Far From Home (Genesis 28:10-19)

The movie “Spiderman: Brand New Day” is scheduled to be released on July 31. Who’s excited about that?

The previous Spiderman movies in the Marvel Cinematic Universe were titled:

“Spiderman: Homecoming”

“Spiderman: Far From Home”

“Spiderman: No Way Home”

The titles of these three movies all use the word “home” in some way.

“Homecoming” (the title of the first movie) sounds great. We all love a good homecoming. In September, here at First Christian Church, we have a fall kickoff Sunday, but in some churches, they call it “Homecoming Sunday.” 

It’s a day when those who have been away from their church home, due to summer vacations… or perhaps have been away from their church home for longer than that… are invited to return, to be welcomed back, and take their place in church.

“Far From Home” (the title of the second movie) doesn’t sound quite as positive. But it does make it sound like a return home is still possible. It might be challenging, but it’s still possible.

But “No Way Home” (the title of the third movie) makes it sound like you’ve gone past the point of no return. If there’s “no way home,” then you’ve essentially become homeless. That phrase, “No Way Home,” gives one the impression that this movie is neither history nor comedy, but tragedy.

Indeed, in the final scene of “No Way Home,” Spiderman—aka Peter Parker—finds himself in a familiar place, surrounded by familiar faces—so it looks like home—and yet… he’s actually a whole universe away.

And you think: maybe… just maybe… he can cross that universe, and return home… or, at least, that maybe there will be a hint that that will happen, in the future…

But no. There’s no hint of that. He remains a universe away. Far From home, with no way back.

Whether he is indeed able to cross that universe and return home in the movie that comes out at the end of this month, I have no idea. But one can hope…

*******

Jacob had left his home in Beer-sheba.

His leaving was not by choice. Jacob didn’t want to leave home. Heck, most days, Jacob didn’t even want to leave his tent. 

While the other men went out and hunted, Jacob preferred to stay among the tents, with the women. 

What can I say? Jacob wasn’t like all the other boys. Jacob was built different. He was created by God different.

…and Jacob liked to stay close to home.

“Close to Home” is not the title of any Spiderman movie. As much as we might like to stay close to home, and as much as Jacob liked to stay close to home, I guess staying close to home doesn’t make for a very exciting movie. 

And in the Bible, there are many stories of people leaving home, going far from home.

Abraham, Jacob’s own grandfather, left his home, and took his whole household on a very long journey to a new home.

Now, Jacob himself was being forced on a long journey. “Close to Home” isn’t the title of his story, either, as much as he would have liked it to be.

No. Like Abraham, Jacob was also sent “far from home.”

******

The reason Jacob had to leave home was his twin brother Esau. 

Esau was everything Jacob was not. Esau was strong, manly, hairy…, and a good hunter. 

And because he was born first, Esau was in line to receive the birthright and blessing reserved for the first-born son.

But Jacob successfully stole from Esau the birthright and blessing of the first-born son. Because of this, Esau was determined to kill Jacob.

So Jacob fled.

He had an uncle who lived in Haran. Haran was 500 miles away. In an age of no internet and no high-speed travel, it must have seemed a whole universe away.

But it was the only safe place for Jacob to go.

So Jacob left Beer-sheba, and began his long journey away from home.

After a day or two of travel, Jacob reached Bethel. It was at this point, I think, that Jacob asked himself: Am I really doing this?

It may have felt to him like the point of no return. The point when he realized that this is really happening. The point when he realized that he may never see his home and his family again.

And what about God? It was a common belief in ancient times that the god of a people lived where those people lived; that God was the God of this land, and that other lands had other gods… or no God at all.

So not only would Jacob be cut off from his family… far from home… but would he also be cut off from his God?

With these thoughts in his head, Jacob lay down for the night, to get some sleep. Back home, he would have been in his comfy bed, with his comfy pillow, but out here, far from home, all he had was the ground.

He grabbed a stone and placed it under his head, trying his best to imagine the comfort of the pillows he had at home, but a stone was a poor substitute. 

And there he lay, far from home, trying not to feel so desperately alone…

Eventually, Jacob fell asleep. And he had this dream. This vision.

He saw a stairway, or ladder, reaching up to heaven; and angels were ascending and descending it. 

And God appeared, and (as we already heard), God said to Jacob:

“I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac. The land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring, and your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south, and all the families of the earth shall be blessed in you and in your offspring. 

“Know that I am with you and will keep you wherever you go and will bring you back to this land, for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”

And Jacob awoke. And Jacob realized that, no matter where he went, no matter how far from home he was, that God would be with him, that he would never be left alone. Even at the end of the universe, God would be there, with him. 

******

As the psalmist wrote: “Where can I go from your spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?... If I take the wings of the morning and settle at the farthest limits of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me fast.”

When Jacob woke up, he realized that all this was true. And because God would be with him no matter where he went, no matter how far from home he traveled, then, in a very real sense, wherever he went would be home. He would never truly be “far from home,” because he was always at home with God… no matter where he lay his head.

******

With God, we always have a home. God—the one in whom we live and move and have our being—is our home.

It’s so easy to feel lost in this world. To feel without a home. To feel disconnected from our values, from ourselves, from humanity… To feel beyond the reach of love.

Even if you have a shelter, a safe place to hide, a place to sleep at night, with a comfy bed and soft pillows, you can still feel as though you are without a home.

But God is never far away. 

And in God’s presence, we always have a home.

How are we at First Christian Church proclaiming and living out this message, this truth? How are we helping others find their home in God?

I sometimes wonder if some of the things we do to make ourselves feel at home here keeps others from feeling at home here. Are we unknowingly or unintentionally making others feel less at home just so we can feel more at home?

What would happen if we discovered that some of what we do to feel at home here is actually keeping others from feeling at home? Would we be willing to give up those practices and patterns of behavior so that others can find a home here?

Hospitality and welcome are not always easy things. We like to say that we are a church that welcomes all, as if that were an easy thing.

It’s not. 

It requires that we put the needs of others ahead of our own needs; that we consider what extra effort it might require of us to make others feel truly welcome. 

I know that, for me, as an introvert, it can be easy to just hide in my corner and not bother anyone, and think I’m doing a good job of welcoming others, simply because I haven’t got in the way. 

But true welcome requires more than that. Especially from the pastor! But from any of us, really.

And I sometimes think that the Disciples of Christ, as a denomination, is an introverted denomination. 

We’re not as loud as some other denominations.

That’s not entirely a bad thing. I appreciate my quiet moments, and sometimes grow weary of those who don’t ever stop talking, or who always insist on being the center of attention.

But I think that we, as a church, do need to step out of the shadows where we’ve been hiding, into the light, with open arms, and a big sign saying, “Welcome Home!”

Or something like that.

Because I really do believe that we are just the type of church that many are looking for. That many need.

A church committed to following Jesus. 

A church that believes that Jesus is not supposed to be a tool of any political party, but instead is a challenge to every person and every political party to do what is right, to work for justice, free the oppressed, care for the poor… 

A church that allows the gospel to challenge us and change us. 

A church where questions are encouraged. 

A church where we engage in respectful conversations with people with whom we may disagree, and through those conversations, and by listening to one another, we may learn and grow into a deeper sort of faith.

I’ve heard people tell me, in various places I’ve lived, that the Disciples of Christ denomination is one of the best kept secrets around. 

The problem is, if our church is a secret that no one knows about, how welcoming is it, really? If it’s a secret, isn’t that more like a private club, the type of place where you maybe have to have a password to get in, or be on a VIP list? The type of place where you walk down a narrow street to an unmarked door, and tap out the secret knock, in order to gain admission?

If we’re not letting people know that we are here, and if we’re not letting people know that they are welcome, then how welcoming are we, really?

Somehow, we all have found this place. We all have found a welcome here. We all have found a home.

And we have learned to see God as a God who welcomes us and who welcomes all, and who invites us to take our place, to make this our home.

What a joy and what a blessing that is, to have a home, to be welcomed, to know God’s love…

It’s too good a thing to keep to ourselves.

Especially in a world where so many feel far from home… a world where so many feel that there is no way home… a world where so many are spiritually homeless…

This is our home, but it’s not just our home. It is a home for all people. Including those who haven’t yet made their way here.

Let’s let the world know that this is their home. Let’s welcome them in, just as God has welcomed us.

A song of restoration (Isaiah 55:10-13)

 Scholars tell us that the book of Isaiah can be divided into different sections, each section written in a different time period, and probably by different authors.

The first section of Isaiah includes chapters 1 – 39. It is assumed that this section was, in fact, written by the prophet Isaiah. In this section, Isaiah condemns the social and economic injustice of the time, saying that it threatens the nation’s relationship with God. Thus, the nation is judged for forsaking God’s ways, for turning its back on the poor and vulnerable, for neglecting to do what is right. 

The consequence for their lack of justice is captivity in a foreign land.

The second section of Isaiah includes chapters 40 – 55. The time is much later. The people’s exile into captivity has taken place, and in fact, it is almost over. There is joyful anticipation and hope of a return to their homeland and the restoration of their nation. 

The author of this section sees their return as a sort of “second exodus.” In Chapter 43, Isaiah writes that “The Lord makes a way in the sea, a path in the mighty waters…”

This is clearly a reference to the Exodus, when God led the people out of slavery in Egypt, through the Red Sea, on a journey to the promised land, where they would be free to live lives of wholeness; where their labor would produce fruits that they themselves could enjoy, rather than have all the results of their labor go to benefit only pharaoh. 

Here, the prophet is saying that God is bringing about a new exodus, when the people who have been sent into captivity will be led back to their homeland.

Then, in chapter 49, God says to the prisoners, “Come out,” and to those who are in darkness, “Show yourselves.” 

God says “you shall no longer hunger or thirst…” 

And the prophet writes: “Sing for joy,... for the Lord has comforted his people, and will have compassion on his suffering ones.”

Not only will the people be led back to their homeland, but they will experience comfort and joy and abundance.

I get the feeling that some who heard these words were skeptical. They didn’t believe that these things would actually come to pass. They thought that their restoration was nothing more than a dream that would never come true.

They had been forced to live in a land not their own for a long time. And perhaps they had been told too many lies. Perhaps those who had taken control of them, and forced their relocation, had made many promises to them, yet had not fulfilled any of those promises. 

It was hard for them to get their hopes up.

So in chapter 55 we have this assurance:

The assurance that God’s word is a promise that will be fulfilled. It is true! There is no gap between what God speaks and what God does. 

When God speaks of restoration, one doesn’t need to wonder if God will follow through on what God says; for as soon as God’s word is spoken, the thing that is spoken becomes a reality… 

It makes me think of the creation story in Genesis 1, in addition to the exodus story. In Genesis 1, we hear repeatedly that God spoke… and it was so.

God said “let there be light,” and there was light.

God said “let there be waters on the earth and land on the earth, and let the land be filled with vegetation and with animals…” and it was so.

God spoke, and it was so. 

That’s how it is with God! God’s word accomplishes its purpose. God’s promises are not empty promises. What God says, God will do!

The promises of God, and the fulfilment of those promises, are so connected, that anything spoken by God is synonymous with truth.

Oh that it were so with humans! People often speak, but their words mean nothing. Just because someone says something doesn’t make it real. People often say one thing and do another. Trust is broken. Words become cheap; meaningless.

Advances in AI make it even easier to lie. Photos and videos look real, but aren’t. It used to be said that a photo is worth 1,000 words, but now, we know, that a photo is often worth 1,000 lies.

I hope we are learning to never share anything on social media unless we verify it first. Make sure it is really real. Because otherwise our own credibility will be weakened.

There are some good uses of AI: I just heard about Edward Kang, a high school student in New Jersey, who developed an AI tool that diagnoses autism and ADHD using retinal images, allowing for earlier diagnoses that can help individuals receive helpful services and accommodations. 

I’ve also heard of AI tools that can diagnose cancer earlier than other methods, enabling cancer patients to receive earlier treatment and increasing their chances of survival. 

Those are great uses of AI!

But that is not how AI is mostly used. Too often, AI is used to try to get people to believe something that just isn’t true. For this and other reasons, I generally consider most uses of AI to be contrary to the kingdom of God.

God’s word is true. Once you know that a word has come from God, you know it’s true. 

So when God says there will be restoration, that all that has been lost will be restored, you can count on it.

God’s word will not go out and return empty. It will accomplish what it sets out to do.

In this case, God’s word will cause the thorns and briers of the world to give way to cypresses and myrtles.

I like that image. It reminds me of something our youth like to do, when they meet here at church, or when they go to camp.

It’s called “thorns and roses.”

It usually happens at the end of a youth group meeting, or at the end of a small group session at camp, or at the end of the day in one’s cabin, just before lights out.  Each youth is invited to share, briefly, one high and one low from their day. One thorn, and one rose.

It provides an opportunity for each youth to speak the truth about what they are experiencing. It’s not like the answer one gives when greeted with a perfunctory, “how are you?” The answer to that question is usually, “fine’ or ‘good.” such answers are polite, but they aren’t always true.

But in Thorns and Roses, there is the invitation to share something that is a little more true, a little more real…and to know that the truth you speak will be heard and received.

That’s a powerful thing.

At Camp Walter Scott last week, one of the most powerful moments came during a worship one evening, which took place after dark at the outdoor chapel. 

The camper who was leading the worship invited all the other youth to share something true; they were invited to share a way in which they hoped God would help them grow during their week at camp.

And these prayers, shared out loud, were powerful. Emboldened by the darkness, The youth risked vulnerability, and the truth they spoke was raw and honest. And powerful.

TRUTH is powerful.

LIES can be powerful, too, but in a very negative way.

In fact, the words of many that speak lies are thorns and briers that choke out what is good in the world. Words of hate. Words of condemnation.

Maybe to some, these are “just words.” But words are never “just words.” The lies are not harmless. And words spoken against people carry consequences.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells his followers to let their “yes” be “yes;” let your “no” be “no.” Anything else, Jesus says, is evil. [Matthew 5:37]

Jesus also says that words should never be used to insult or harm another. “Do not insult anyone,” he says in Matthew 5:22; “do not call anyone a “fool.” 

Let your words be true, and let them be used for healing, and not for harm.

Yet many of the words we hear spoken—even by those who profess to be Christian—are lies meant to harm.

Words spoken against immigrants, who are labelled “criminals,” “thugs,” “animals,” even though they are human just like everyone else; humans made in the image of God, the vast majority of them seeking the same peace and security that we ourselves desire.

Words spoken against those who are transgender; lies meant to spread false rumors about how they are a threat to society, to deny rights and humanity, and cause harm.

Immigrants and Transgender people are just two categories of people who have been subjected to the lies, libel, and slander that take away their dignity and threaten their lives. Acts of hate and violence committed against these and other communities are often inspired by the words of politicians and other influencers.

That’s the power of words spoken falsely and maliciously. Words like that are contrary to God’s vision for the world.

We can remove the thorns of society; we can work with God to plant good, beautiful trees and plants.

By speaking only what is true.

By speaking only what uplifts.

By speaking and acting with kindness and love.

By working to let our nature be a reflection of God’s nature, for God is true, and God works toward restoration.

Let your words be true. Let your words be for healing and restoration. Let your words resemble the words spoken by God…so that all may go out in joy and be led back in peace, experiencing the restoration that God promises for all creation.