Men and women like to think we are capable and independent, needing no outside assistance and influence. We rejoice in our freewill, our achievements, our progress.

So it is perhaps significant, if not inconvenient, that scripture repeatedly uses phrases such as; ‘not made with human hands’!

In Ex 25.8-9, God spoke to Moses, instructing him concerning the constriction of a ‘sanctuary,’ the Tabernacle. He showed the Moses a Tabernacle which was to be the pattern for the Tabernacle which Moses would make.

Hebrews 8.5 echoes this; ‘See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.’ Verse 2 goes further, stating that Moses had seen the Tabernacle which had been ‘set up by the Lord,’ ie: not by man. So the Tabernacle, which was constructed under Moses’ supervision (see Ex 40), became the dwelling place of God and the centre for Jewish worship for centuries, remaining in use until the reign of Solomon (1 Chr 21.29 & 1 Kings 3.4).

Jumping forward several more centuries the prophet Daniel, serving in the court of Nebuchadnezzar. In Dan 2, Nebuchadnezzar was troubled by a dream of ‘a great image’ (v31). Daniel interprets this image as a series of human kingdoms (v38-43).

The image was destroyed when it was struck by a great stone ‘cut out by no human hand’ (v34). In his interpretation, Daniel refers to the kingdom set up by the God of heaven; a kingdom that shall never be destroyed (v44); in contrast to the image which is destroyed. The wording of v45 leaves us in no doubt as to this link. Later, Jesus’ words, so frequently spoken, ‘the kingdom of heaven is at hand’ (e.g: Matt 4.17), clearly echo Daniel’s words. It is the kingdom inaugurated by Jesus Christ that is this stone ‘cut out by no human hand.’

The gospel writer John follows this theme.

He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

Those who respond to Christ, receiving Him into their lives, do so because ‘of God.’ Belonging to Christ is not as a result of human birth nor human choice, by ‘of God.’ Salvation is truly and fully of the Lord. Paul writes that the salvation of God is ‘from faith to faith’ (Rom 1.17), or from beginning to end. Put another way; ‘not made by human hands.’

Finally, Paul addresses issues affecting (infecting?) the Christians in Galatia. For example:

 I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel I preached is not of human origin.  I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.

Unlike the Twelve, Paul had not met Christ in the flesh. God had revealed the gospel to him ‘through a revelation of Jesus Christ.’ The message, he insisted, is not of human origin.

Paul had already anathematized those who sought to ‘distort the gospel of Christ’ (v7-9). If anyone, even (apparently) an angel from heaven, preaches a ‘different’ gospel, it is no gospel. The letter to the Galatians further describes this error and Paul repeats his abhorrence (e.g: 3.1-6; 5.12).

In conclusion, the scriptures insist that we humans are much less able than we think we are. The scriptures urge us to cast ourselves on the God who is totally able to save and sustain, to rescue and keep us.

In my professional capacity I visited a Church that presented itself as ‘independent and non-denominational.’ As I recall, the people I met were genuine men and women of faith, their Church was impacting their community; and needing to expand and develop their facilities as a result.

But I am concerned. This approach to Church life is, I believe, unhealthy.

The town of Laish ‘had no dealings with anyone.’ It was far from potential help and support. Therefore it as vulnerable to external forces. See Judges 18.27-29.

God said that Adam should not be alone. God puts the lonely in families (Psalm 68.6). Community is God’s idea and God’s stated preference for mankind. We are not designed to go it alone. Loneliness is frequently stated as people’s number one problem. No wonder there is a mental health epidemic.

Churches are not meant to be alone. New Testament Churches all have some relationship with an apostle and his team, plus other Churches. None were to be independent. The apostle John grieved that he could not visit the Church led by Diotrephes (3 John).

There are several references to Churches supporting one another financially and materially. Partnership in the gospel (Phil 1.5) was Church supporting Church as well as Christian supporting Christian. Acts and the NT letters refer to lots of engagement between Churches. Inter-dependency was preferred above dependence.

The prophet Isaiah wrote these words:

 A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse;
from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.
² The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—
the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and of might,
the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord—
³ and he will delight in the fear of the Lord.

He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes,
or decide by what he hears with his ears;
⁴ but with righteousness he will judge the needy,
with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth.
He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth;
with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.
⁵ Righteousness will be his belt
and faithfulness the sash around his waist.

⁶ The wolf will live with the lamb,
the leopard will lie down with the goat,
the calf and the lion and the yearling^[a] together;
and a little child will lead them.
⁷ The cow will feed with the bear,
their young will lie down together,
and the lion will eat straw like the ox.
⁸ The infant will play near the cobra’s den,
and the young child will put its hand into the viper’s nest.
⁹ They will neither harm nor destroy
on all my holy mountain,
for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord
as the waters cover the sea.

Sometimes the scriptures just take my breathe away.

Several centuries being Christ’s arrival, Isaiah wrote of the coming ‘Branch,’ through Whom so much would change; promises be fulfilled concerning this world; conflict will dissolve into peace; danger replaced by safety.

The Hebrew word translated as branch is NETZER, the same root as Nazarene – Matthew records that ‘He shall be called a Nazarene.’ (Matt 2.23) a direct and strong statement of the coming of Jesus Christ the Messiah. Both words imply Christ’s humanity and humility.

It is through Him that all the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.