Numbers 32: 22 – 35

God was angry that Balaam was going with the Moabite leaders, and as Balaam was riding along on his donkey, accompanied by his two servants, the angel of the Lord stood in the road to bar his way. When the donkey saw the angel standing there holding a sword, it left the road and turned into the fields. Balaam beat the donkey and brought it back onto the road. Then the angel stood where the road narrowed between two vineyards and had a stone wall on each side. When the donkey saw the angel, it moved over against the wall and crushed Balaam's foot against it. Again Balaam beat the donkey. Once more the angel moved ahead; he stood in a narrow place where there was no room at all to pass on either side. This time, when the donkey saw the angel, it lay down. Balaam lost his temper and began to beat the donkey with his stick. Then the Lord gave the donkey the power of speech, and it said to Balaam, “What have I done to you? Why have you beaten me these three times?”

Balaam answered, “Because you have made a fool of me! If I had a sword, I would kill you.”

The donkey replied, “Am I not the same donkey on which you have ridden all your life? Have I ever treated you like this before?”

“No,” he answered.

Then the Lord let Balaam see the angel standing there with his sword; and Balaam threw himself face downward on the ground. The angel demanded, “Why have you beaten your donkey three times like this? I have come to bar your way, because you should not be making this journey. But your donkey saw me and turned aside three times. If it hadn't, I would have killed you and spared the donkey.”

Balaam replied, “I have sinned. I did not know that you were standing in the road to oppose me; but now if you think it is wrong for me to go on, I will return home.”

But the angel said, “Go on with these men, but say only what I tell you to say.” So Balaam went on with them.

Picture

A painting by Rembrant van Rijn inspired by this story

Prayer

Can donkeys really talk? Probably not – but the scriptures speak of star that sing, trees that clap, rocks that might cry out and a creation that groans.

God of all creation, so often we humans see ourselves as superior to the rest of creation, and so fail to hear the voices of animals, the clapping of trees, or the cries of the earth itself.  Grant to us the humility to see ourselves as part of your creation, and to love it as you do.  We pray for all who work in agriculture and horticulture, for scientists and engineers, researchers and entrepreneurs, that as they consider complex questions, they might hear the voices of donkeys and th songs of stars. Amen.

1 Kings 19: 1 – 9

King Ahab told his wife Jezebel everything that Elijah had done and how he had put all the prophets of Baal to death. She sent a message to Elijah: “May the gods strike me dead if by this time tomorrow I don't do the same thing to you that you did to the prophets.”  Elijah was afraid and fled for his life; he took his servant and went to Beersheba in Judah.

Leaving the servant there, Elijah walked a whole day into the wilderness. He stopped and sat down in the shade of a tree and wished he would die. “It's too much, Lord,” he prayed. “Take away my life; I might as well be dead!”

He lay down under the tree and fell asleep. Suddenly an angel touched him and said, “Wake up and eat.” He looked around and saw a loaf of bread and a jar of water near his head. He ate and drank, and lay down again. The Lord's angel returned and woke him up a second time, saying, “Get up and eat, or the trip will be too much for you.” Elijah got up, ate and drank, and the food gave him enough strength to walk forty days to Sinai, the holy mountain. There he went into a cave to spend the night.

Picture

Artwork inspired by this story

Prayer

The story of Elijah is one that resonates with many people – a man who is burned out, depressed, possibly even a man with thoughts of ending his life who encounters God in unexpected ways.  The prayer this evening names that potential in our own lives, and those of people we love.

God of the quiet whisper, the still voice – even the sound of silence – we come to you in our world-weariness, fatigue and tiredness, and we bring with us any we know for whom this physically dark season is emotionally or spiritually dark.  We thank you for the quiet angels who offer simple, practical gifts, whose presence makes the moment lighter.  And we thank you that it is sometimes when you seem furthest away, that we discover you in unexpected ways.  Amen.    

Genesis 32: 22 – 32

Jacob took his two wives, his two concubines, and his eleven children, and crossed the Jabbok River. After he had sent them across, he also sent across all that he owned, but he stayed behind, alone.

Then a man came and wrestled with him until just before daybreak. When the man saw that he was not winning the struggle, he hit Jacob on the hip, and it was thrown out of joint. The man said, “Let me go; daylight is coming.”

“I won't, unless you bless me,” Jacob answered.

 “What is your name?” the man asked.

“Jacob,” he answered.

The man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob. You have struggled with God and with men, and you have won; so your name will be Israel.”

Jacob said, “Now tell me your name.”

But he answered, “Why do you want to know my name?” Then he blessed Jacob.

Jacob said, “I have seen God face-to-face, and I am still alive”; so he named the place Peniel. The sun rose as Jacob was leaving Peniel, and he was limping because of his hip

Picture

Today’s painting is by the artist Gaughin, and is inspired by this story

Prayer

I have long loved the idea of ‘limping with the Lord’ – the consequence of having wrestled with God, or with God’s angel, and then walking into the future with God.

God of Jacob, who not only allows, but seems to appreciate our wrestling with who you are, and what your require of us, help us in this Advent journey to have the courage to ask our questions, voice our concerns and to do the work of grappling with ideas, so that, as we limp towards Christmas, may do so assured of your accompaniment and blessing.  Amen.  

Genesis 28: 1 – 19

Jacob left Beersheba and started toward Haran. At sunset he came to a holy place and camped there. He lay down to sleep, resting his head on a stone. He dreamed that he saw a stairway reaching from earth to heaven, with angels going up and coming down on it. And there was the Lord standing beside him. “I am the Lord, the God of Abraham and Isaac,” he said. “I will give to you and to your descendants this land on which you are lying. They will be as numerous as the specks of dust on the earth. They will extend their territory in all directions, and through you and your descendants I will bless all the nations. Remember, I will be with you and protect you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done all that I have promised you.”

Jacob woke up and said, “The Lord is here! He is in this place, and I didn't know it!” He was afraid and said, “What a terrifying place this is! It must be the house of God; it must be the gate that opens into heaven.”

Jacob got up early next morning, took the stone that was under his head, and set it up as a memorial. Then he poured olive oil on it to dedicate it to God. He named the place Bethel.

Picture

Today’s picture is a painting based on this story

Prayer

As our prayer tonight, we use the words of an old hymn inspired by this story…

O God of Bethel, by whose hand
your people still are fed;
who through this earthly pilgrimage
your people safely led;

Our vows, our prayers, we now present
before your gracious throne;
as you have been their faithful God,
so always be our own!

Through each perplexing path of life
our wandering footsteps guide;
give us today our daily bread,
and for our needs provide.

O spread your covering wings around
till all our wanderings cease;
and at our heavenly Father's home
we shall arrive in peace.
Amen

Some people think that the three visitors on this story are the archangels Gabriel, Raphael and Michael, but actually no one knows who they were…

Genesis 18: 1 – 10

The Lord appeared to Abraham at the sacred trees of Mamre. As Abraham was sitting at the entrance of his tent during the hottest part of the day, he looked up and saw three men standing there. As soon as he saw them, he ran out to meet them. Bowing down with his face touching the ground, he said, “Sirs, please do not pass by my home without stopping; I am here to serve you. Let me bring some water for you to wash your feet; you can rest here beneath this tree. I will also bring a bit of food; it will give you strength to continue your journey. You have honoured me by coming to my home, so let me serve you.”

They replied, “Thank you; we accept.”

Abraham hurried into the tent and said to Sarah, “Quick, take a sack of your best flour, and bake some bread.” Then he ran to the herd and picked out a calf that was tender and fat, and gave it to a servant, who hurried to get it ready. He took some cream, some milk, and the meat, and set the food before the men. There under the tree he served them himself, and they ate.

Then they asked him, “Where is your wife Sarah?”

“She is there in the tent,” he answered.

One of them said, “Nine months from now I will come back, and your wife Sarah will have a son.”

Picture

There is a very famous icon based on this story by an icon painter called Rublev.  Our picture today is a modern version of that icon by an artist called meg Wroe.  It was painted for the Iona Community, and the three figures are a Methodist minister, a student volunteer and a visitor from Africa.

Prayer

The scriptures speak of ‘entertaining angels unawares’ and that might be what happened in this story.

God of Abraham and Sarah, we thank you for the stories of this elderly couple who followed your call to set out on an unchosen adventure.  We thank you for the way their story is very real – of hope and disappointment, of faith and doubt, even of dishonesty and disobedience, and yet you loved them so very dearly.  Help us to be open to the possible that people who come into our own lives unexpectedly might be, of us, your messengers of hope and encouragement.  Amen.