one verse as the answer (although, if I was to take one verse and do that it would maybe be: “Love the Lord your God . . . ). Bible Study involves more of a dialogue with the text, for if we think the Bible says one thing in some places, then we can almost guarantee that we can find other places where it seems to say the opposite.

A good example of this, I think, can be found in our Old and New Testament readings for today. The first is from Exodus, which after yesterday’s passage leapfrogs the one which gives the Church of Scotland its logo of the burning bush. It’s part of that same conversation Moses has as God speaks to him from the middle of that bush.

The last part of the first part of this is quite curious. In the Good News Translation the Israelites are to, ‘carry away the wealth of the Egyptians.’ In the King James Version it’s, ‘ye shall spoil the Egyptians.’ And in the New Revised Standard Version we have, ‘you shall plunder the Egyptians.’ There are various theories for what is happening here. It's also mentioned at Exodus 11:2 and 12:35, and it may be that this is some sort of compensation that's being hinted at for all the Israelites have suffered. It may be a way of explaining the jewellry the Israelites have later on in Exodus at chapters 33 and 35. Another thought, though, although the wording might have been different, is that in the same way abolitionists in the USA funded the Underground Railroad helping slaves from the Southern states get to Canada, there were a great many Egyptians who were sympathetic to the Hebrew’s plight, and sought to help them.

There is a contrast, though, between what God asks Moses to do i.e. to stand up to, and disobey, the King of Egypt; and what Peter says Christians ought to do i.e. ‘submit to every human authority,’ and, ‘respect the Emperor.’ The context and setting, of course, are what make all the difference. For, while with the support of ordinary Egyptians the time, it would seem, was ripe for the Israelites to leave Egypt, Peter was addressing persecuted communities for whom it would have been foolhardy to resist. In that situation then the best advice was to accept and endure.

If the legend is to be believed, Peter did practise what he preached. Fleeing from crucifixion in Rome on the road outside the city he meets the risen Christ and asks him, ‘Quo vadis?’ meaning, ‘Where are you going? Jesus replies that he is going to Rome to be crucified again. It’s this which then gives Peter the courage to do the same.

Let us pray:

A Prayer of Blessing for Labour Day

Bless the work of our hands, O God.

Bless the hands that work the land;

hands that move earth, plant seeds and harvest,

hands with callouses and dirty fingernails, strong hands.

 

Bless the hands that use machines;

hands that drive cars, trucks and forklifts,

hands on computer keyboards, capable hands.

 

Bless the hands that make things;

hands that manufacture and create,

working wood and metal and plastic, practical hands.

 

Bless the hands that clean;

hands that wash, mop and scrub,

hands that know what to do with soap, determined hands.

 

Bless the hands that make music and art;

hands that play instruments and hold paintbrushes,

hands that are creative tools, artistic hands.

 

Bless the hands that care for people;

hands that cook and feed, heal and nurture,

hands with a gentle touch, loving hands.

 

Bless the hands that are generous;

hands that give away money and food,

hands that are always trying to be empty, Christ-like hands.

 

Bless the tiny, baby hands.

Bless the strong adult hands.

Bless the hands that are folded in prayer.

Bless the hands that are lifted in praise.

Our hands do the work of your hands,

O God our Creator,

 

Amen.

 

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