"For not even his brothers believed in him." John 7:5
What an astounding idea, that those who had spent more time with Jesus maybe than any other human beings, who had possibly worked side by side with him in the family business for years, did not even believe in Him. In fact, they encouraged him to go to Jerusalem, where they knew that He would at least be humiliated, and at worst arrested and killed. As Scott was preaching this on Sunday it reminded me of Joseph, whose brothers were so jealous of the attention he was getting that they sold him into slavery in Egypt and then concocted a story that he had been killed by wild animals to explain Joseph's disappearance to their father.
As an aside, both events that on the surface were intended for evil, were part of God's greater plan, to deliver the nation of Israel from a famine in Joseph's case, and to redeem all of humanity in Jesus' case.
But, I think it is sometimes easy for us to look at what they did, Joseph's brothers, and think "What were they thinking? How could they possibly not believe?!" And yet as I consider it, I'm not sure that we are really a great deal different. We can be a finicky people, who are willing to accept the things we want to accept and disregard those things that are more difficult. Just like the multitudes that departed when Jesus said that they had to eat of his flesh and drink of his blood, or the rich young ruler who left when he was asked to sell all he had and give it to the poor.
David had conquered Jerusalem and then returned the Ark of the Covenant for the first time in years. And following this great victory and restoration of the nation of Israel to Yahweh, David sang a song of thanks. A section of that song is:
1 Chronicles 16:25-26
For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and he is to be held in awe above all gods.
For all the gods of the peoples are idols, but the LORD made the heavens.
The other gods we serve today are not usually carved images on a mantle in our homes, but are much more socially acceptable ones - career success, our kids, money, possessions, recreation, security, acceptance, etc. A god is anything that vies for the passion of our heart. They can be good things, like our kids, but when serving them begins to squeeze our heart and passion for serving the Lord, where we willingly make sacrifices in our service to the LORD who "made the heavens" on behalf of these things they become gods.
I'm not sure that I am a great deal better than Jesus' brothers. I am willing and able to believe and serve as long as it fits my grid, as long as what God asks of me isn't too out there. We qualify our requirements to serve, "I'll do anything you ask of me God, but not ...", "Let me take care of some things, and when I reach...then I will be able to truly serve you," or "If you would take care of...then I will be able to serve." It strikes me that each of these is a form of unbelief. That we believe that our plans, our hearts, our ideas are better, and as long as the LORD is willing to submit His call and His plans to ours, well then we're happy to serve. Don't ask me to give up my gods, that is just too much.
Take some time to read David's song of thanks 1 Chron 16:8-34, and consider whether this song reflects your heart or are you like me, in need of setting aside some gods, and be willing to "believe."
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