Author: Dave Dishman (Page 354 of 459)

I enjoyed several unforgettable meals over the years. One at an outdoor restaurant in Mexico with peacocks strolling between tables. Another in China where, as the guest of honor, the host served me the head of a duck. Not to mention many wonderful family gatherings around a table.

Following the resurrection of Jesus, Cleopas and his companion walked with an unknown man who cleared up their confusion about the event. At the end of a long day, they all sat down to supper.

The meal started when the unknown man gave thanks and broke bread. Then Cleopas and his friend recognized Jesus, who immediately vanished.

Unforgettable.

The painting displayed is entitled Supper at Emmaus, painted by Carravaggio in 1601. The original hangs in the British National Gallery, where I discovered it for myself several years ago.

I love the way the artist captured the exact instant these men recognized Jesus, the shock on their faces and the tension in their bodies. Total surprise.

A copy now hangs in my study, where I see it every day, reminding me of the many people waiting to be surprised by Jesus.

Luke 24 in week fifteen of reading the Bible cover to cover

In asking God for victory over Israel’s enemies, Jephthah uttered a rash vow. I will give to the Lord whatever comes out of my house to meet me when I return in triumph. I will sacrifice it as a burnt offering.

Jephthah indeed returned in triumph, and who danced out the door to meet him? His one and only daughter, the pride of his life. Jephthah tore his clothes in agony, then planned her execution.

Does the Lord look fondly on human sacrifice? Of course not. The Lord never asked for a vow from Jephthah. The Spirit of the Lord already worked in Jephthah. In no way did this young woman need to die. Why didn’t Jephthah break his vow and deal with the consequences?

Because Jephthah appropriated his theology of vows from the nations around him. He learned it from the Ammonites, whom he battled to the death. He choose to make a vow to manipulate God. He followed a practice of the gods of the land, even as he fought for the God of Israel.

Confusing? For me it is. But like Jephthah, I follow the gods of my land even as I attempt to serve the God of Heaven. When I pander to social media likes, or shade my moral stance toward culturally approved views, or promise, “God, I’ll do that for you, if you do this for me,” I walk the path of Jephthah.

A stupid waste of a life by a father who should have known better. Lord, help me avoid such foolish promises.

Judges 11 in week fifteen of reading the Bible cover to cover

Photo by Aziz Acharki

Peter accomplished one of the most epic fails ever. Three times Peter vehemently denied he knew Jesus. As he spat the third, a rooster crowed, and Peter looked up to see Jesus staring directly into his eyes. Stunned by his failure, Peter wept bitter tears.

We know the rest of the story, how the risen Jesus restored Peter, and how Peter spent the rest of his life spreading the faith, until crucified himself in Rome.

Peter’s failure points to God’s way in our lives. I fail all the time. Thankfully, I don’t look up after every failure to see Jesus staring at me. Otherwise, I’d be seeing Jesus a lot.

Here’s something really interesting to me – Jesus meets me in the midst of my epic fails, and it’s the place where I pay the most attention to his words.

The Bible describes mankind’s epic failure to live up to God’s standard – and – the Bible carries within it the good news of Jesus’s life, death and resurrection.

I can rest knowing Jesus covered my most epic fail.

Luke 22 in week fifteen of reading the Bible cover to cover

Photo by Warren Wong

Gideon took his anger out on his wheat, pounding the grain down in a winepress, hiding from enemy raiders. When an angel appeared and greeted Gideon as a mighty warrior (perhaps tongue-in-cheek), Gideon immediately launched into accusations and excuses – God, where have you been?!

It took several proofs to convert Gideon from frustrated farmer to successful general. Fire from a rock, the pagan alter in his village destroyed, a fleece first with dew, then without. Through it all, God patiently ushered Gideon along, despite constant questions and doubts.

Like Gideon, I’ve “pounded my wheat” in frustration. I’ve asked – God, where are you?! I often don’t know where God is in the midst of my circumstances, and never have I met an angel in such dramatic fashion.

But I draw hope from Gideon’s story, especially seeing the Lord’s patience with a frustrated man. The Lord pays attention. The Lord hears my cries of frustration. The Lord is ok with my questions. He’s much, much bigger than me, and that’s so very, very good.

Judges 6 in week fourteen of reading the Bible cover to cover

Photo by Jonathan Brinkhorst