A few things struck me this week as significant about my relationship with God.
The first being, that we can trust that God will protect, help, and be faithful to those who remain in covenant with God. Those that lead lives according to the law of Moses and later the law of Love, and also be willing to trust that God will do what God promised. We have seen examples of this in Daniel as he steps into the lion's den, Esther as she risks going to speak to the King to ask pardon on the Jews, and Judith as she stands up to the whole Assyrian army while the priest and elders of her community wait upon the Lord and give him only five days plus five days more. Daniel walks out untouched by the lions whose mouth were shut tight, Esther is given whatever she wishes from the King, and Judith defeats Holofernes and saves her whole community with God's help and protection. God calls us and we respond, always moving closer in our relationship with our Faithful God.
The second thing that struck me as significant is that just when we think we know what God will do next, God does something unexpected. God does what God plans to do when God wants it to be done. Naomi and Ruth both widows and both in a foreign land, no heirs and no husbands, they have nothing but each other. God turns that all around, even though they are outcasts, through the actions and faithfulness of one to the other. Jonah is angry that God is merciful to the Ninevites because he didn't expect that of God.
As I reflect on these events and God's activity I am reminded once again that God is in control. If I live my life in response to this loving God that I trust will do what God has planned for me, my life should reflect faithfulness, forgiveness, friendship and obedience. The more I live in this way the closer I am to the image and likeness of God.
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Cindy- I am glad that you have been able to take such a positive message from the class. It is good to be part of a covenant people, isn't it! The last weeks were particularly illustrative of the love of a steadfast God, whether or not we are faithful on our end. I would be curious to have a further conversation with you however about Job. He was faithful to God, and yet, sufferend greatly. How do we make sense of this story?
ReplyDeleteCindy:
ReplyDeleteI think you are saying that the God of the OT is the same God we know in the NT -- or is it something else?
In response to Sarah's comment about Job, does that fit into the second part that struck you? Just when we know what God will do next, God does something unexpected? The message that we get from Judith seems to be something similar: we can't place limits or ultimatums on our God. Once we do that, we place restrictions on a limitless being.
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