written by Connie Dunmyer
I love dinner with friends. I don’t think there is a better way to get to know someone than to sit down, have a “feet-under-the-table” meal and conversation. I don’t think it matters where this takes place – my home, your home, a restaurant, inside, outside, with or without a table. The best conversations are “around the table”.
Some of us are better hosts/hostesses than others. Making people feel comfortable and serving them is a truly a gift from God. But that is not the criteria for entertaining. If all you have to offer is a foldup chair and a slice of pizza, invite someone over anyway. Or meet a friend for coffee. I fear we are losing this idea of sharing and kinship that we were absolutely created for.
Let’s read this: Exodus 24:9-11
9 Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and the seventy elders of Israel went up 10 and saw the God of Israel. Under his feet was something like a pavement made of lapis lazuli, as bright blue as the sky. 11 But God did not raise his hand against these leaders of the Israelites; they saw God, and they ate and drank.
We all know that Moses was with God, and that God gave him the Ten Commandments – along with the rest of the law. But how often have you read or heard the scripture above about Moses, Aaron, and the 70 elders going part way up the mountain to sit at the feet of God and having a meal together before the 10 Commandments were given. When I read this, I have to admit, I don’t EVER remember reading this.
Before the law, there was dinner together…
Before the commandments, there was fellowship…
Before the cross, there was communion…
They “ate and drank” together with God!
This “thing” we have with God was never meant to be transactional – it IS relational. It is a very personal, joyful, laughing, crying, conversational, real “feet-under-the-table” kind of intimacy that He wants to have with each and every single one of us.
And there’s even more to the story.
This event – this meal – took place before Moses received the first commandment the first time around! That means, God is having this meal with the same 70+ people (including Aaron), who are going to melt down their gold jewelry and start worshipping a golden calf in just over a month. And He KNOWS this is going to happen. But God did not raise his hand against them. Having just come through Easter, this is not unlike Jesus washing Judas’ feet at the Last Supper, all the while knowing Judas was going to betray Him.
OK. I’m going to get real personal here. So let’s pretend you and I are sitting at the dinner table.
I asked Jesus into my life as a child. I was a preacher’s kid and grew up in the church. I was a pastor’s wife for many years. But there came a day when I became so mad at God that I wanted to hurt Him “for hurting me”. So I rebelled – big time. It was a secret to everyone watching – but God and I knew. What’s more, God knew I would do this before I did it.
And I figured because I was rebelling, that I would be too far gone. I knew the truth, I had lived the truth, and I had rejected Him anyway. How could I ever go back? How could I ever be reclaimed? I was one of those leaders at the bottom of the mountain melting my gold into a calf, dancing around it in revelry. I was Judas.
I was the object of wrath. BUT GOD, in His great love & mercy did NOT raise His hand against me!! Instead, He kept me safe from myself & my sin and He continued to whisper to me, ever so tenderly. And when that day finally came when I turned from the life I was living and said:
18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your [child]; make me like one of your hired servants.’ (Luke 15) . . .
Just like that, before I’d even taken a step – all I did was turn around – and He was right there. Hugging me. Holding me. NOT STRIKING ME. But calling me “daughter” –
“Daughter, your faith has healed you.” (Luke 8:48).
Even though I did not feel or see or understand that I even HAD faith that day – God did! He knew, and He healed. He gave me the faith I needed. God did not raise His hand against me but rather reached out His arms for me – even after all I did.
Now I live my life in awe. I am humbled. And I am oh so very grateful for the grace and mercy our loving Savior showed to me.
All that to say this: it’s never too late to have a conversation. You don’t have to know Jesus to have a conversation with Him. You don’t have to have rebelled or run away from Him. Perhaps you’re just confused, hurt, or feel broken. I understand that. More importantly, so does He. No matter your ups or downs, your happiness or sadness, you can just sit down, “feet-under-the-table”, & have a dinner conversation with Jesus. You’ll be forever grateful, too.
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