People, Chariot-pullers
Joseph was forced into a bicultural living in Egypt, a resistant nation. But God had a purpose for the number one nation, for them to get to know about Him through the life of Joseph, the great grandson of Abraham. Joseph effectively built trust in his new cultural environment. God raised him to a powerful political position. All of Egypt and Canaan came to him for food and the wise Joseph was an evangelist in that context. His God gained glory. Even today, our professions are powerful pulpits to propagate the gospel. How well do we use it?
Even in the dirty account of Judah’s misbehaviour with Tamar, a Canaanite (Genesis 38) we find the roots of a mixed race Saviour, our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthening the truth that Biblical religion is not a racial faith (Matthew 1:1-3). We see that already in Jacob’s prophetic blessing that Judah would rule the nations (Genesis 49:10). By blessing one tribe, God blessed the entire world. Every blessing of ours has a global purpose. God’s chariot-pullers are primarily people and people groups. He reveals himself in their life’s situations, both good and bad.
Nations, Chariot-pullers
God not only chooses an individual, he also chooses a nation to pull his chariot for witnessing. The twelve sons of Jacob multiplied in numbers and later rose as a mighty nation, Israel, as we see in the book of Exodus. From then, Israel becomes a magnificent gospel chariot-puller for God.
Moses was a chariot-puller too. In his sovereign grace, God had already prepared him as a bicultural person when he was raised by Pharaoh's daughter. Now God sends him as a messenger to the king of the super power nation. Moses was commissioned by God (Exodus 3:14). He overcame challenges (5:1-2). God used him as a channel to glorify His name in Egypt and the many nations that would later be encountered upon during the Israelites’ journey to the land of Canaan. There were power demonstrations before Pharaoh which came in the way of plagues. The climax was at the Red Sea. These had worldwide effects in pulling their attention to the God of Israel.
A call to being a missionary in a cross-cultural context comes with challenges. Ultimately God triumphs and his glory spreads to the unreached people through the gospel. Which model/chariot am I in God’s mission? Joseph or Moses? Missions is both centripetal, pulling people towards a person and place. It is also centrifugal, going to places. And for any nation like Israel, the promise is: Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he chose for his inheritance (Psalm 33:12).
Choice to Pull Chariot - Not by Merit
The chariot that our God rides on is a gospel chariot, taking his glory to nations. The massive exodus event that took place in the history of Israel had a missiological intent. God made Israel, an insignificant nation, distinct among many nations. He displayed his power and glory through Israel. He delivered it from foreign powers. God made them as a treasured people, a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. However, there were many low points in the history of Israel. God did not spare them. He punished and purified them. They lost battles. They won many. He prospered and prized them as a model to many nations.
What can we say? One thing is clearly written: The LORD did not set his affection on them and chose them because they were more numerous than other peoples, for they were the fewest of all peoples. But it was because the LORD loved them and kept the oath he swore to his forefathers (Deuteronomy 7:7). Any choice of an individual, a people group, or a nation is not because of their merits. But God is true to his promises and uses a vain person like me to proclaim His power so that every knee would bow and every tongue would confess that Jesus is Lord! Is it not my deemed privilege to offer myself as one who would pull the gospel chariot for my King of kings, he being seated on it? It is not going to be just me. I would want my nation to be be a chariot-puller too!
Note: I am indebted to Dr Frampton Fox for his teaching at HBI, Chennai on this subject and for his book, "Down to Earth" (Mission Educational Books, Chennai, 1998)
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