As I’m reading through the wanderings of Israel in the Old Testament and, subsequently, God’s dealings with them, I am struck with a sense with which I am at a loss to both control and explain. Get this: I find myself, at often times, siding with the Jews! I want to defend them, justify their ignorance, and even accuse God! I am in no state to be doing so, but I can’t shake the fact that God could kill a generation for their rebellion against entering a piece of land and not think it to be a little extreme (I know, I know. I’ve read Romans 9:10). Obedience to an all-powerful, all-knowing, even all-loving God is crucial, but what I know of grace, tells me that I have it good. It also tells me that I am (or think I am) taking advantage of God’s goodness. I’m reminded of Paul’s words in Romans 6:1.
I think God is about to show me something big…
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February 10, 2009 at 6:19 pm
Michele
I think possibly one reason it’s hard to grasp why a loving Father would simply wipe out an entire generation and start again is because we don’t stop to see His reasons for such anger and disappointment…
The people of Israel were especially chosen and were supposed to act and be totally devoted to God. When they weren’t, they were unfit to enter into the promised land because they broke the sacred covenant they had entered into with Him.
Though that does seem rather harsh, and i agree with you in siding with the Israelites, because it seems he so quickly brushes off their second chance without another thought.
But we know that our God does NOT do anything rashly and without thought…perhaps he does this so we can truly be in awe of him and thus appreciate his mercy and grace all the more…
February 11, 2009 at 7:43 pm
jenna q
yay for blogging. and in response, here’s what i’m throwing around lately –
this line in the mortification of sin that says when you recognize a lust trying to seduce you, to take it “to the law of God and the love of Christ”
before the law of God my “little sins” look like what they are: anarchy.
and before the love of Christ they look like what they are: insanity.
that just reminds me of your (only apparent) law/grace dilemma here. intertwined, they work for the same end. we should long for righteousness more. that is a crucial prayer.