[This is one in a series of devotional reflections prepared for Horley Baptist Church during October 2021]
In the late 1800s Australia was experiencing a serious challenge to its economic development, brought about in part by a lack of adequate transport facilities. The authorities of the time tackled the problem by bringing in drivers from Afghanistan – an idea that might have some mileage in more recent times.
The drivers of those days were not steering the multi-trailer road trains that are now the mainstay of many Australian communities. The Afghan drivers were cameleers, guiding their caravans of quadrupeds across the outback, providing transport for explorers, surveyors and traders.
The Old Testament has many references to camels, both as beasts of burden and as instruments of war. A man’s wealth and status was often indicated by the number of camels that he owned. Abraham acquired camels as a gift from Pharaoh; maybe it was descendants of those camels that played a central role in the wooing of Rebecca some years later. God blessed Job with 6,000 camels. In the court of king David the camel keeper was a royal appointment.
It is interesting that the New Testament does not appear to regard camels with the same level of significance. Apart from the references to John the Baptist’s attire and the famous comment about the ‘eye of a needle’, other mentions of camels are scarce. Perhaps this reflects a shift in the cultural emphasis; the Old Testament has a Middle-east context whereas the New Testament was written during the time of the Roman empire.
We too live in times of cultural change. As an illustration, the Israelites were forbidden to eat camel meat but now if you had the opportunity to travel on the Ghan – the trans-Australia train named after those original camel trains – you would find camel steaks on the menu.
How do you react to changes in the culture around us? Do you long for real hymns and an established liturgy (however informal that may be)? Remember, even the ‘real’ hymns were new once. Or do you see yourself part of the new world order, waiting for the fuddy-duddies to release control? Don’t forget that those who have gone before can offer a rich heritage of experience, often obtained the hard way.
To what extent should we change ‘church’ in order to remain relevant to the society around us? Should we even think that way? The apostle Paul wrote to the church in Corinth describing how he identified with his audience whilst maintaining the integrity of his message. He summarised his words thus:
“I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.” [1 Corinthians 9 v22-23 NIVUK]
Earlier in the same letter Paul had identified what was driving him:
“For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.”
[1 Corinthians 2 v2 NIVUK]
What is driving you?
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Contributed by Steve Humphreys; © the Author
Having ridden camels in North Africa and China, they certainly were valuable animals for their environments, able to provide transport in desert areas, although we found them uncomfortable after a short ride!
I feel that we can both move with the times, but still enjoy the traditional hymns and the Biblical words and truths that they refer to. There should be a balance in our worship, praise and prayer.