A Cup of Eau Claire

read the story here  This story has two memorable characters. Philip, who is not the disciple called Philip we know from the gospels. He was one of those set aside not to preach the word, but to wait on tables. When he felt danger pressing on him in Jerusalem he fled to other parts. He is led in this story by angels and the Spirit. And even though his vocation is to tend tables, he apparently knows God’s story well and senses how to effectively share it.   Also a key character is the Ethiopian eunuch. He is a complex character. He is well-placed in Ethiopia, in charge of the treasury. He has a chariot at his command with another as its driver. (So he is not driving while reading a text, whew!) He is able to leave home and travel by chariot well over 2000 miles round trip. (Good thing he brought a book). He has access to a scroll of Isaiah (not a common possession) and can read it. But most often in the passage he is described as a eunuch. So while the things at his command p...

     In this week’s story we see the power of God to heal across borders and beliefs. Naaman is a commander of the Aramean army—one of the enemies of Israel (we met this army a couple weeks ago in the “Chariots of Fire” story from 2 Kings 6). While he is a mighty warrior, he suffers from leprosy, some sort of skin condition (not the same as what we know today as leprosy, but a more general term). He hears about a prophet in Israel’s capital, Samaria, and goes there for healing. Sent by his king, he first approaches Israel’s king, who does not have the power to heal and fears he is being provoked to war when he surely fails to meet the king of Aram’s conditions (to heal Naaman). However, Elisha the prophet intercedes—by message, not in person—providing a space for God to show up and heal Naaman. Things to note:         The Arameans and Israelites are neighbors (see map) and are often attacking one another, perhaps for control of borders or land; ...

We continue our series about God out and about in the world by exploring John 2:1-12 https://bible.oremus.org/?ql=461572342   Weddings in the world of Jesus were the responsibility of the groom’s extended family. They worked hard to create a hospitable celebration that both sides of the new family could enjoy. It would have been a shaming experience for them all, along with the bride and groom, when the wine gave out. Their preparations had been inadequate.   What would that say about the family as a whole? How long would that story be passed on with chuckles at wedding after wedding in Cana?   Jesus’ mother is not about to allow that to happen. Perhaps she was from the family of the groom; perhaps she was from the other side of the family; perhaps, though less likely, she was not related to either side.   She talks to her son conveying to him the bare facts of the matter, “They have no wine.”   Jesus knows this is not merely an observation that she offers. He k...

read the story here The story of Moses at the burning bush is familiar and beloved, burned on most of our minds by either the 1956  film The Ten Commandments with Charlton Heston and Yul Brynner, or the 1998 DreamWorks animated version, The Prince of Egypt .    Moses and the Burning Bush by Alyn Spiller As a reminder: During a time of famine, Jacob and his family had relocated from Canaan to Egypt. Joseph (of the multi-colored coat fame) was second in command under Pharaoh. Egypt was able to provide food for its own citizens as well as many others in the region. At the end of Genesis (47:21) and beginning of Exodus (1:10-11), we learn that both Egyptians and Hebrews were enslaved by Pharaoh over time, but by the time of Exodus the Israelites had multiplied to the point that Pharaoh feared they could either escape or overtake the Egyptians, based on numbers alone. Thus the order that all male babies (females were no threat—what a mistake!) were to be drowned (Ex. 1:1...