Back in 2012, the National Football League and Budweiser teamed up for an ad campaign on superstitions. As the writers became more creative, this slogan took on a local market feel geared toward all 32 NFL cities, “It’s only crazy if it doesn’t work.” Whether its your favorite location to watch a game like Buffalo Wild Wings, a certain jersey you wear on game day or find a chair or place in your house where your team does the best, these traditions breed superstitions.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubUTobPPP3o
This concept is nothing new as Tom Cruise illustrates a similar point in the 1992 film A Few Good Men. Preparing for the defense of his 2 clients on trial for murder, Lieutenant Kaffee appears to think better when he is holding his baseball bat. When Demi Moore cleans up after a long strategy session at Kaffee’s home, placing the bat in a closet, Tom Cruise freaks out, warning her to never touch his bat again. While retrieving the bat, Cruise has a flash back from the crime scene providing the perfect argument for the case. One must ask the question; Was it the bat or the location the bat was in?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmuT-907oZ4
This morning while reading Exodus 28, I was left to ponder, “Is God superstitious?” According to Exodus 28:15, the Lord gave Moses directions to make a special garment for priests. Whenever a priest had to make an important decision about Israel or on their future, Aaron, Moses’ brother would put on this breastplate to improve his thought process. In Jesus’ day, another notion developed about touching the tassels worn by rabbis. According to legend, the tassels attached to a rabbis cloak contained special powers and if touched like the woman in Luke 8:43-48, healing would result. Knowing this mindset, Jesus wanted to make sure this woman knew that it wasn’t his cloak, it was her faith that brought healing.
Despite this information, human beings are extremely superstitious. I fell prey to this while playing professional golf. I noticed that whenever I wore certain shirts, I played really good or horrible causing me to believe it was the lucky or unlucky shirt that dictated how I played. Even today, I’m embarrassed to say that I may not wear a shirt to church, sit in a certain place or go watch a game where failure and losses have occurred in the past. When you want something to happen this badly, its probably not a good thing.
As for the question is God superstitious, I believe the Lord embraces obedience, order and special places. Jesus found God’s voice easier to hear in a quiet place, free from earthly distractions, Mark 1:35. Although some individuals may appear lucky on the surface, maintaining blessings from God is dependent upon obedience, Deuteronomy 28:1-2. Finally, as I study the book of Exodus, I am beginning the realize God’s sense of order and purpose the ark of the covenant, tabernacle, temple and articles which enhance worship. In the end, God is not superstitious, He is simply supernatural!
Feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section of my blog.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 