“Inclusio” A Literary Technique for Life

Exodus 17:10 So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. 11 As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. 12 When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset. 13 So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword."

About 13 months ago Pastor Coleman taught the Congregation a literary device called "inclusio."  My brain lit up, because I love new; I love learning; I love studying things I hadn't known previously.  This technique frames a story with particular information at the beginning and end of a section in order to alert us of an important theme.

Google this technique. It shows up in Scripture frequently. Google will draw you to particular text examples for more clarification. This writing technique came to mind this morning on my walk.

As I prayed and mulled over this passage this aforementioned technique became a beatific thought in my head.  I moved quickly to get home in order to put on paper what God was putting on my heart.

I pictured the battle of some trial going on. A trial that came on assignment from God to be fought by you or me with His strength.  We are all living this stayathome necessity. It’s costing each of us something. It, with all its difficulties is our new battle.

Who would be the "Aaron and "Hur" to hold us up when tired, despair, depression came knocking?”

This is where "inclusio" comes to mind. Give me a bit of Liberty if not quite using it correctly. I do believe I’m on track.

The hope that the Scripture builds through memorizing, meditation and mining is put in place by us on the side of our pre-trial life. When things are calm. That is our 'Aaron.'  He’s been there, God‘s Word has been there. Aaron was the mouth piece for Moses; Scripture is the Spoken Word of God. It’s ready to hold you and me up. Aaron went to Moses‘ aid. The Bible is there to aid us in every circumstance pertaining to life and godliness.

Our life is "bracketed" by what we know of God before life got hard.  When trials hit, our “Hur" is holding the other side.  Let's make "Hur" those who encourage, pray and walk alongside. Scripture tells us to share one another’s burdens. Pray for one another, mourn with each other, not complain, but state facts in order to gain wise, godly counsel.

 We are responsible for putting the "brackets" in place.   The Word, and God's people;  2 Corinthian 1:3-7  This happens before, during and after. You neglect "bracketing" (inclusio) your life if you try to stay away from the Body.  And especially if you forfeit being in God's Word. You hurt yourself. You forgo your inclusio technique.

We should rest our Burden on ALL God has said about trials. All He communicated about why they come.  Be confident of how he gets us through them.  Having an assurance as to their purpose, is our "inclusio." There is enough in Scripture to reassure us, enough to be bracketed by in order to know the theme of our life is “working for our good.” That good? Being transformed into the image of His Dear Son.

Our lives, during trials, must be bracketed on both sides with knowledge of what God is doing (James 1:1-12). Our story will be framed with particular information.  People are being impacted by how we go through our trials. No matter what we go through it is not meant to be easy.  No one is saying that it will be.  However if we are resting on "The Stone (ROCK)" like Moses, and have our "inclusio" technique going. Not only will our Faith be strengthened but those who observe will hear the consistent testimony of our Belief and Hope in Jesus, before, and after trials, they will hear and be glad.

Before trials come is the best time to establish the inclusio. The important theme of whatever we each go through is ultimately Jesus' Glory.