God in the Parables

Below is an email exchange between a worshipper and myself as a result of last Sunday's message, "Ask, Seek, Knock." It was from Luke 11:1-13 which is a teaching by Jesus on prayer that includes the Lord's Prayer, a parable of the persistent neighbor, and the "ask and it shall be given, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened ..." saying. This email refers specifically to the parable of the neighbor who has an unexpected guest arrive in the middle of the night and is horrified to see that he has no bread to offer him. In those days there was a strict code of hospitality and the most basic thing that a host was supposed to offer the guest was bread. So, he goes to his neighbor. The sleeping neighbor initially says to go away, everyone is in bed asleep. But the man finally gets up and gives is desperate neighbor the bread that he needs.


To: Pastor Jeff Lust
Subject: A thought stemming from your Sunday message...

Hi, Jeff,

In my studies at Bethany Seminary, I took a course on parables. One of the notions centered on multiple interpretations in these stories. We were invited to place God in the variety of characters in the parables and see how the story plays out. As you told the story of the person who goes to a friend at midnight to ask for bread so there would be something to provide a guest at his house (thus fulfilling the "law" of hospitality). Instead of naming the friend awakened at midnight as God, I thought it fitting to name the person asking for bread as God. With this interpretation, I see how God comes to me and asks me to do God's work of hospitality (service) to the world. In other words, it becomes a story of our mission in life to reach out to the needy.

I realize that the "ask, seek, knock" statement doesn't directly follow from this interpretation except as a way of closing the circle of the story. The visitor who journeyed to "God's" house knocked, and the one awakened at midnight (you and me) and the hands and feet of God that responds to the need.

My response ...
Hi,
Thanks for the ideas and comments. I’m familiar with the method of placing God in the different roles within a parable. You’re right, it can be very illuminating. Putting God in the story as the one knocking on the door is reminiscent also of Jesus’ words, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock.” (Rev. 3:20)

Thanks again for sending your thoughts. It’s valuable to me to hear your thoughts and to dialogue a bit.

Blessings,
Jeff


What other insights do you have? How do you see God in parables?

Trying to live by the red letters ...
Jeff