Corona Devo 3028
Around this time of year, I sometimes make "kugel", and yesterday was the day. Have you tasted kugel? It's a noodle dish, but not like you think: it's a sweet noodle dish.
Cooked noodles are mixed with fresh cranberries, golden raisins, some cottage cheese and sour cream, a few eggs, and some brown sugar, and a dash of salt too. Mix it all up, and then top with some corn flakes that have been tossed in melted butter with some brown sugar, cinnamon. Bake at 350 degrees for about a half hour or until golden brown, and then call me to tell me how much you love it--because you will.
One of the reasons that I make and enjoy kugel is that I have German heritage, and kugel is German...at least that's what I always thought and have always told people. It's a German dish, and so I enjoy making, eating, and sharing it around this time of year.
However--I (just!) found out that kugel is NOT a German dish--it's a Jewish dish.
The name (kugel) is German for “sphere,” which refers to the dumplings that made up the earliest version of the dish, or the (round) pot used to steam them in (kugeltopf), but the recipe and origin of kugel is Jewish.
I'm not Jewish, but I really enjoy kugel...does it still make sense for me to make and share kugel?
Peter (in the Bible) says, "Yes!"
And more spiritually-defining--God says "Yes!".
Jewish or German, Italian or Danish, Singaporean or Hong Konger, Mexican or Nigerian...the Bible clarifies that we are all one in God's family, and---that means that we can share recipes.
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The Jewish people have always been the apple of God's eye...read the Old Testament of the Bible to see this confirmed over and over as God chooses the Jews, forgives the Jews, disciplines the Jews, has mercy on the Jews...over and over. The Jewish people are God's original chosen people.
For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession.
(7) The Lord did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples. (8) But it was because the Lord loved you... ~Deuteronomy 7:6-9
Yes, the Jewish people are God's chosen people. So--should we make and eat their kugel?
YES!!!
Because in the Book of Acts, Chapter 10, God tells us (through a dream that He gives to Peter), that although the Jews are His original chosen people...the Lord has (now) opened the door to every tribe, tongue, and culture that believes in Him.
God's chosen people are all people that choose Him.
And so, my loose-translation and application of Peter's message to the world is that kugel can be everyone's sweet noodle dish, because God no longer distinguishes between heritage, and so we needn't either!
At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. (2) He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. (3) One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, “Cornelius!”
(4) Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked.
The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. (5) Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter. (6) He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea.”
(7) When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier who was one of his attendants. (8) He told them everything that had happened and sent them to Joppa.
(9) About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. (10) He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. (11) He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. (12) It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles and birds. (13) Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.”
(14) “Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.”
(15) The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”
(16) This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven.
(17) While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found out where Simon’s house was and stopped at the gate. (18) They called out, asking if Simon who was known as Peter was staying there.
(19) While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Simon, three men are looking for you. (20) So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.”
(21) Peter went down and said to the men, “I’m the one you’re looking for. Why have you come?”
(22) The men replied, “We have come from Cornelius the centurion. He is a righteous and God-fearing man, who is respected by all the Jewish people. A holy angel told him to ask you to come to his house so that he could hear what you have to say.” (23) Then Peter invited the men into the house to be his guests.
The next day Peter started out with them, and some of the believers from Joppa went along. (24) The following day he arrived in Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. (25) As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence. (26) But Peter made him get up. “Stand up,” he said, “I am only a man myself.”
(27) While talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people. (28) He said to them: “You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile. But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean...
(34) Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism (35) but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. ~Acts 10:1-28, 34-35
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The promise and prayer and truth about God choosing us (and not the other way around) was originally true for the Jewish people only, but now (thanks to Peter's dream!) it is true for every believer in God. We are all His treasured possession.
Friends, we (ALL-of-us and ANY-of-us) are a people holy to the Lord your God. He tells us in His Word (the Bible) that He has chosen us as His treasured possession because He loves us (Deuteronomy 7:6-9)!
God's promises are for the Jewish people, but they are also for all people who love the Lord. This is news worth celebrating! Let's break out the kugel and dig in!
Blessings,
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