We are constantly trying to read meaning into events in life, as if they were speaking like the infamous handwriting on the wall.
If you recall reading Daniel chapter five which is the account of Belshazzar, son of Nebuchadnezzar, who was hosting a party and drinking wine in the vessels from the house of God, when a hand wrote on the wall.
Daniel 5:24–28 (ESV) — 24 “Then from his presence the hand was sent, and this writing was inscribed. 25 And this is the writing that was inscribed: Mene, Mene, Tekel, and Parsin. 26 This is the interpretation of the matter: Mene, God has numbered the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end; 27 Tekel, you have been weighed in the balances and found wanting; 28 Peres, your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.”
That was a very direct way through which God got the attention of the king. At other times, people missed what God was saying as they looked for something else.
Luke 13:1–5 (ESV) — 1 There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? 3 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. 4 Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? 5 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”
Jesus is very direct. As people were looking for specific answers as to why some people suffered, He said it is very clear that God allows us to see the brevity of life to bring us to call upon Him and get serious about serving Him.
God’s word uses the institution of memorials to teach us, remind us, and help us to see the meaning and significance of various events in history.
Genesis 9:8–17 (ESV) — 8 Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him, 9 “Behold, I establish my covenant with you and your offspring after you, 10 and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the livestock, and every beast of the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark; it is for every beast of the earth. 11 I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.” 12 And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: 13 I have set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. 14 When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, 15 I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh. And the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. 16 When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” 17 God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between me and all flesh that is on the earth.”
What is the meaning of the rainbow? God is faithful to His covenant to never again destroy the earth with a flood.
When the children of Israel crossed the Jordan river into the promised land, there were 12 stones picked up from the riverbed and taken to the other side. The stones were erected into a memorial for the purpose of a constant reminder.
Joshua 4:21–24 (ESV) — 21 And he said to the people of Israel, “When your children ask their fathers in times to come, ‘What do these stones mean?’ 22 then you shall let your children know, ‘Israel passed over this Jordan on dry ground.’ 23 For the Lord your God dried up the waters of the Jordan for you until you passed over, as the Lord your God did to the Red Sea, which he dried up for us until we passed over, 24 so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the Lord is mighty, that you may fear the Lord your God forever.”
What is the meaning of the pile of stones? God is faithful to His promise to bring His people into the promised land.
The Lord Jesus Christ established a remembrance feast to make sure we do not forget that our salvation cost Him dearly.
1 Corinthians 11:23–26 (ESV) — 23 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
What is the meaning of this? The Lord Jesus Christ sacrificed His body in which He bore our sins and shed His blood to pay our ransom and cover our sins to make us accepted by God.
As we consider the vastness of God’s wisdom, grace, compassion, and love may we look at the things of God and ask: “What is the meanings of this?” To which we shall find an adequate answer:
Romans 11:33–36 (ESV) — 33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! 34 “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?” 35 “Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?” 36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.
Godspeed,
Bob Brubaker, Pastor
Christ Community Presbyterian Church
Clearwater, FL
Check out the PowerBreak podcast wherever you download podcasts or from our website: www.bobbrubaker.com
