You've Got Teeth

Scripture: Isaiah 41:14-15 – “Do not fear, you worm Jacob, you maggot Israel! I will help you, says the Lord; your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel. I will make of you a threshing sledge, sharp, new, and having teeth; you shall thresh the mountains and crush them, and you shall make the hills like chaff.” (NRSVUE)

The Bible has lots of common imagery: God as a shepherd or a rock, Jesus as a sacrificial lamb, peace represented by a dove, or oil as a sign of being chosen by God. But sometimes, the imagery can be so bizarre that even Hebrew experts scratch their heads over what is going on. This makes sense; occasionally, we need something weird to grab our attention and allow us to see God and our calling in a new way.

In Isaiah chapter 41, the prophet describes Israel first as a worm and maggot and then as a sharp threshing sledge. What can this possibly mean all about? As with so much of the Bible, context matters. In this part of Isaiah, the prophet is describing how the world is transformed so that Israel might return from exile in Babylon. It is full of hope amidst God’s wrath, for it is the destruction of the seemingly invincible Babylonian empire that allows Israel to return home. The world turned upside down, as it says in the musical Hamilton.

But Israel is not passive in this regard. Israel too is transformed. It goes from being a soft and toothless worm into being a sharp toothed threshing sledge. For those unfamiliar with ancient farming technology, a threshing sledge is dragged over mown grain by a team of oxen, allowing the wheat to be separated into the edible and inedible parts. Why the connection? Both worms and threshing sledges move through the ground. One is invisible, but the other is transformative and brings life through its power.

And this is no ordinary threshing sledge which separates grass. It grinds down mountains and turns them into dust. This is transformation on a massive scale, appropriate for a people who need so much to find promise in their lives again. God not only changes the world but changes them, into people who can face the challenges ahead.

So, are you a worm or a threshing sledge? I know I feel like a worm sometimes, powerless and moving through life hoping no one notices or steps on me. But this is not what God calls us to be. God calls us to be strong, to have teeth, and to transform the world for God through the power we have received. Pray for what great things you might accomplish today, for as we say in the Advent season, God is always with us.

Prayer: God transform me to be a source of charity and justice for my neighbors as I face life’s challenges with you at my side. Amen.

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