What Do Missiles and Oil Lamps Have in Common? Being Ready.
It’s hard to believe that the war with Iran is entering its sixth week. Against the backdrop of Passover and Easter, we continue to prepare for early and late alerts. Ears are finely tuned to the intensity of explosions—that one was closer than usual. But at least the lights haven’t gone out—yet. For now, we’re ready.
Today’s News
I hadn’t been feeling well since early last night. So, when the alerts sounded this morning at 4 am and later at 10 am, I stayed home. As I listened to the sounds from outdoors, I was thankful to hear no explosions at 4 am, and only one at 10 am.
I was finally starting to feel better by 4 pm, though it took me a good hour or more to drink just a cup of tea. As I finished my tea, the thought entered my mind, “maybe time to put on your shoes.” I thought about it, but in the several minutes while I was considering it, I soon had no choice. Around 6 pm an early alert sounded. I admit, I was only starting to feel better, and walked rather slowly to put on my shoes.
Still, early alerts usually meant at least 10-15 minutes to get to the shelter. I had time. I was out the door within 5 minutes. Even so, half way to the shelter, the alarm sounded. I picked up my pace and got to the shelter just as they were closing the heavy doors.
As usual I sat with a neighbor and we chatted. The all clear came fairly soon. However, an hour or so later, I learned that a building in the neighborhood of a close friend had been hit. Thankfully, it was a few blocks removed from her apartment. But the damage was real. As of this writing, 12 people were injured, ranging from light to serious injuries, and 3 may be trapped under the rubble. Search and rescue teams are looking for them as I write.
In a way, this has moved all that is happening from a strange surreal atmosphere into solemn reality.
Being Prepared is Biblical
Today is Easter Sunday. My congregation celebrated Passover on Wednesday at a small hotel with a shelter. Both holidays were interrupted by sirens and the need to seek shelter. And even in the midst of a Passover Seder, we were prepared.
I’ve been pondering the importance of preparedness these days. I’ve come to believe it is more important than I realized. While God is sovereign, we too have a role to play.
We believe God is ultimately in charge, yet He requires us to be prepared. Proverbs 22:3 and 27:12 couldn’t say it more clearly: “The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it.”
This Passover, as I reread Exodus 12, I was struck by the similarity between the Israelites’ plight and what we faced at our own Passover Seder (ceremonial meal observing Passover).
11In this manner you shall eat it [the Passover lamb]: with your belt fastened, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. And you shall eat it in haste. It is the LORD’S Passover.
The hotel had prepared the shelter with seating. Our worship team had prepared a small booklet of songs and a guitar so that, if needed, we could continue to sing and praise the Lord.
But we all took the risk of driving—whether a short or long distance—to celebrate the Seder together. It was worth it to be together and celebrate God’s deliverance then and now—through Yeshua.
Later, when talking with a friend about what being prepared meant for each of us, we laughed. The similarities were striking: going to bed in presentable bed clothes, wearing socks to bed, shoes next to our slippers, and a bag next to the front door with personal necessities.
I had already thought about this a couple of days earlier, and as I had, another passage had come to mind—the parable of the ten virgins. Five had enough oil for their lamps, and five didn’t. The result was simple: some were ready when the bridegroom came, and some were not. Jesus’s conclusion is just as simple: “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.” (Matthew 25:13)
No One Knows the Day or Hour
This Passover, I was struck by the similarity between the virgins’ preparation and my own preparations.
I prepare for a missile warning that may or may not sound, and take shelter from a missile that may or may not fall near my home. The virgins were also waiting for a special event, but in their case, a joyful one—a wedding. Yet they too had no idea when the bridegroom would come and usher them into the wedding feast. They knew, most likely, it would be at night. So they needed lamps to see by and oil to keep them lit. And, if the hour grew late, falling asleep was a certainty.
While this parable was most likely directed toward the Jewish people and their recognition and acceptance of the Messiah, I felt a certain application to myself. Am I as ready for the coming of my Lord as I am for the missiles that may or may not land outside my door?
I know I look forward to His return, but am I ready? My honest response: I am ready, by His grace, but I could be better prepared. There are times I’ve been more careful to put my socks on at night than to refill my lamp with precious oil. But thankfully, the oil store is just a prayer away.
God’s Commitment to Us
Passover and Easter remind us that God is totally committed to His people. That commitment led to the slaughter of the Passover lamb, so that God’s judgment would pass over His people who were slaves in and to Egypt. Rather than facing certain death, the blood of the lamb brought them life and freedom. Little did the people know that Passover, from beginning to end, pointed to what would happen some 1,400 years later. Yeshua, the Passover Lamb, shed his blood to save us from the wrath of God, justly directed toward our willful sin. Here is the thing I realize, without Yeshua, there isn’t a chance on earth I can keep my lamp burning. On my own, I’ll never have enough oil to keep it lit!
Jude talks about the wonder of God’s commitment to His people at the end of a short book that primarily focuses on the certainty of God’s judgment and wrath coming upon the false prophets, teachers, and evil in this world.
24 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you unblemished in His glorious presence, with great joy—25to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority through Jesus Christ our Lord before all time, and now, and for all eternity.
Jude 24,25 (Berean Study Bible)
Hallelujah—What a Savior
As the old Easter hymn says, “Hallelujah, what a Savior.” These verses so encourage me. Yes, I must be prepared, but I am not helpless. Our God is the one we praise because He is the one who preserves me. He will help me refill my oil lamp, and He will guard me from these missiles. And one way or the other—whether by His coming, by missile, or some other means—a day is coming when I, and all those who belong to Yeshua, will stand in His presence, blameless, with great joy.
It turns out that Jude 24 and 25 have been set to music in several renditions. Many of them are prettier and more professional-sounding than the version I am sharing below. However, this is the version I learned back in university days. I still love to sing it. I hope you enjoy listening.
