SM—BRICKS AND STRAW

Exodus 5:1-18; 2 Corinthians 12:7b-10

Three weeks ago, airborne to Shreveport, LA, I watched the movie “King Richard”.

Armed with 78-page plan, Richard Williams was determined to write his two daughters, Venus and Serena, into tennis championship history and thereby, lift his family out of the poverty of Compton, Cali.

The real-life story of Venus and Serena Williams testifies to the amazing building material of bricks and straw.

Key to the plan would be that his kids would be trained in one of the country's roughest areas, Compton, California. "The ghetto will make you rough, it'll make you tough, it'll make you strong," Richard said.

The real-life story of Venus and Serena Williams reminds me of the account of the Hebrews tasked with making bricks without straw.

“You are no longer to supply the people with straw for making bricks; let them go and gather their own straw. 8 But require them to make the same number of bricks as before; don’t reduce the quota. Exodus 5:7-8

There is a parallel between Pharoah’s demand and the expectation of the oppressed and disadvantaged peoples throughout history.

Quotas:

Demanding execution of the oppressed while denying the downtrodden the needed resources and materials.

White Privilege still doesn’t get it.

Bricks require the addition of other materials to add strength and durability.

Bricks made without straw would break and crumble easily

Clay is one of the oldest construction materials in mankind.

In Old Testament Egypt

What is straw?

· stalks of grain after threshing:

· a natural heavy fiber used for weaving, plaiting, or braiding.

· something of small worth or significance.

Stubble: the short cut stumps of grain-stalks left in the ground after harvesting.

Straw is used in clay constructions for different purposes:

· to reduce weight and

· for reinforcement—straw adds stability to the clay brick in much the same way that steel bars or wire mesh reinforces modern-day concrete.

· to reduce shrinkage– river clay would dry slowly, and adding straw would allow it to dry more readily in the sun.

THE HUMAN CONSTITUTION IS MADE UP OF CLAY AND STRAW

· Creation Story reminds us that humans were made from clay

· Isaiah 40:6b-8

“All people are like grass, and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field. The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the Lord blows on them. Surely the people are grass. 8 The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.”

Isaiah 40:6b-8 NIV

People are like straw.

THE HUMAN CONSTITUTION IS MADE UP OF CLAY AND STRAW

Story of Teacher:

“As a math teacher, separate from my personal identity, I had a great year and feel very confident in my journey going forward…”

I asked him if he meant to separate his professional self from his personal self. He affirmed that that was so and felt safe in sharing what he meant…His vulnerabilities in his personal life—financial difficulties, a crisis in his marriage, and feeling depressed…

Professionally speaking = Brick

Personally speaking = Straw

The Myths of Manning Up

The Truth

· Bricks made without some straw break and crumble easily.

· Bricks made without some straw are heavier to carry.

Straw is needed in human clay vessels for different purposes:

Straw has value. What the world views as insignificant, God sees as having great value.

· to reduce weight

o Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh… (2 Corinthians 12:7)

o But God has selected [for His purpose] the foolish things of the world to shame the wise [revealing their ignorance], and God has selected [for His purpose] the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong [revealing their frailty]. 1 Corinthians 1:27

· for reinforcement— Straw has value. What the world views as insignificant, God sees as having great value. Straw adds stability to the clay brick in much the same way that steel bars or wire mesh reinforces modern-day concrete.

o But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)

· to reduce shrinkage– river clay would dry slowly, and adding straw would allow it to dry more readily in the sun.

o Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:9b-10)

The Experience at St. John’s UMC Downtown, Houston

The secret of bricks that build strong lives is transparency and engagement.

You must offer your truth to the Grace of God.

Honest transparency before God engages: — Wisdom with our ignorance —Power with our weaknesses —Purpose with our Uncertainties —Victory with our Failures

Heaven is in the Brick Making Business

The Incarnation (Activation of straw and clay) = Brick Foundation of Salvation

—You are Peter (Rock) and Upon this Rock (Faithful Truth Proclaimer) I Yeshua will build / activate My Church.

—My Grace—Spirit Activation of Truth, Righteous, Joy, and Peace—Is Sufficient

—The Work of Evangelism: Gather the Stubble

· “Go into the hedges and highways…”

Yahweh God wants Attention