Drawing In The Sand

There is a Bible story of the 'woman caught in the act of adultery' (John 8). The story takes place in one of the sandy floored courts adjoining the main Temple. I presume that the flooring was sand, as the Lord Jesus stooped down to write in it, and what He wrote could clearly be read by those who stood around. According to Jewish law, it was unlawful to write even two letters on the sabbath day, but it was acceptable to write in dust! (shabbat 7:2, 12:5)

There's been lots of speculation as to what the Lord Jesus wrote in the sand that day. Some suggest that it was a list of sins, others suggest that it was a list of the names of those stood around. I often wonder if it was a Scripture from the Old Testament.

I really love 1 Samuel 2:8 where it says that "He raises up the poor from the dust; he lifts the needy from the ash heap to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honor."

For whatever reason, the Bible does not record what was actually written. In Genesis 2:7 says "then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature." Jesus kept writing on the sand of the Temple court. We often forget that we are dust and to dust we will return. Jesus formed us and he is able to write a new chapter in our lives.

Some people like to doodle abstract things when they try to absorb an idea or a conversation. I used to do this all the time when I was in School and some teachers thought I was distracted doing something else. Doodling can be very important. I don't think that Jesus was drawing an abstract motive or a happy face. maybe there is no record of what he wrote because he might have just drawn a line in the sand. Who knows? One thing I can assure you is that he didn't judge that woman. God doesn't condemn you or me and he is merciful and loving. He might have condemn those religious people that brought the woman, I really don't know but he was willing to release that woman from shame and judgement. (The important thing on this passage is probably not what Jesus wrote but the fact that he used his finger. God's finger was the instrument that engraved the law in the tablets given to Moses.)

4. Draw your line in the sand

If you have crossed a line with God or others you can always repent and decide to start a new chapter of your life!

Illustration

Pastor Mark Batterson wrote a book called "The Circle Maker". He tells the following.

The Book of Legends, is a collection of stories from the Jewish Talmud, when I discovered the true legend of Honi the Circle Maker. It forever changed the way I pray. I pray more. I pray with more faith. I've learned how to pray circles around my dreams, my problems, my family, and most importantly, the promises of God.

A devastating drought threatened to destroy a generation--the generation before Jesus. The last of the Jewish prophets had died off nearly four centuries before. Miracles were a distant memory. And God was nowhere to be heard. But there was one man, an old sage who lived outside the walls of Jerusalem, who dared to pray anyway. His name was Honi. And even if the people could no longer hear God, he believed that God could still hear them.