The world of work is a meritocracy. Wise people know that and act accordingly. In our youth we spend countless hours developing skills. Practice, practice, practice is required for proficiency. There are many small pay-offs along the way of course, but that is not the goal.

In the degree program I lead we require students to complete an internship.

In the last chapter, we saw how God uses ungodly men to fulfill his purposes. Jehu is a different sort of man who knows the Lord and has a clear mission from God.

What comes to mind when you read that the guard in the watchtower characterizes Jehu’s driving style as “reckless”? Applying a dictionary definition of this word would suggest Jehu is unconcerned about the consequences of his actions, and so he throws caution to the wind.

Have you ever felt “in the dark” about some issue? Darkness is a metaphor for ignorance and naiveté and here Jesus shines his light upon the ignorance of the Pharisees. He reveals that they lack perception in their judgments (v 15), they lack knowledge of who God is (v 19) and they are blind to their own earth bound perspective and allegiance (v 23).

When I was young I would often want to attempt things that were beyond my ability. My mother’s predictable response was that I wasn’t allowed, to which I would reply, “Why? I know how.” My mother would always say, “Knowing how and being able are two different things.” Her retort was simply an acknowledgement that some things are learned only through time and experience. There are some lessons which books and teachers simply cannot impart.

In most of my readings about this passage the person commentating focuses upon the claim to divinity that Jesus makes in using the sacred name “I am” to describe himself before Abraham existed. But there is another intriguing insight that comes from this passage.

In response to the accusation by the crowd that Jesus is demonic, Jesus replies by saying he honours his Father.

For anyone who has suffered, or for anyone whose loved one has suffered, this passage has implications.

The disciples make an assumption (v 2) based on scripture. They know God is sovereign. They have been taught he punishes sin into the third and fourth generation (Exodus 20:5; 34:7, Deuteronomy 5:9).

There is seldom a shortage of people who would like to lose weight. I have sat in a few weight loss programs trying to lose that last ten pounds. I have noticed, those who are strikingly successful do the program, whatever it is, wholeheartedly and they keep doing it.

In Psalm 119:1-24 we meet the Psalmist whose heart’s cry is to walk in the ways of God.