My aunt is coming to visit!
I write these words with tremendous anticipation. She lives in Kentucky, which is not THAT far away, actually. But, my uncle has been physically limited for the past several years and, although when he wasn't they "came south" to the home community, they never visited my home (which is about 1.5 hours from Ancestors' Ground Zero).
So, I am beyond excited!!
I just love my aunt to pieces, one reason being that she is quite a bit like me, hahaha! That's no surprise, given genetics. We absolutely delight in each other's company. In many respects, although we have for much of our lives been separated by distance, I am her spiritual offspring. As I was excitedly telling my very good friend about my aunt's impending visit, I said, "You are going to recognize so much of me when you get to know her." I am her niece, but also one of her spiritual children. And, I'm so grateful for her legacy to me.
In today's verses, Hebrews 2:11-13 (ESV), if you will recall, Jesus is in a sense "speaking" a reply to the Father, who was "speaking" to the Son in Hebrews 1:5-14. Note how in today's passage Jesus calls His followers his "brothers" and also "children".
“I will tell of your name to my brothers;
in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.”
13And again,
“I will put my trust in him.”
And again,
“Behold, I and the children God has given me.”
In these verses, the author of Hebrews quotes both Isaiah 8:17-18 as well as the words of King David in 2 Samuel 22:3. I love how the writer, weaves the Old Testament prophecies into this gorgeous New Testament tapestry of legacy.
Isaiah was God's faithful prophet, to whom God promised that his children would be a remnant of faith. David was a man after God's own heart. To David God promised Messiah would come from his own lineage. Jesus, Yeshua Messiah, now calls them (and us!) both His brothers and His children.
There is no job harder than being a parent, biological or otherwise, in my opinion. It is a relationship heartbreakingly beautiful....or simply heartbreaking. Don't you know that God feels the same about us and the decisions we make? When we glorify Him, His limitless heart swells, and when we destroy the gift He has given us, His magnificent heart breaks. God: the original Big Daddy Weave!
Who are your children, Christian? Whom has God given you? Who has Big Daddy Weave woven into your tapestry? Are you praying for them? Are you sacrificing for them? Are you loving them as Jesus-with-skin-on? Father has given us to Christ so that as "children" we may learn from Him. Cockerill says this:
"The Greek word for 'children' is often used as a general term for younger people with a close relationship to and respect for the one addressing them as 'children'. Thus Christ's calling them his 'children' preserves the uniqueness of the Son, affirms his solidarity with the 'sons and daughters', and suggests that they are in need of his assistance. The term 'children' is also fitting for those in need of instruction ..."
And, He has given us offspring so that they may learn from us.
It is easy as a parent, biological or spiritual, to become discouraged or appalled or nearly suicidal over the antics and actions of our biological or spiritual descendants. But, remember...even the great Isaiah did not physically live to see God's promises totally fulfilled in his children's lives, nor did David live to see the Temple built or the first advent of Jesus Messiah.
So what if all we see is the underside of the tapestry, with all its knots and crazy connections under there? We rest in the hand of Big Daddy Weave, the Master Weaver. Let's trust and pray, yield and obey, and then....rest in His everlasting goodness.
Oh! And, Big Daddy Weave is a contemporary Christian band. Listen to their wonderful offering, "My Story" here:
https://youtu.be/1TKAN-nAsu8
(If there is an ad that starts to run before the song starts, click "Skip Ad" as soon as possible. Some of them are pretty vile and disgusting.)
Oh Father God...."for grace that is greater than all my sins, the kindness of Jesus that draws me in...Oh, to tell you my story is to tell of Him." Thank you for Your timeless grace and Your legacy woven upwards, downwards, backwards and forwards, like threads connecting us to You and to each other. Hallelujah! In Jesus' name, amen.
Source:
Cockerill, Gareth Lee. The Epistle to the Hebrews. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans, 2012. Kindle edition.
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