Exodus 3:1-14
Our Confirmation Classes are learning the basic doctrines nowadays and the senior class is now focusing on writing one’s own Faith Affirmation. This is very important because what we believe is essential to be a good Christian. It is crucial because what we believe determines how we behave. I believe it is very true that who we are is what we believe. For example, Mother Teresa became Mother Teresa because she believed in the compassionate God. Tragically though, suicide bombers blow themselves up because of their fundamentalist belief on God. So, today, I am going to talk about God and challenge you to write your own Faith Affirmation.
Let me begin with a letter written by a teenager whose name is Robin, sent to her friend, Lynn.
Dear Lynn,
During the sermon, I started this letter on the back of the church bulletin. Mom caught me and took the bulletin away, so I’ll have to start over. Writing letters helps me stay awake during Pastor Gooch’s sermons….
Anyway, I’ve been wondering: Do you think it’s possible to be a Christian without knowing much about God? I know I’m supposed to be a good Christian, but I’m not sure I’d recognize God if God walked into the room right now. How do you know what God is like? Some people call God Father; but I don’t like to think of God as Father, because my dad and I never got along, and he’s not even around anymore. If God is like my father, I’d rather not get acquainted.
Do you ever wonder about God? What is God like for you? I don’t even know what to call God. What do you think? Mom says I ask too many questions. But I think it’s OK to ask you. I look forward to hearing from you. Love, Robin.
P.S. After Mom took away the bulletin, I stayed awake by counting the number of bricks in the wall in back of the pulpit. I counted 134.
(Well…, I’m sorry we don’t have bricks to count, here).
What is God like for you? Why would knowing the name of God make a difference in how we trust God? Why was Moses so eager to know God’s name? In the biblical tradition, a name told about a person. Thus, to know God’s name would be to know what God was like; how God acted; how God communicated; who God was, is, and will be.
In Exodus 3:14, God reveals the name. The name is what God wants the covenant people to know about God. The name is I AM. In Hebrew, God’s name is YHWH. What does this name, YHWH, I AM, tell us about God? The Biblical scholars suggest that the name YHWH is kin to the Hebrew verb to be. In Hebrew, the verb to be carried the power of both the present and the future tense; so the divine name not only points to what God is doing but also to what God will do. I AM WHO I AM is one translation; I WILL BE WHO I WILL BE is also an appropriate translation. So, God is not a temporary God. God will keep on keeping on; God will be, tomorrow as well as today.
Now, let us think about some biblical names and images for God. The Bible is filled with names for God. In the Old Testament, common names for God are Yahweh (I AM), El Shaddai (God of the mountains, God Almighty), Adonai (Lord), and Elohim (it could be translated as God ‘above’ gods). There are many more images for God such as Rock, Judge, Holy One, Fortress, Shepherd, Alpha and Omega, Advocate Almighty, Deliverer, Fountain of Life, Love, Savior, King, Daddy (Did you know that Jesus called God Daddy?; Luke 11:2), Ancient One, I Am, Mother (yes, mother! Isaiah 66:13 describes God as mother. And I will use pronoun “She” instead of “He” for God in my sermon today), Spirit of Truth, Creator, Father of Mercies, King of Glory, Power Stronghold, and so on. These are the images of God in the Bible.
Do you want to add some other images? How about Comforter? Healer?
It is very important to have our own images for God, because finding or developing our own images is essential to increase our faith.
Jesus used a variety of images for God (e.g. a shepherd looking for sheep, a woman looking for a lost coin, a father waiting for a son who strayed). But, above all, he most frequently referred to God as Father. In Jewish tradition, referring to God as Father was a reminder of the close relationship between God and God’s people.
The fact that Jesus chose the name abba suggests that Jesus understood the need to rename God in order to be open to all that God reveals. For example, while the names Jehovah (Lord) and King imply a quality of awe or distance; abba implies that God is approachable or close. Jesus was willing to establish a non-typical name for God in order to express his own relationship with the divine.
As Jesus did, developing your own images and names for God is very important because they do make a difference in how you feel about God and what you expect of God. What is God like for you?
(You are wishing there were bricks to count here, aren’t you?) (OK,) let me tell you a story: One of my friend’s car has a bumper sticker. It says “God is my co-pilot.” I think it is a very good image/metaphor for God. But, for me, there is something missing. First, the source of power is machine, not God. Second, you and God take the same seat at the same level. It is not the exact metaphoric image that I am looking for. What is God like for me, then? Do you want to hear how I think of God?
Well, when I was a senior high, I saw God as an observer or judge, keeping track of the things I did wrong, so as to know whether I merited heaven or hell when I die. God was out there sort of like the principal of the school I went. I recognized God’s picture when I saw it, but I didn’t really know Her. But, later on, I should say, MUCH later on, when I recognized this Higher Power, it seemed as though my life was rather like a bike ride, but it was a tandem bike (you know those bike that has two pair of pedal set and two seats so that two people can ride on it), and I noticed that God was in the back helping me pedal.
I don’t know exactly when it was that God suggested we change seats. I don’t think I was happy to change the seats, but life has not been the same since. She makes life exciting! But, when She took the lead, it was all I could do to hang on! She knew delightful paths, up mountains and through rocky places – and at breakneck speeds. Even though it looked like madness, She said, “Pedal!”
I worried and was anxious and asked, “Where are you taking me?” She laughed and didn’t answer, and I started to learn trust. I forgot my boring life and entered into adventure. When I’d say, “I’m scared,” She’d lean back and touch my hand. She took me to people with gifts that I needed, gifts of healing, acceptance, love and joy. They gave me their gifts to take on my journey, our journey, God’s and mine.
And we were off again. She said, “Give the gifts away; they’re extra baggage, too much weight.” So I did…, to the people we met. And I found that in giving I received, and our burden became light. At first, I did not trust Her in control of my life. I thought She’d wreck it. But, She knows bike secrets…. She knows how to make it lean to take sharp corners, dodge large rocks, and speed through scary passages.
And (you know what?) I am learning to shut up and pedal even in the strangest places. Nowadays, I’m beginning to enjoy the view and the cool breeze on my face with my delightful constant Companion. And when I’m sure I just can’t do any more, She just smiles and says, “Pedal!” “Go on, I’m with you!”
Rather than a co-pilot, God is my dearly beloved Companion for me, who is my source of true love and joy, my hope and strength, who gives me the light of life, enlightening the darkness of my heart, who laughs and, sometimes, cries with me, who comforts me like a Mother, guides me like a Father, helps/supports me like a Friend, and holds me like a Lover.
This is my God, my Companion. I want to share my Companion God with you. And God wants to be your companion, too. So, as we continue our Lenten journey, let us make room for our God in our hearts and welcome Her once again to be a life-long companion. Amen.
