Bird Devotional 43

Clark’s Nutcracker, Nucifraga columbiana

“In the top basket were all kinds of baked goods for Pharaoh, but the birds were eating them out of the basket on my head.” Genesis 40:17

In bold letters the sign proclaimed, “PLEASE DO NOT FEED THE ANIMALS.” Then, just in case that admonition were not clear enough, in smaller print it stated, “This includes birds, chipmunks, squirrels and other wildlife.” My wife and I were standing at a scenic overlook on the Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park. Directly in front of that sign, a mother and young son were feeding potato chips and bits of bread to a group of Clark’s Nutcrackers. The nutcrackers had no concern about the sign, and apparently the mother and son had no concern about it either. I am a legalist, however, and though I tried to coax one of the nutcrackers into range so my wife could take a picture of me with the bird, it quickly figured out there was no free lunch involved and hopped off to greener pastures.

Clark’s Nutcracker, a relative of jays and crows, is known in the western mountains as “camp robber” due to its habit of stealing food from campsites and picnic baskets. They are gray, with black wings, white outer tail feathers and a black, spike-like bill. This nutcracker is named for Captain William Clark, who first described it in his journal in 1805.

In today’s verse from the Book of Genesis, Joseph is in prison and listening to Pharaoh’s chief baker describe a dream he had about birds and a basket of bread. Joseph interprets that dream, and within three days Pharaoh executes the baker. It is not a pretty story. It reminds us of the sacrifices offered by Cain and Abel. Abel’s sacrifice involved the shedding of blood; Cain’s was a mere offering of grain. Abel’s sacrifice was accepted by God; Cain’s was not. In the same way, Jesus is the acceptable sacrifice through the shedding of His blood. The sacrifice of Jesus was the ultimate sacrifice. And yet, God does describe sacrifices He expects from us: "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise" (Genesis 51:17). In essence, what God wants from us is a heart that is repentant. His blood, combined with our repentant heart enables us to live our lives as Saint Paul described: “Living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship” (Romans 12:1). Anything less is like the basket of baked goods that was acceptable only for feeding the birds, but cost the chief baker his life.

Father, I thank you for sacrificing for me through the blood of your Son. Today I offer to you my broken spirit and my contrite heart. Help me to live my life as a living sacrifice for you. Amen.