11/2/22
I try to not overuse Hebrew or Greek in my sermons or in these Pastor’s Notes. For one thing, I don’t ever want to come across as “showing off.” For another, when I refer back to the original language, you pretty well have to trust I’m telling you the truth! I often hear people on social media attempt to use biblical languages when it’s clear they don’t know what they’re talking about (bless their hearts). I think a lot of them are just parroting something they’ve heard someone else say, when all it takes is a simple Google search to show them what the words really means . . . but I guess that’s too much work (by the way, feel free to Google anything I share).
When I do give the original Greek or Hebrew for something, it’s because there’s some nuance of meaning in the original language that the English translation can’t or didn’t capture. And other times . . . well, sometimes it’s just fun! Like, when God confronts Eve, he says, “What is this you have done?” Six words in English, but in Hebrew, only three words, “mah zot asit?” Or simply, Mah zot! What is this! That’s a simple and handy little Hebrew phrase; try it on your spouse or child when you’re completely outdone with them.
As you can see with something like mah zot, Hebrew is much more economical than English, often using one word when it takes us several. Another good example is the first question God asks Adam after he sins: “Where are you?” In English, it’s three words; in Hebrew, just one: ayyekkah.
Ayyekkah. Where are you? When you think of it, that little Hebrew word carries a lot of weight! God’s asking a question, but he already knows the answer. He knows where they are and what they’ve been up to.
Why does he ask it?
This question came up in Bible Study last Wednesday. We concluded that God asks it because God is giving Adam a chance to ‘fess up. What would have happened had Adam come clean instead of trying to shift the blame to Eve (and to God)? What if Adam had responded like Abraham, Moses and Samuel responded when God called to them. They responded with the simple little word, hineni, “here I am!” (again, 3 words in English; in Hebrew . . . you get the idea).
The same thing happens in Genesis 4, with Cain. Cain and his brother, Abel, offer sacrifices to God. Abel, a shepherd, offers the firstling of the flock, with the fat portions (the best parts), while Cain offers “some” of the fruits of the ground. God is pleased with Abel’s offering . . . Cain’s, not so much. Cain gets so angry, his face becomes distorted. God asks him, “Why are you angry, and why is your countenance fallen?” Again, God knows full well what Cain’s problem is. Why does he ask? To give Cain a chance to repent and straighten up before he does something stupid.
These early chapters give us important glimpses into the heart of God. Contrary to some, God isn’t eager to punish (“The Lord is patient, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance” II Peter 3:9). God asks a question and gives the sinner the opportunity to repent. And, notice that God doesn’t wait for the sinner, either – God makes the first move. God seeks us out – God pursues us, initiating reconciliation with a question: “Where are you?” or “Why are you angry?” (By the time you get to mah zot - “What is this?” - you’ve crossed the line and might as well get ready for the hammer to drop, because when God says mah zot, you can be certain judgment is coming!)
God takes the initiative. When we’re lost, God pursues us. In Psalm 23:6, the traditional translation is “surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.” But! Goodness and mercy are doing more than merely “following” us! The Hebrew word translated “follow” means more than simply to fall in line behind someone. The word is radaph, and it means to pursue or chase. Goodness and mercy don’t just follow us; they pursue us all the days of our lives.
That is what’s happening in Genesis 3 and 4. God is pursuing Adam and Eve, asking “Where are you ?” God is pursuing Cain, asking, “Why are you angry?” God is giving all three of them the chance to repent, to be restored. Because, ultimately, it is the goodness and mercy of the Lord that always pursues us, wanting to bring us back home.
Here, in these foundational chapters of Genesis, in these first questions God asks his fallen creatures, we see the heart of who God is. Later, on Mt. Sinai, God will reveal himself to Moses, declaring who he will be for his people: “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for the thousandth generation, forgiving iniquity . . .” (Exodus 34:6-7).
Listen to the words God uses: Merciful. Gracious. Slow to anger. Abounding in steadfast love and mercy. Forgiving. This is who God promised to be for his people, and this is the way God is all throughout the Bible. So it should be no surprise at all when we read in Luke 19 (our text this past Sunday), these words of Jesus: “For the Son of Man came to seek out and save the lost.” Why? Because that’s what the Father does.
God seeks out fallen sinners, pursuing them, inviting them to repent, desiring their restoration. That’s the kind of God we serve. He seeks us out, and he initiates a relationship by asking a question: Ayyekkah? “Where are you?”
Blessings,
Pastor Terry
THANK YOU!
There’s no way I can tell you what Sunday meant to me. The sweetness of the cards and the STACK of gift cards and gift certificates you all gave me, floored me. Ron Harris was standing there when I kept pulling them out. . . and pulling them out . . .and pulling them out! I am constantly amazed at your generosity, whether for a mission’s project or a gift like this. God has blessed us with a beautiful, gracious family, and I am blessed to serve as your Pastor. I love you all very much! Thank you!
Pastor Terry