When World Collide
All around us are ways living or thinking we don't know exist. When we see these 'worlds' we see them everywhere. Here's a 'world' in the Bible you may not know exists. You won't be able to un-see it.
In the old sitcom Seinfeld, there was a running theme of “worlds colliding”. Here’s a classic example:
“If Relationship George walks through this door, he will kill Independent George! A George, divided against itself, *cannot* stand!” — George Costanza, Seinfeld
George is always very careful to keep his ‘worlds’ from coming close to one another. Sometimes though, it’s only when worlds collide, that you realize that another world outside your own exists.
Have you ever been surprised to learn of a ‘world’ you never knew existed?
The World of Basketball
A few years ago my son played recreational basketball. It was as low-key as possible - just a few practices and some games. He had a great coach - a dad and gym teacher at a local middle school, and he suggested the team play in a weekend tournament.
To this point, I had only been exposed to the soccer world. I knew how that system worked. I had seen and been to competitions and tournaments all over the country (and now the world!). I knew nothing about the basketball ‘world’, but I learned quickly.
The first tournament we played in was located in the suburbs of Kansas City. It was held in a converted ice hockey arena that was transformed into a massive gymnasium with 6-10 full-sized basketball courts. Each court hosted a game with boys or girls in heated competition. Every hour a new set of teams would come and go, parents cheering and groaning with makes and misses.
I couldn’t believe the hundreds, if not thousands, of people passing through this building which I didn’t realize existed until that day. This ‘world’ existed right under my nose, and I never knew.
The World of Scriptural Study
In the same way, my eyes were recently opened while studying the Bible. Preparing for a sermon about the Fruit of the Spirit, I was studying the link between trees and humanity. In my study, I listened to a few episodes of The Bible Project podcast on the subject of trees in the Bible.
This is when a new way of thinking about the Bible came to light.
First, I was surprised to see that I was far from early to consider the connection between people and trees in Scripture. Then, and this is the true ‘world’ that was opened up to me, I saw that an individual author of Genesis carried the theme of trees through his writing, and writers of subsequent books continued this theme throughout the entire Bible.
I want you to think about that. Different authors, spread throughout thousands of years, picked up on the motifs from those who came before, so they could weave them into their narratives. Many of these trace back to the creation and Garden of Eden stories.
Let me give you an example from the story of Elijah in 1 Kings 19.
3000 Years After Creation
I wrote an in-depth, three-part post a few years ago on this passage, but I never noticed the link to Genesis before. In this story, Elijah has just defeated the prophets of Baal on the top of Mt Carmel. God sent fire to consume Elijah’s sacrifice, while Baal did nothing, even after hours of worship. God won. Baal lost.
This was all done in front of the King, Ahab. His wife, Jezebel, was not in attendance, so when she hears of what Elijah has done, Jezebel puts a death contract out on his life. Elijah runs for his life.
You have to read between the lines to see it, but Elijah is disillusioned with God. He expected things to turn around after the big win on the mountain, but it seems nothing has changed.
He was afraid for his life before the contest, and he’s afraid for his life now. He escapes through the wilderness on a 40-day journey and ends up in a cave on a mountainside. This is what happens next:
And he said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” -1 Kings 19:11-13
Here are three things I want you to notice from this passage:
The Lord passed by.
When Elijah hears the whisper, he hides.
God asks, “What are you doing here?”
Now, think back to the Genesis 3 narrative when Adam and Eve eat the forbidden fruit. Do those look familiar?
The Link to Genesis
To refresh your memory, Eve has a conversation with Satan (in the form of a snake). The snake convinces Eve (with Adam standing next to her) to eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Adam and Eve eat from the fruit, and their eyes are opened. At this moment, they become disillusioned with God. Here’s what happens next:
And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” -Genesis 3:8-9
Do you see the three things mirroring the passage from 1 Kings?
The Lord walks through the garden.
When Adam and Eve hear God, they hide.
God asks, “Where are you?”
Why would the writer of 1 Kings go to the trouble to mirror the story of the Garden of Eden?
Just like there is a thread that runs through the Bible linking humanity and trees, there is a theme or thread that runs through all of Scripture. Linking back to creation and the garden is one of those patterns. It looks like this:
When you are disillusioned with God, He searches for you, restores you, and renews your purpose.
Genesis to Revelation
This pattern is more than two moments - Genesis and 1 Kings. We find this all throughout scripture. It is the story of the Apostle Paul and Peter in the New Testament. King David experienced this along with other kings of Israel and Judah.
So what does this pattern look like for us?
Disillusionment
In the case of Adam and Eve, disillusionment was because of sin. Elijah was worn out and overwhelmed. Both weren’t expecting to be where they ended up. This was not the life they had expected, believed in, or dreamed of.
As a pastor, I talk with lots of people who are disillusioned with God, the church, or their state of life. Deconstructing one’s faith is en vogue, and I understand it because I’ve wrestled with it too.
This may be something you don’t often hear from a pastor, but deconstruction can be very healthy. We need to wrestle with these thoughts and feelings, but God doesn’t want you to wrestle through these feelings alone. He wants to walk with you through the process, so he is searching for you.
God searches for you…
Adam, Eve, and Elijah all hid when they heard God approaching. Don’t forget, this is God — He knew where they were, but he was gentle in His search. He walks near them, and then asks a question, so he can open their hearts.
I want you to listen — not with your ears but with your heart.
This little piece of the internet you’ve found, or the newsletter you opened in your inbox is God walking near you. He’s whispering your name to tell you, “I’m not done with you yet.”
A quick warning. God won’t stop searching, but there seem to be moments when the search is more intense. As time wears on, those intense moments will be fewer and farther from one another. Don’t wait. Respond.
…to restore you.
God wants to restore you.
Adam, Eve, and Elijah were all chosen or anointed by God. Today is a new era of God’s Spirit. All followers of Jesus are chosen or anointed. If God is whispering to you, and you feel far away from this calling, God wants to restore your anointing. You are still chosen.
The process of restoration can mean different things to different people. Elijah needed rest and recovery, but he also needed to hear the truth. If you are worn out, there is rest for your soul. If you’ve been listening to lies or speaking lies to your own heart, God is ready to speak the truth. Will you listen?
For Adam and Eve, restoration meant consequences for their sin. This may be why you’re hiding, afraid of the consequences of your sin. Don’t be afraid. God is kind and loving. The discipline may sting for a moment, but it will produce a lifetime of hope, peace, and joy. Will you submit?
…and give you purpose.
God’s search for you is to restore you to your purpose. In the last half of Genesis 3, the purpose for Adam and Eve remained the same - be fruitful and multiply, in all areas of life. In Kings 19, God tells Elijah he is to continue to speak to kings and rulers and raise up followers of God.
There is a call on your life that God wants to restore to you.
I don’t know what that call is, but I have a feeling you do. In the past and maybe today you are compelled to teach, speak, share, love, give, care, call up, call out, or lead. This tug you have in your gut is from God. It’s the anointing of the Holy Spirit on you. You are chosen.