Don’t Waste Your Super Bowl!

The Super Bowl competitors are known: The Baltimore Ravens and The San Francisco 49ers. This match-up is interesting for many levels. The teams coaches are brothers –John & Jim Harbaugh (talk about sibling rivalry the next few days!); the game is being dubbed “Harbowl”.

Another interesting perspective is the influence of personal faith. John Harbaugh is known to be a man of faith.[1] Even more public has been the testimonies of Ravens LB Ray Lewis. Lewis’ testimony is often “God is amazing”. His latest string of post-game comments have been trending on the internet that come from Bible verse Isaiah 54:17 “no weapon formed against you will succeed and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their vindication from me, declares the Lord.” Ray Lewis seems to imply that the Raven’s competition (Denver Broncos or whomever) would not succeed because God was giving them victory.

For reference, the context of the Biblical passage in Isaiah is the Lord’s judgment upon His people Israel for their unrighteousness and unfaithfulness. However, God could not and would not entirely forsake Israel. He promised to protect her from its enemies. A remnant of those who were faithful to God would be saved and spared. God saves His people not because of their might or merit but because of His mercy. Israel did not deserve God’s protection but was promised it by grace.

On the other side of the field is 49er newcomer Colin Kaepernick. Kaepernick is surfing the new wave of quarterbacks – those who pass from the pocket and also run with super speed. Kaepernick is also cutting edge because of his dynamic personality and featured tattoos.[2] The inside of one bicep reads “My Gift” and on the other reads “Is My Curse”. Then, on the top of his right bicep features the word “FAITH”. Along his arms are two Psalm references: Psalm 27:3, which reads “Though an army deploy against me, my heart is not afraid, though war break out against me, still I am confident.” Psalm 18:39 is the other, reading “You have clothed me with strength for battle; You subdue my adversaries beneath me.” Colin Kaepernick’s parents helped picked out the passages for his body art. His mother said, “They are about asking God to help kick somebody’s butt!”

So, again, one may see the battle shaping up. On one side is the “Ray-ven” Army and on the other is the butt-kicking, quarterback led 49ers. The question remains, “Which side is God on?” Or perhaps a greater question, “Does God care about football games?”[3] The answer to both these questions is similar: God is above all. Psalm 24:1 “The earth and everything in it, the world and its inhabitants, belong to the Lord.” God is not on either side but He does supervise every action on earth. “Aren’t two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father’s consent” (Matthew 10:29). In other words, a bird does not die without God’s approval… even a blade of grass does not move unless God sends the wind. God is over all and in all things. So, a football team can win or lose to the glory of God (1Corinthians 10:31). “All things were created through Him and for Him” (Colossians 1:16).

Ravens vs. 49ers to the glory of God.