Henry Mercer assumed he could be the lord who built his own house. In 1907, this American businessman, and collector decided to construct his castle of concrete. He incorporated his extensive tile collection. A bachelor with no architectural training, he built his castle-home Fonthill, on the fly. Its interior twists up and down, with 10 bathrooms, 18 fireplaces, 21 chimneys, and at least 32 sets of stairs (some of which lead nowhere). Eight laborers, unfamiliar with concrete construction, were hired under Mercer’s constant watch. They poured concrete and built Fonthill Castle in four years. Nothing in the eccentric structure is plumb. Even furniture is made of concrete. It is the odd and uncomfortable product of Mercer’s ill-conceived dream.
DO THEY DREAM OF CREATING THEIR OWN “NEW EGYPT”?
In Exodus 21-23, what is the Israelites’ dream as they leave Egypt for the Promised Land? Do they dream of creating their own “New Egypt;” a land of their own design and making? Little do they comprehend this new land belongs to God. The Israelites and the land are to glorify and reflect God alone.
LESSONS ON HOW TO RESPOND TO GOD
God gives His people lessons on how to respond to a Holy God. He rejects their preconceptions of what His society is to look like, handing them designs, plans and laws. If requested, God always provides His wisdom. He would have even given Henry Mercer sound plans for designing his home. Mercer’s mansion would not have become such a bizarre castle. However, Mercer rejected sound guidelines. The Israelites eventually rejected God’s wisdom.
WHO THEY WERE TO REFLECT
In these chapters, God gives the Israelites many specifics on how to be socially responsible. They are taught to honor God in all aspects of their lives. Never does God send them out of Egypt with wishes of, “Good luck; go and do whatever you want.” As His people, they are to reflect the holiness of God. Things travel sideways each time the Israelites follow their own plans, imagining they are masters of their own destiny.
HEADED TO DEADLY SPIRITUAL WARFARE
The Israelites head toward deadly spiritual warfare. God warns them, “Do not bow down before their gods or worship them or follow their practices. You must demolish them and break their sacred stones to pieces.” God knows bad allegiances “will cause you to sin against Me, because the worship of their gods will certainly be a snare to you.” He forbids the Israelites to construct spiritual and cultural castles of their own imagination.
In his writings, Mercer imagined he was lord of his own destiny. He plagiarized, “Except the lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it.”
GOD’S SPECIAL POSSESSION
God has perfect plans for His children. The designs are not of our own making. But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. (Peter 2:9) Have you handed over to Him your plans and dreams? Without them, your life will end up like Mercer’s stairways which lead nowhere.
