Songs In The Night

³¹ The sons of the other Elam, 1254 – Ezra 2:31

We Are Other

Reading through the list of returning exiles as recorded by Ezra, I was struck by this reference to the sons of the “other” Elam. If these exiles belonged to the “other” Elam then certainly there was the Elam. Out of curiosity I scanned back up the list of exiles and sure enough in verse 7 Ezra records the number of the sons of Elam who returned. These exiles were mentioned twenty four versed before the sons of the “other” Elam.

I am not sure what criteria Ezra used to determine which was “the” Elam and which was the “other” Elam but having lived my entire life in a rural village I think I know how those from the “other” Elam may have felt about the designation.

Outsiders are quick to remind us that our village only has one stop light. I’m not sure if they are insulting our counting ability or observation skills. Likewise, they are all to willing to tell farm jokes and make comments about their appreciation of the scent of manure. Despite the fact that most of them probably eat meat, consume dairy products, and wear leather, their attitudes often beg the question, “Can anything good come out of your village?”.

Unfortunately, those from Elam have always wanted to keep those of us from the “other” Elam in our place. What we need to realize is that although all of us are from the “other” Elam, we act as if we are from the Elam. In our insecurity we like to look down upon those who don’t quite measure up. When we are looked down upon, we search out “others” to look down upon. Nobody is immune from the madness.

Even Jesus himself was looked down upon as being an “other”.

Nathanael & Nazareth

According to Luke’s account, when it was time for Jesus to call His disciples He went into Galilee. There He encountered Philip and gave him the invitation, “Follow Me”.

And Philip followed.

In his excitement Philip then sought out Nathanael and told him that the “One” Moses and the Prophets had written about had arrived on the scene; a carpenter’s son, Jesus of Nazareth. However, Nathanael wasn’t so impressed. Apparently, in his estimation he was from Elam and Jesus was from the “other” Elam.

Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”  – John 1:46a

In the eyes of Nathanael, Nazareth was insignificant. It was a small village with perhaps less than 150 residents. I am confident it didn’t even have one stop light. It was far from Jerusalem and any so called meaningful activity. What good could possibly come out of such an insignificant village?

I love the response of Philip. He doesn’t debate Nathanael or challenge his stereotype. On the contrary, Philip challenges Nathanael to to let the facts speak for themselves.

Philip said to him, “Come and see.” – John 1:46b

Nathanael & Us

I am not trying to read anything into Ezra’s text, but as stated above, his reference to the “other” Elam struck a chord with me. Because, unfortunately, Nathanael’s attitude resides in all of us to one degree or another. Our problem isn’t the “other” Elam we reside in, but rather the Elam attitude that resides in us.

Like snowflakes, no two humans are alike. Like Nathanael, we seek to define our identity by using those who differ from us as a measuring stick. In our inbred insecurity we use “others” as a straw man that we build only to tear apart. In our naivety we assume that in tearing “others” down we are building ourselves up. This has been referred to as the “problem of Otherness”.

It seems apparent that the enemy of our souls is having a heyday with our straw men. Our sinful pride too often leads us to despise those who differ from us in our attempt to justify ourselves. Like those from Galilee, we want to marginalize those from Nazareth.

Those who are of a different nationality, religion, race, sex, etc., are quickly deemed inferior to us. How we swell with pride when we put them in their proper place! Perhaps today, at least in our culture, there is no “stripe” that divides us more deeply than political affiliation.

I don’t think we need to ask how God feels about the division and alienation we have created. But we would do well to heed Philip’s invitation.

“Come and See.”

Jesus & Pride

Imagine if we could gain access to the Throne of God in eternity past and witness the fellowship of the Trinity. What would this perfect love that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit share “look” like? Unfortunately, we are so depraved that we cannot even begin to imagine such pure intimacy. Yet I believe the exercise is important. After all, it is more valuable to try to comprehend our incomprehensible Creator than to degrade those that were made in His image.

It was in eternity past, before Adam and Eve ever took one bite of the forbidden fruit, that the Holy Trinity determined the price that would be paid for our sins. Before God ever formed Adam from the dust of the earth, Jesus agreed to die for Adam’s descendants. Long before Adam ever took his first breath, Jesus said, “Send Me.”

Accordingly, when the time had fully come, Jesus left Heaven’s throne to be born in a manger in Bethlehem. Born to a poor young couple with livestock as witnesses to His birth and humble shepherds His first visitors. Before He was ever a Nazarene, Jesus was already firmly established as an “other”.

By the grace of God this “other” from Nazareth would go to the cross for us ultimate “others”, Adam’s sinful descendants.

Jesus & Unity

On the night He was betrayed by Judas, Jesus prayed for His disciples. As He concluded His prayer, He prayed for their unity. Although the phrase the “problem of Otherness” was recently coined, Jesus knew the dangers it would present. He saw the threat it represented. He knew what overcoming it would cost Him.

Jesus may have died in Jerusalem, but He died for those from the “other” Elam. When the false Shepherds were fleecing the flock, Jesus died for the lost sheep. As the “healthy” were rolling their eyes in contempt, Jesus died for the sick. While the strong were working for their salvation, Jesus died for the weak.

Don’t deceive yourself. Instead of degrading those who are different from you in your attempt at self affirmation, take a long hard look in the mirror. We need to humbly confess our own deprivation before we can see things as they really are. Whether in ourselves or those around us.

As followers of Jesus, our identity does’t come from any warped games we play in our minds, it comes only from our association with Him. His righteousness has been imputed to you. He left Heaven’s throne to remove the “problem of Otherness” from our souls and conform us to His image.

Only as we allow His Spirit to do so can we hope to witness the unity He prayed for. The unity that will be a witness to all the ends of the earth, including Jerusalem, Nazareth, Elam, and yes, the “other” Elam.

Nahanael Exposed

As he walked with Christ for three years, how often was Nathanael rebuked by his condescending question? As he heard the profound teachings of Christ and witnessed the miracles, what must have gone through his mind? Never before had he witnessed such love and compassion.

Jesus was no respecter of men. He wasn’t impressed by titles or wealth, nor did He discriminate against anyone for any reason. His love was available to Nicodemus as well as the woman at the well.

Some day we will worship around the throne of God with people from every tribe and tongue. Certainly, if we could look into eternity future and witness the Heavenly worship, we too would be convicted and ashamed at our own prejudices.

Can anything good come out of Nazareth? Come and see. The answer hung on a cross in Cavalry. Don’t let your pride and prejudice prevent you from clearly seeing it. Your identity is secure in Him. He has enabled you to embrace the “others” His arms were nailed to the cross for.

²⁸ There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. – Galatians 3:28