BeGods

Sorry once again for the delay - I have simply been distracted.

One of the books I have been reading lately is "The Parables: Jewish Tradition and Christian Interpretation" by Brad Young. Really thought provoking so far. One thought that hit me, as I obviously have politics on my mind with the election and all the talk surrounding me in DC, is a point Young raises on p 10.

Young is explaining the meaning of parable, Mashal in Hebrew. In ancient Hebrew tradition, parables are a way of telling a story about God, as we know from what is recorded about Yeshua throughout the gospels. It is a way to reveal something about God and also conveys a moral story.

What I was struck by is the description of this verse "Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's and to God things that are God's" found in Luke 20:25, Matt 22:21 and Mark 12:17. Young says, "In Judaism, Haggadah inspires esteem for others by calling to remembrance God and each person who is created in his image...The Bible simply describes the story of creation, Haggadah reveals the ones created in God's image in the nameless faces of all humanity."

The verse above is a parable - something I wouldn't have thought until I opened up Young's book. When Yeshua is asked about if its lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, he makes one simple point: this coin has Caesar's image on it. Therefore, it belongs to Caesar. On the contrary, we all bear the image of God on our likeness. Therefore, we belong to God.

This hit me hard. Whatever I feel about myself, I belong to God. Whatever you may feel about God, you cannot escape him for you are made in his image. Whatever happens, we belong to God because our image reflects him. period. for good or for bad too - which is a scary thought. Let us hope we reflect at least a fraction of his goodness.

shabbat shalom