Lent day 29: Who is Serug?
Luke 3 v 35 “the son of Serug”
Serug whose name means ‘shoot’ or ‘branch’ was born in the 2nd century after the flood and at a time where there was an expansion of the population leading to division and uncertainty. Idolatry was rising as man began to forget God and His promises. The close-knit community in the Ark was now so far removed from the value-less divided family. The command to fill the earth was dropped for the vision to make a name for ourselves (the tower of Babel). Was this 2019?
Into that moment a man called Reu names his son ‘shoot/branch’, Serug.
Serug is the hope that was needed. He was a fruitful branch that would begin something new, declaring a new season of returning to God.
He lived in a vast area of modern-day Irag, Syria and Turkey, known then as Mesopotamia (Genesis 10:30).
Today, we are Serug people.
We live amongst a rising idolatry, a Bible forgotten people where the family has been systematically broken down. In this generation and on our watch values that were the strength of society have been replaced with a desire to pursue personal dreams.
Wherever you live today, work, rest or play, you are Serug, a hopeful shoot and a representation of new life.
You may feel dwarfed by the vastness of your world. How can I make any impact here? I am just one of many.
You may feel inadequate. You may feel less than a branch, more like a reed and a broken one at that! But God will use you: “A bruised reed he will not break, and a smouldering wick he will not snuff out.” Isaiah 42:3
You are not just Serug, you are a follower of Jesus.
- Isaiah 11:1 A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branchwill bear fruit.
- Jeremiah 33:15 In those days and at that time I will make a righteous Branchsprout from David’s line; he will do what is just and right in the land.
- Zechariah 3:8 Listen, High Priest Joshua, you and your associates seated before you, who are men symbolic of things to come: I am going to bring my servant, the Branch
You may feel small and intimidated. You may ask ‘what can I do?’ Just be Serug. And in the light of Jesus be a branch that bears fruit today (1), do what is just and right (2) and though you may feel like a burning stick be cleansed and speak grace to those around you (3, reading the whole of chapter 3).
