Empty Arms

Christmas 2008

At the end of 2007, our 401K was getting bigger, our house had appreciated in value so much that we decided to renovate and add a room, and things were humming along. Now, a year later, we have a 101K, there are a lot of houses for sale in our neighborhood (and none are selling), and there might be more “surprises” ahead.

In the book of Exodus, we read about how the children of Israel finally left Egypt, after 430 years of slavery and 10 supernatural acts by God. They asked their Egyptian masters for lovely parting gifts (gold, silver and fine clothes). Glad to see them go, the Egyptians complied. But a few days later, with their back against the Red Sea and an army with revenge in their hearts bearing down on them, these riches were worthless. A gold platter does not make for a seaworthy vessel.

Saved from their attackers by another act of God, these bling-toting former slaves were now on the other side of the Red Sea – in a desert. They had plenty of gold and silver, but there was no grocery store in site to swap these highly prized valuables for the common foods of leeks and onions they had enjoyed in abundance just weeks before. There was nothing they could do – except rely on God. They grumbled, complained and sort of prayed. And then the quail came. And the manna. And it kept coming for the next 40 years.

The gold and silver are never mentioned again. Nehemiah (9:21) tells us that their clothes did not wear out. But there is silence about the shiny stuff. I suspect that what was not abandoned on the shores of the Red Sea, while they high-tailed it through the parted waters, was eventually shed over the next 40 years. Who wants to keep dragging gold and silver through a dessert year after year? You can’t spend it anywhere, and it just weighs you down. In the end, the quail and bread, provided by God, was of greater worth than the gold and silver, provided by man.

And so it is with our family, as we approach the end of this year. We are very blessed, so our hands are still full of things. But hands filled with man’s things leave no leftover room for God’s things. So, while our stuff is pretty to look at, and has great value (sentimental, if nothing else), if called upon we will gladly chuck it all, so that we may have totally empty hands to receive greater things, more valuable things.

The first Christmas scene illustrates a great truth: In order to pick up the young Christ child, and receive Him into his arms, Joseph had to put down his tax money, the shepherds had to put down their staffs, and the magi had to put down their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrhh.

Empty arms can be a wonderful thing.

Merry Christmas!