“Work-arounds”

     Here’s something technical for you to think about: Sometimes, construction practices have the need for a low-density concrete to get some insulating value. The usual way to do this is with chemical additives that form bubbles when water is added. The problem is that the bubbles vary in size and they are weak and break down easily after a long time of vigorous mixing. There is a way of getting the same end result by a different process—add a tiny percentage of Styrofoam beads. They are controlled in size and resist breakage when mixed. They are called a “work-around”.

        What does all this have to do with Scripture? Well, there are choices and events that could be called relatively “small stuff”. Moses didn’t want to be the Lord’s mouthpiece so God let Aaron have that responsibility—a “work-around”. Paul had a “thorn in the flesh”—God said, “Work around it.”

        There are relatively “small” things in our own lives too. We prayed for a dry evening at Hallowe’en, but if it rained, God would have a way for us to work around it. We might pray that our house not be blown away in a hurricane, or consumed in a wildfire in California, or engulfed in lava in Hawaii. But, if it goes, God can still help us work around it.

        But there are other cases, that we would have to call “big stuff”. For instance, how could God relate to humanity best? Only by incarnation—no way around it! How could Jesus pay our infinite debt? Only by His death. How could He prove the debt was paid? Only by His resurrection—no work-arounds here!

        And so, for us, there is something with no work-around: “Unless you repent, you too will all perish.” (Luke 13:3) In fact, let’s take it to heart that, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12.)

“How much more… shall your Father do!”

        There are a few literary constructions in the Scriptures that I’ve noted over the years, but I never knew they had a name. They take the general form, “If you…how much more…” A few examples:

§   “If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” Matthew 7:11

§  “If, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!” Romans 5:10 [also 5:9, 5:15, 5:17]

§  “If their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their full inclusion bring!” Romans 11:12

§  “If their rejection brought reconciliation to the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?” Romans 11:15

More “How much mores”
1 Sam.23:3	Ezek.15:5
2 Sam.4:11	Mat.6:30
Job 4:19	Luke 11:13
Prov.11:31	1 Cor.6:3
Song 4:10	2 Cor.3:11

   In all, my computer tells me, there are as many as fifty such uses throughout Old and New Testaments. The technical term for this grammatical construction is “a fortiori”. Webster’s dictionary tells us that the term is New Latin, literally, “from the stronger (argument)”. The explanation is “with greater reason or more convincing force— used in drawing a conclusion that is inferred to be even more certain than another.”

        Look at the first example above, Matthew 7:11. If my son asks for fish, will I give him a snake? Not a chance! How much surer is the fact that if we ask something from God, He will give us His best.

        An Old Testament example is Deuteronomy 31:27. Here Moses charges the people with being rebellious and stiff-necked while he is alive. When he dies it is a sure thing that they will get worse!

        Many of the characters in Scripture used this construction; David, Job, Solomon, Ezekiel, the Lord, Paul, and the writer to the Hebrews. One of the greatest pictures of the power and beauty of Christ’s sacrifice is Hebrews 9:14. “The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer” made the offerers ceremonially clean. “How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences…”

HOW MUCH MORE!

Three Deaths

     There were three deaths within two or three years of each other— a beheading, a crucifixion, and a stoning. The beheading was John the Baptist. (Mark 6:27) It seems that beheading was the usual form of execution in those days. It was quick and easy for the executioner and, for Herod, it involved merely a few words of condemnation—uncaring, no remorse, no answering to Rome. It was easily done, easily forgotten, with minimal pain to the victim.

        On the other hand, Stephen was stoned to death. This was the typically Jewish form of execution. Stephen reviewed the history of the Jewish people, then provoked his audience by a deliberate accusation of, “You stiff-necked people!” (Acts 7:51) The audience degenerated to a mob-mentality, and lost all conscience. Stephen died under their fit of rage but again with “minimal” pain, after the first crush of stones against him. And again, at least in this case, there seemed to be no repercussions with Rome.

        Finally, we have crucifixion. We’ve been told that this was the most torturous death ever devised by man. It was slow, it was agonizing, it was public and it was shameful. And, if ordered by the governor, it had Rome’s blessing.

        So, why was Jesus crucified? I don’t think crucifixion was a requirement of His sacrifice for us. Instead, God showed his prophets what was going to happen, and it was death on a tree. For instance, Isaiah says, (Isa.53:5), “He was pierced for our transgressions”; and Zechariah says, “They will look on me, the one they have pierced.” (Zech.12:10) Moses lifted up the serpent on a pole in the wilderness, just as the Messiah would be lifted up. (John 3:14) It seems that the elders and chief priests wanted more than just to kill Him, they wanted, in a vindictive, jealous way, to torture Him as he died.

        Thus, Stephen’s comments were true: “You have betrayed and murdered the Righteous One.” (Acts 7:51) But, thank God, Stephen’s prayer has also come true. The Apostle Paul was proof and so are we, to this day— “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!”