Small voice

Responding to 1 Kings 19

Haiku of hope

He's in deep trouble,

Elijah. Happens when you

stand against evil.

Jezebel the queen

sends word: Sort out your affairs;

tomorrow you die.

Elijah shoots through,

fleeing for his life. Frightened?

What do you reckon?

He left his servant

at Beer Sheba and headed

off into the bush.

After a day's march

he cried: Let me die, O Lord,

I have had enough!

He got up, ate, drank,

and travelled forty more days;

reaching mount Horeb.

In a cave God spoke:

Why have you come, Elijah?

They seek my life, Lord.

They turned from you, God,

they have pulled down your altars,

and killed your prophets.

Go to the entrance

of the cave. Watch; you will see,

your Lord passing by.

A great wind split rocks,

an earthquake shook the mountain,

and then came a fire.

Sheer silence followed.

In the silence God is found,

not in flash display.

Return Elijah;

it will be all right. Know this;

you are not alone.

© Ken Rookes 2025

Wisdom calls

Responding to Proverbs Ch. 8

Haiku of the wise

Sofia cries out

in the streets, where all can hear!

Will anyone hear?

From the beginning,

the first of God's creation;

Wisdom came to be.

Before the oceans,

the mountains, the world, the stars,

or all else: Wisdom.

Present with the Lord

as he laid the foundations

and set boundaries

Wisdom, born ahead

of the hills, the fields, the clouds,

the dust of the earth.

First in the Lord's mind,

God's partner in creation;

taking great delight!

Wisdom, rejoicing

in God's presence and taking

delight in mankind.

Wisdom, God's great gift,

calling out to humankind:

will anyone hear?

© Ken Rookes 2025

They named it Babel

Responding to Genesis ch.11

Haiku for a scattering.

A primeval yarn

to explain how languages

divide humankind.

Once we were all one,

one people, language and speech;

so the story goes.

Humankind agreed,

let us build a tower, high

to reach the heavens.

With mortar and clay

bricks fired like stone, the people

began to construct.

How clever we are!

Our name shall surely be great

throughout the whole earth!

God comes down to see

what's going on. Takes one look,

expresses alarm.

Behold how clever

these people are, now nothing

will be beyond them!

Confounding their speech

becomes the means by which God

institutes limits.

Scattered across earth

with languages that divide;

that's where it went wrong!

They named it Babel.

© Ken Rookes 2025

Stripped, beaten, thrown in jail

Responding to Acts 16: 16-34

Haiku of freedom

The fortune-telling

slave girl made heaps of money

for those who owned her.

The slave girl followed

Paul and Co. These men, she cried,

tell God's salvation.

Annoyed, Paul ordered

the spirit to leave the girl.

It left her at once.

The slave-girl's owners,

were not happy at the loss

of their enterprise.

Paul, Silas, were seized,

dragged before the magistrate;

They disrupt our life!

Attacked by the crowd,

stripped, beaten, thrown into jail;

poor Paul and Silas!

Praying and singing

as the earthquake struck; the doors

opened, chains fell off.

The jailer panicked.

Paul cried out: Don't harm yourself,

we are all still here!

Sirs, what must I do

to be saved! Trust in Jesus,

you and your household.

The guard took them home,

made them welcome, dressed their wounds

and offered them food.

The gathered household

hears the word of love and grace

and all are baptised.

© Ken Rookes 2025

Purple

Responding to Acts 16:9-15

Haiku of witness and welcome.

Paul has a vision:

a Macedonian man

calls, Come and help us.

We booked a passage

to Macedonia. God

wanted us to go!

We had to proclaim

the good news of God's new life.

So we went to them.

There, in Philippi

they went down to the river,

to the place of prayer.

On the Sabbath day,

They met the gathered women,

sharing God's good news.

Lydia, dealer

in purple cloth, heard Paul's words

listened eagerly.

Worshipper of God,

Lydia, asks: Baptise me!

She, and her household.

Lydia urged them:

If you judge me faithful, come,

and stay at my home.

© Ken Rookes 2025

The Gentiles have come to faith

 Responding to Acts 11:1-18

Haiku of new insights

No way! The Gentiles

have come to faith! Was that in

our mission statement?

What goes on, Peter?

Eating with Gentiles? You know

they're uncircumcised!

It's like this, said Pete.

I had a vision; a sheet

of unclean creatures.

A voice spoke to me:

Get up and eat! No way, Lord,

I don't eat unclean.

The voice spoke again:

If I say it's clean, it's clean!

Now do what I say.

It happened three times;

leaving me perplexed, not sure

as to its meaning.

Just then, three men came.

Go with them, said the Spirit.

Thought we'd better go.

The house was Gentile,

but that no longer mattered.

We went inside, preached.

The uncircumcised

heard the gospel and believed;

we didn't plan it!

The Holy Spirit

fell on them, just like on us;

so we baptised them.

The penny has dropped:

God's salvation is for all,

both Jew and Gentile.

© Ken Rookes 2025

Faithful Tabitha

Responding to Acts 9:36-43

Haiku story from the early church

Faithful Tabitha,

also known as Dorcas, cared

for Joppa's needy.

The Joppa faithful

loved disciple Tabitha;

so full of good works.

Tabitha was ill,

and she died. They laid her out

in preparation.

They sent for Peter.

He came at once, was touched by

the widows weeping.

Peter cleared the room,

knelt down and prayed to the Lord.

“Tabitha arise!”

Tabitha opened

her eyes. Peter took her hand;

called in the faithful.

The story was told

throughout Joppa: many came

to believe in God.

©Ken Rookes 2025

Defender of the faith

Reflecting on Acts 9:1-6

Haiku of the blinding light

Faithful Pharisee

Saul, defender of the faith,

was chasing Christians.

Threatening slaughter

against the disciples, he

was out to get them.

Supplied with letters

from the high priest, Saul set out

for Damascus town.

Saul would hunt them down,

men and women, bring them bound

to Jerusalem.

Nearing Damascus,

suddenly a heavenly

light shined upon Saul

He fell to the ground.

A voice spoke: Saul, why are you

persecuting me?

Saul cried: Who are you?

I am Jesus; it is me

that you're attacking.

Saul trembled, Tell me

what to do? In the city

you will receive word.

© Ken Rookes 2025.

Before the Council

Responding to Acts 5:27-32

Haiku of account

Daring to preach, heal,

in the temple; arrested,

and called to account.

Detained apostles

are brought before the council;

We told you to stop!

Look what you have done!

the high priest said in anger;

we told you plainly!

You have been preaching

in Jesus' name, and blaming

us for Jesus' death.

We must obey God

rather than you, or any

other human rule.

God raised up Jesus

after you ordered his death.

God's exalted him!

Through him, forgiveness

comes to Israel, for all

who repent their sins.

We are witnesses,

together with the Spirit;

God's gift to his friends

© Ken Rookes 2025 

But God raised him

Responding to Acts ch.10

Haiku of witness

The ancient witness

from the book of Acts; Peter,

once frightened, speaks out.

God, Peter declares,

does not take sides, all nations

are treated the same.

If you do what's right

God will accept you, listen

to what God's saying.

Jesus came preaching

peace with God, for all nations,

not merely his own.

Anointed by God

and filled with Spirit power,

Jesus came to heal.

We, his witnesses,

were with him in Judea

and Jerusalem.

They put him to death

on the tree, God restored him

day three; we saw him!

Chosen witnesses,

we ate and drank with Jesus

when he rose to life.

Commanded to preach,

we declare, through Jesus' name,

sins are forgiven.

© Ken Rookes 2025

Who finds me guilty

Reflecting on Isaiah 50

Haiku of vindication

I am called to teach,

to bring words to encourage

those who are weary

.

Every morning

God wakes me, opens my ear

to teach me his way.

I listened to God,

I did not rebel or turn

away from the Lord.

Enemies struck me;

I took their blows, accepting

cruel punishment.

They tore at my beard,

I hid not my face from them;

their spitting insults.

I am not disgraced,

I have set my face like flint;

The Lord God helps me.

God vindicates me

and God is near; no one dares

to contend with me!

Who challenges me?

Bring them on! The Lord helps me;

who finds me guilty?

Ken Rookes © 2025

You ain't seen nothing!

Reflecting on Isaiah 43

Haiku of anticipation

The Lord reminds them

of the great and mighty deeds

leading to freedom.

The path through the sea,

the army, the chariots

stranded in the mud.

You ain't seen nothing,

says God; I'm doing something

new. Watch out for it!

In the wilderness

I'm making a way, rivers

flow in the desert.

Wild creatures will sing

my praises; the ostriches

and jackals will drink!

My chosen people

will drink, the people I formed

will declare my praise

© Ken Rookes 2025

From that time on

Reflecting on Joshua Ch. 5

Haiku for a new land

God tells Joshua

that the disgrace of Egypt

has been put away.

They are in Gilgal,

in the land promised by God;

the new era starts.

There, Israel kept

the Passover, recalling

God's deliverance.

On the day after

they ate produce from the land;

unleavened cakes, grain.

The manna ended;

they ate the crops of Canaan

land from that time on.

© Ken Rookes 2025

God's abundance

Responding to Isaiah ch. 55.

Haiku of welcome

Hey, thirsty people,

here's water in abundance;

don't wait, come and drink!

No money? No probs;

come and eat, drink wine and milk,

no need for money!

You spend your money

and waste your labour on things

that can't satisfy,

Listen carefully,

eat what is good, take delight

in food that gives life.

God's offering you

a covenant that's lasting;

if you'll receive it.

It's there, before you;

seek the Lord while he is near,

turn from wicked ways.

God's invitation:

turn back, the Lord is waiting

to show his mercy.

God is not like us.

God's ways are higher than ours,

willing to pardon.

© Ken Rookes 2025

Abram

Responding to Genesis ch. 15

Haiku of promise

The great patriarch

has a vision from the Lord;

he's told, Do not fear!

The Lord assures him:

I am your shield, Abram; your

reward shall be great.

I am childless, Lord,

so a slave born in my house

is to be my heir.

God took him outside.

Look at the stars, your offspring

will match their number.

I brought you from Ur

and gave you this land! But how

will I know? asked Abe.

Bring some animals,

cut them in half, make two rows,

said God. Abe obeyed.

At dusk Abram slept.

A terrifying darkness

descended on him.

At night a smoking

fire-pot and a flaming torch

passed between the rows.

God makes covenant

with Abe: To your descendants

I'm giving this land.

© Ken Rookes 2025

Gratitude

Reflecting on Deut 26:1-11

Haiku of first fruits

The ancient story

of foundation: Israel

is given a land.

Show your gratitude

take all of the first fruits, make

an offering to God.

Take it to the priest,

say, I have come to this land,

as God swore to us.

Our fathers wandered,

finding themselves in Egypt;

there they became slaves.

Harshly treated, we

cried out to the Lord, the God

of our ancestors.

The Lord heard our voice,

saw our affliction, our toil,

and our oppression.

The Lord brought us out

of Egypt with a strong hand

and an outstretched arm.

God gave us this land,

flowing with milk and honey.

These gifts show our thanks.

© Ken Rookes 2025

In no way would I suggest that this ancient story has relevance to the situation od Israel and Palestine today

Shining

Reflecting on Ex. 34:29-35

Haiku of wonder

Moses descended

from Mt Sinai, having spent

time in God's presence.

Moses' hands carried

the two covenant tablets;

his face was shining.

Moses' face shone bright

from God's presence. The people

wouldn't come near him.

He called his brother,

Aaron and all the leaders;

told them what God said.

All Israel came

near. Moses declared to them

all that God told him.

When Moses finished

he put a veil on his face

to hide the shining.

© Ken Rookes 2025

I am Joseph

 

Reflecting upon Gen 45:3-11, 15

Haiku of forgiveness

Joseph shows himself

to his brothers. It is I!

How is my father?

His brothers don't speak,

worried that Joseph might take

his revenge on them.

Come closer to me.

I am your brother, the one

you sold as a slave.

Do not be angry

or distressed; God has used me

to preserve much life.

Two years of famine

is followed by five more; God

sent me to save you.

Go to my father,

say, Your son Joseph is made

lord of all Egypt.

Come down to Egypt,

don't delay; I will provide

ev'rything you need.

This is God's doing!

Joseph kissed all his brothers

and wept upon them.

Ken Rookes © 2025

Like trees

 

Reflecting on Jeremiah 17:5-10

Haiku of trust

Trusting in the strength

of mere mortals is futile;

need to trust in God.

They're like desert shrubs

struggling to survive each day

in parched, salty land.

Blest are those who trust

in God; they will be like trees

planted by water.

When the days of heat

come, their roots find the moisture

and their leaves stay green.

In the times of drought

the tree with deep roots survives

and keeps bearing fruit.

The heart deceives us;

We are subject to its whims

and wants. It tricks us.

The Lord tests the mind,

searches the heart, judging us

by the things we do.

Ken Rookes 2025

Who shall I send?

Reflecting on Isaiah chapter 6

Haiku for trembling

In the sixth chapter

of his book, Isaiah tells

how it all began.

A vision of God

on a throne, lofty; his hem

filling the temple.

Seraphs attending:

six wings. Covering faces,

feet; two wings flying.

Calling each other,

Holy holy holy; Earth

fills with God's glory.

The seraphs' voices

shook the temple; it is filled

with smoke and wonder.

Woe is me, I'm lost,

my lips are unclean, I dwell

among the unclean!

A seraph flew near

with a coal from the altar,

touched my mouth with it.

The Lord's voice cried out;

Who shall I send, who will go?

Here I am, send me!

Go and say to them.

Keep hearing: understanding

will not come to you.

You won't comprehend,

or turn to be healed, until

your land lies in ruin.

© Ken Rookes 2025