We thank God with Golden Cows: the frailty of the human heart

Both the parable of The Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31) in the New Testament and the Book of Exodus in the Old Testament provide direct teaching about the human heart. The Book of Ecclesiastes in the Old Testament can also be said to teach about the human condition, however, because this particular book holds such a special place in the landscape of my interior world, I will dedicate more to it in later entries.

What Luke 16:19-31 and the Book of Exodus hold in common is that direct demonstration of the supernatural cannot change the human heart from its imperfect and fallen intention. While priests, ministers, and pastors frequently draw lessons about life after death from this passage in Luke, and while it can be said that Exodus establishes and communicates God's favor upon the Hebrews, few have concluded that each Biblical segment teaches how humanity's heart has the potential reject all things and truths, even when delivered from supernatural hands.

Luke 16:19-31[19] "There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. [20] At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores [21] and longing to eat what fell from the rich man's table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. [22] "The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried. [23] In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. [24] So he called to him, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.' [25] "But Abraham replied, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. [26] And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.' [27] "He answered, 'Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father's house, [28] for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.' [29] "Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.' [30] " 'No, father Abraham,' he said, 'but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.' [31] "He said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.' "

Imagine someone you knew has died and has been dead for several days. There is no doubt in anyone's mind that this person was deceased. Now imagine their deceased body reanimates in order to deliver a warning message to you after a few days. Aside from the initial shock and terror from such an event, doubt and discredit will fill your mind shortly thereafter. "This can't be real -- I must be imagining things!" No matter how profound their message, no matter how convincing their message, it is destined to be dismissed. Such conclusions can be drawn about the person or the people who were impervious to hearing Truth in the first place; doubt, discredit, and dismissal is not fertile soil for the seed of Truth to grow. In this parable, Jesus taught that those who cannot or who will not hear the Truth in the word of God expressed through the Bible or expressed through the Prophets (Luke 16:29) will also not hear the expression of this Truth even if it comes from the mouth of someone who was known to be deceased (Luke 16:31). A supernatural phenomenon does not help those who are unwilling or unable to hear Truth in the first place. For those who are willing to hear it, a supernatural phenomenon is not necessary in the first place.

The story of Exodus is the story of how Moses led the Hebrew people from slavery in ancient Egypt. In this Old Testament account, Moses used supernatural phenomena to convince Pharaoh to free the Hebrews. But Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and did not relent his position even in the face of plagues until the last one had passed (Exodus 7-11).

Plagues of the Old Testament

1. The Plague of Blood
2. The Plague of Frogs
3. The Plague of Gnats
4. The Plague of Flies
5. The Plague on Livestock
6. The Plague of Boils
7. The Plague of Hail
8. The Plague of Locusts
9. The Plague of Darkness
10. The Plague on the Firstborn

While we know that these supernatural events had little to no effect on Pharaoh's heart, we also know that the Hebrews witnessed these events too. The Hebrews saw how God moved against Egypt. The Hebrews also witnessed the miracle of the pillar that stood between them and Pharaoh's pursuing army. In addition, the Hebrews participated in the Crossing of the Red Sea (Exodus 14:1-29). In other words, the Hebrews themselves both witnessed and were involved in God's miracles that set them free. There could be no doubt in anyone's mind that something supernatural was happening.

And how did the Hebrews thank their God? Exodus 32:4. Even in the face of miracles, humanity's fail heart moves against God. How much farther shall we fall having not seen the grandeur of these miracles and supernatural events? Sometimes, even knowing Truth and being a part of that Truth cannot save us from ourselves.