Today's readings are 2 Kings 4.38-5.8 and Ephesians 6.1-24.
Today we read about some of the miracles of Elisha. I've seen commentary that suggests the narrative from 2 Kings is simply a fanciful tale. For instance, everyone knows that putting flour into a pot of poisonous stew is not going to have an effect aside from thickening it or making dumplings. While that may be a delicious idea, it does not make the contents of the pot less toxic. Therefore, these commentators say, the author or authors of 2 Kings were telling fanciful tales to gullible people. This is exactly the kind of text, according to some, which points out the futility of belief in God. After all, the example he gives here of rescuing people from poison is something which the CDC would in no way endorse. Poison Control doesn't know of the flour cure.
With all due respect, that's just exactly the point. When God does miraculous things they are supposed to be miraculous. He uses means which would not normally accomplish anything (making gravy or dumplings excepted) and accomplishes his purpose. Miracles are supernatural. That's all there is to it. And this is the crux of the entire Christian faith. Do we believe that the world is limited to that which is physical? Do we accept that the world has certain immeasurable things which are quite real? If so, what would seem so strange about the idea that God could intervene in a supernatural way, using perfectly normal means?
A classical Lutheran understanding of a sacrament works just this way. We say there is God's promise in Scripture to accomplish something coupled with an earthly element. For instance, we see in baptism God's promise of salvation along with an earthly element, namely, water. The promise is received by faith. Water alone can't save anyone. But water accompanied by God's word and received by faith can. In communion we see God's promise of spiritual nourishment along with two earthly elements, bread and wine. By faith the bread and wine are received, we recognize according to God's promise the real body and blood of Christ given and shed for us, and we become partakers of the spiritual nourishment God has promised.
Yes, miracles are miraculous. They regularly use simple earthly elements which on their own can accomplish nothing miraculous. That's what we mean when we say God is supernatural.
Today we read about some of the miracles of Elisha. I've seen commentary that suggests the narrative from 2 Kings is simply a fanciful tale. For instance, everyone knows that putting flour into a pot of poisonous stew is not going to have an effect aside from thickening it or making dumplings. While that may be a delicious idea, it does not make the contents of the pot less toxic. Therefore, these commentators say, the author or authors of 2 Kings were telling fanciful tales to gullible people. This is exactly the kind of text, according to some, which points out the futility of belief in God. After all, the example he gives here of rescuing people from poison is something which the CDC would in no way endorse. Poison Control doesn't know of the flour cure.
With all due respect, that's just exactly the point. When God does miraculous things they are supposed to be miraculous. He uses means which would not normally accomplish anything (making gravy or dumplings excepted) and accomplishes his purpose. Miracles are supernatural. That's all there is to it. And this is the crux of the entire Christian faith. Do we believe that the world is limited to that which is physical? Do we accept that the world has certain immeasurable things which are quite real? If so, what would seem so strange about the idea that God could intervene in a supernatural way, using perfectly normal means?
A classical Lutheran understanding of a sacrament works just this way. We say there is God's promise in Scripture to accomplish something coupled with an earthly element. For instance, we see in baptism God's promise of salvation along with an earthly element, namely, water. The promise is received by faith. Water alone can't save anyone. But water accompanied by God's word and received by faith can. In communion we see God's promise of spiritual nourishment along with two earthly elements, bread and wine. By faith the bread and wine are received, we recognize according to God's promise the real body and blood of Christ given and shed for us, and we become partakers of the spiritual nourishment God has promised.
Yes, miracles are miraculous. They regularly use simple earthly elements which on their own can accomplish nothing miraculous. That's what we mean when we say God is supernatural.
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Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com
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