Nougat 28

Sometimes we get offended when others hurt those we love or are in our care. Depending on what the issue is, those close to us know not to hurt our precious ones. In as much as we get all ‘mama bear’ protective about our own; that’s how Christ is with us. Consider Today’s Holy Nougat.

Luke 10:16 CEVDCI

[16] My followers, whoever listens to you is listening to me. Anyone who says “No” to you is saying “No” to me. And anyone who says “No” to me is really saying “No” to the one who sent me.

YHWH & Y’shua take our rejection seriously

Many of us may be familiar with the story of the Three Billy Goats Gruff. It is described as a children’s fairy tale, but in reality, could be seen as a parable or fable. The story centres around the journey of a male goat to a field replete with all the good grass he’d ever need. Except that there was a stumbling block, a troll, that sought to destroy him. The goat, realizing its frailty, appealed to a bigger goat for help, who in turn appealed to the biggest goat. They all lived happily ever after, eating all the grass in the world.

Self-Check

Can we see ourselves in the story? Do we, like the smaller goats, appeal to others for help? Why/not?

Deeper Dive

Some theologians, like myself, may see the Three Billy Goats Gruff as a simplification of our Nougat. It may have been an ‘animated Bible story’ when written in 1843. Everyone is familiar with goats, they are horned animals that eat grass. Trolls (the villain of the story) were monsters that resided in lonely places, preying on the vulnerable and preventing access to benefits. As a life lesson, it probably sought to tell the children that they had agency and they were not alone.

When the story is referenced with our Nougat, we should see ourselves as the baby goat that seeks pasture, or is being sent on God’s mission by Christ. The second, ‘bigger’ goat is Y’shua, and the biggest goat is God. The troll, or the gatekeeper is the one who rejects us or attempts to prevent us from fulfilling God’s mission.

Rather than becoming flustered, we must – like that baby billygoat – point the troll (naysayer, hater) to Christ. For, in Y’shua’s own words,

Anyone who says “No” to you is saying “No” to me.

In short, they opted to reject Christ by rejecting us believers. But their rejction does not end there.

We know that on earth Christ was accountable to YHWH, so rejection of Christ is rejecting God. That’s what our Nougat tells us. Y’shua explains that concept in more detail in His Parable of the Tenants (see Mark 12:1-12), and a bit less obviously in the Parable of the Wedding Banquet (see Matthew 22:1-14).

Now that He’s ascended to Heaven, we know we’re better positioned to call on Y’shua, because there, Christ sits at God’s right hand. He’s not sitting doing nothing, or merely accepting worship. He is working. He appeals to God for our breakthrough (see Psalm 110:1 and Ephesians 1:20-22). That’s what intercession is.

If God is our biggest billygoat, we know that no matter what rejection or delay we face, God’s in control. God defeats the troll, so it will be well.

Point to Ponder

Even in the rough times, God’s only a prayer away. Let’s call on God in the name of Y’shua.

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May all we seek be found in Christ