Journal: Emmaus Journal
Volume: EMJ 10:1 (Summer 2001)
Article: God’s Sandpaper A Sermon on Hebrews 12:4-13
Author: Jim Townsend

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EmJ 10:1 (Summer 2001) p. 105

God’s Sandpaper
A Sermon on Hebrews 12:4-13

Jim Townsend

[Jim Townsend is a Bible scholar and a 1964 alumnus of Emmaus Bible College.]

Introduction

When I was growing up, I came under the spell of a cowboy comic book character who was also a star in B-Western movies. His name was Lash LaRue. As you might gather from his stage name, Lash LaRue carried a big whip—in fact, an eighteen-foot-long bullwhip. Due to his expertise with his lightning-like whip, Lash could snap a villain’s gun right out of his gun hand as he drew to fire it.

Although I was not allowed to own a bullwhip, I did pretend a good deal that the regular rope I was slinging around was just such a whip. Once, however, I made the mistake of slinging it too closely in my grandmother’s direction, hitting target. That error resulted in the only time that my (widower) father ever spanked me. Now just in case a reader may presume that I must have been inadequately disciplined as a child, I quickly remonstrate that I am from the volunteer state of Tennessee, and my aunt and grandmother duly volunteered for the role as disciplinarians.

This article will zero in upon the concept of a Christian’s chastening. However, some individuals who have suffered either sexual, physical, verbal, or emotional abuse from parent figures recoil at any notion of chastening. The word itself carries a negative nuance for them. Nevertheless, there is a broad strand of Scripture that describes God as a divine disciplinarian (in a healthy sense). Indeed, the very words disciple and discipline are intertwined terms.

EmJ 10:1 (Summer 2001) p. 106

Perhaps the classic text in the whole sweep of Scripture is Hebrews 12:4–13. The principal idea running through this section is that although divine discipline may prove painful for the present, it can prove profitable in the long run.

Divine Discipline Is Related to Our Struggles, verse 4

You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin.1

Possibly at verse 4 the writer of Hebrews moves from the analogy of athletics (in 12:1–4) to the figure of the family (in 12:5–11). However, running a race (12:1–3) and raising a family (12:4–11) both require discipline.

“You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin.” In the Greek ...

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