The Master Storyteller and the Coin (part 2)

Whose image and inscription is this? … Therefore, render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s. Mt 22:20-21

So far we covered the first four steps: blanking, annealing, washing, and upsetting.

Are we done yet? One more step. Having had its edges raised up, the coin must at last receive the image and inscription by which it will be identified and valued. None of these steps are especially comfortable. I don’t know if I can even imagine 100 metric tons of pressure. As God’s people were led forth from Egypt all they had on their mind was the gift of the Promised Land, but what about the Giver? For years they had served under another master, they were surrounded by gods, each with their own image to approach. As they are gathered before Mount Sinai, what image does the Lord offer His people? Growing impatient some insist on an image of their own making, the golden calf. That must be stamped out. What image does the Lord offer instead?

In the minting process, there are two sides to the coin struck at the same time. One side of the coin, the image of God struck into His people is the Law, the Ten Commandments. Each one of these reveals something about the Lord. Since He is a jealous loving God, He doesn’t want us distracted by what is not God or miss out on the blessing of His name and a day to meet with Him. Furthermore, He is for order in society and the home. He is for protecting life and marriage, protecting one’s possessions and reputation, and for rejoicing in the treasure we have, not someone else’s. Even as He was giving these commands, the Lord was rejoicing in His treasured people.

Though they wouldn’t all understand it, there was another side to the coin struck at that time, an image of the Lord the people were to bear before the world. Blood was shed, a covenant was made, and fellowship with the Lord was enjoyed. This gospel side would not really become clear until the Lord Himself stepped forward to shed His blood, offering a new covenant meal, establishing fellowship with God as a reality.

Blanked, annealed, washed, upset, and struck, the people of God were prepared to bear the image of the Lord. Before entering the Promised Land, the book of Deuteronomy is Moses’ final sermon. There we hear these words: Listen, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. These words that I am giving you today, are to be in your heart. (Later in chapter 11 when this message is repeated, He says to imprint them, to strike them like an image on a coin. But the process is not done yet.) Repeat them to your children. Talk about them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Dt 6:4-7 We are invited to be involved in the coin-making process, passing on that image and value to the next generation.

So those offended by our Lord, come with a coin. They come with a trap to create a clash of kingdoms. Jesus does not step into their hot-topic political debate. Instead, he takes the opportunity to teach those willing to hear. Let’s look at a coin. Whose inscription and image is found there? Give to Caesar what is Caesars. Then our Lord adds the words, “Give to God the things that are God’s.” In a way everything is God’s, so what could He mean?

Picture the Master Storyteller standing there with those trying to trap Him. Even when He knows the cross is just days away, He stops to share with those who would hear these words. We are talking about coins, the inscription and image found there. You who have been brought through the process, 1) who have been blanked, set apart for God; 2) who have been annealed, brought through the furnace, to drop you to your knees, to make you stronger and shapeable; 3) who have been washed by the waters that bring death and life; 4) who have been upset, tested to raise up your edges, your eyes and hands to trust in the Lord during your wilderness journey; 5) and who have been struck with the image of God, His law and gospel, His command to love and the empowering demonstration of that love at the cross; you are God’s coin. Give to God what is God’s. Be what you were created to be. Show forth and share with your children, your family, your community the word and image that has been imprinted on your heart.

When the image on a coin becomes worn off, the coin loses its value and purpose. When Israel tried to choose another image, though there were consequences, Moses learned: The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and rich in faithful love and truth, maintaining faithful love to a thousand generations, forgiving wrongdoing, rebellion, and sin. Ex 34:6-7 Our Lord treasures you and desires for you to be a treasure to others. Those who have ears to hear, let them hear. Mt 13:9?