The Big Friendly Giant is a book by Roald Dahl made into a movie directed by Steven Spielberg. BFG (Big Friendly Giant) communicates several messages, but for me it provided a visual picture of God's gentleness. Stay with me...I do not want you to believe the Creator of the Universe is an inarticulate, bumbling goof, but the movie provides a visual image of how the Omnipotent Creator of the Universe desires a relationship with His created. The BFG, an extremely large "person, gently leans down to communicate with Sophie, an orphan of much smaller stature. He carefully holds "the human," who has entered his world, and protects her from those wishing her harm. Sounds like your Abba, right?
Some people picture the King of the Universe as a vengeful, fire and brimstone breathing, angry spirit who requires His laws to be kept in fear of retribution. Others believe He is unapproachable, aloof and disinterested in the cares of the world and our personal lives; otherwise, why does He allow bad things to happen? Some people don't believe He exists at all, instead, humans are the result of a celestial explosion that caused cells to mutate over millions of years.
For me personally, Jehovah, is my kind, gentle Abba Father who has done EVERYTHING necessary for me to have a personal relationship with the Holy One. He desires for me to share in my daily life, concerns and feelings. Because He loves me and wants me with Him for eternity.
Recently I participated in a few lessons from a Hebrew Rabbi on the topic of prayer. While I learned many things, the one lesson that has had the most significant impact on my understanding was on the meanings of the words used to begin most of the Hebrew blessings. As we have discussed before, Hebrew has a limited vocabulary and is a poetic language to communicate feeling and imagery. Most Hebrew blessing (prayers) begin with the following phrase:
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה' אֱ-לֹהֵינוּ, מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם
Barukh ata Adonai Eloheinu, melekh ha`olam
Blessed are You, LORD our God, King of the universe
How can we, mere humans, bless the Omnipotent, Omnipresent, Omniscient, Alpha and Omega? He blesses us, but if He is blessed then who and how is He blessed? If we break down each phrase, the meanings provide a beautiful illustration:
Barukh ata - Bless You or some say Blessed are You -
The word barukh is from the same root word barek or berek, ברך which means knees or to kneel. We can picture someone kneeling to receive a blessing, so when we say barukh, we are asking the Great IAM to bend down, to hear us, and come a little closer.
ata - is You, not just any pronoun, but a word that encompasses all that our God is, similar to when He explains to Moses I AM WHO I AM (Exodus 3:14 NIV)
Adonai - means Merciful LORD
Elohaeinu - not just any god, but OUR or MY God, personalized pronoun.
Melekh ha Olam - the King of the universe.
The opening statement common to many Hebrew prayers is asking the Host High God , merciful LORD and King of the Universe to move a little closer to His created and provide His undivided attention.
It tenders my heart to think that the One, Who holds all things in His hands, wants to hear the cry of my heart. With the chaos and pain in our world, doesn't He have more important things to do? Oh, sweet friend, He is waiting, standing at the door of your heart in hopes that you will invite Him to participate in your life.
Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. Revelation 3:20 NIV
Our Savior is not going to bull-dose His way into your life. He is a gentleman who will not force His will upon us. When He created man and woman, in His own image, He provided free-will to accept a relationship with Him, including all the rules, or to decided He doesn't exist. If we desire for the Shekinah Glory to descend into our daily lives providing help, guidance and blessings, all we need to do is ask (Jeremiah 33:3 NIV )
I love you, LORD, my strength. You are the LORD my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call to You, O LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I have been saved from my enemies. From Your temple please hear my voice; may my cry come before You, into Your ears. (Psalm 18:1-3, 6 NIV) Please take my supplications that I may learn from You, for You are gentle and humble in heart, and will provide rest for our souls (Matthew 11:29 NIV). Thank You, my God, for your gentle love and care. Amen