God through Biblical History has consistently chosen to use worldly forces and powers to discipline, shape and mold his people. This concept is paradoxical to the core. How can evil help good? Can oppression result in divine justice, and devastation end in salvation? These are some questions that arise in my mind as I ponder the daily reading passage of Isaiah 10.
Babylon was instrumental in discipling Judah. God raised up this nation so it would issue out God’s decree of exile and captivity upon Judah for 70 years. Definitely this whole exercise resulted in countless of war crimes, aggression, violence, murder, rape and pillage.
In our passage Assyria, under King Sennacharib has been given the green light to carry out war and oppression upon the nation of Judah. Why would God cause such devastation upon his chosen people? Could there be a greater good? If so is it justifiable?
The writer of Romans has a similar question as he touches on this topic of sovereignty. The issue at hand is how can Pharaoh be brought to accountability for his evil in enslaving Israel. Afterall God had decreed their slavery. And he was just being an obedient servant. God’s quick reply is that I am God. Sovereign, divine, God. Of course Israel had been deficient of God’s laws and warranted punishment, but God in his sovereignty chose a cruel world power, namely Egypt to execute his plans.
A troubling passage in Isaiah 54 sums up God’s perspective.
"See, it is I who created the blacksmith
who fans the coals into flame
and forges a weapon fit for its work.
And it is I who have created the destroyer to work havoc”
If this is God’s view, then shall anyone be held of guilt (as the author of Romans poses)? If God’s sovereignty allows for violence and devastation, then doesn’t Babylon, Assyria and Egypt get a free ride.
God’s emphatic answer is No!!!!! Isaiah 10 reveals God’s judgement on Assyria because they were harsh in their treatment of God’s people. Yes they had been sent on course by God but they chose to involve self motivated schemes and thus were held accountable by God. Pharaoh is judged for hardening his heart, while Babylon loses their place in world dominance.
In essence evil begets evil. Just because God uses the destroyer to wreak havoc, does not excuse the messenger from having a violent disposition. God in his sovereignty is able to walk the fine line between using evil for good, while meting out punishment. You and I cannot walk this line. It is a sovereign right of God. He sees the bigger pictures. He knows the end from the beginning. It’s as if he has watched the tape and knows the scores, stats and key players.
Will you trust God with the good, the ugly and the bad in your life? Definitely resist evil and fight the good fight of faith. But if God is molding you then accept it, even if it is ugly. Accept it with trust, faith and dependence. For he truly has the best for you in mind and in his sovereignty, things will be well.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
For such a time as this....
I write this blog, from a coffee shop early in Chicago. Lessons from Esther seems to coincide with my experience with a ministry we visited yesterday in the inner city of Chicago. Esther, as the biblical narrative reveals has been given a position of great influence. Chosen by divine grace, she sits as the Queen of Persia, possibly the greatest nation in the world in the time of Xerxes. Yet there is a crisis. Her people the Jews have been sentenced to sure death by political decree motivated by the scheming of an insidious and powerful foe, Haman. Mordecai who stands for the preservation of the Jews, urges Esther to risk her life and approach un-summoned her husband the Queen. This act could result in death, thus Esther stalls. Yet Mordecai issues this challenge to Esther
“Do not imagine that you in the king's palace can escape any more than all the Jews. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place and you and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?”
Esther re-acted immediately with bravery and proceeded to intervene on behalf of the Jews, leading to great deliverance and historical symbolism that the jews still celebrate today with the festival of Hannukah.
The ministry of Lawndale Community Church in Chicago represents a movement spearheaded by Christ in a man who chose to lay down his own life so to speak and relocate into a violent neighbourhood in inner city Chicago. 30 years later, this pastor has lead a ministry that has resulted in much renewal and revitalization of the city, providing a church, healthcare, jobs, and affordable housing to many. As I researched about this ministry, time and time again, Esther’s message resounds. God called a few people to use their influence at great risk to influence many.
Just as God called Esther and the Lawndale Church leadership to influence the dying (physical in Esther’s case, and mostly spiritual with Lawndale) so is he also calling you and I. The charge of Mordecai, Esther’s uncle is from God. Do you have privilege, power and position? Are others around you without? Then share, give, sacrifice, for it is the way of Christ. These could be in the form of resources that we might possess, opportunity that we might have access to or privileges that we hold such as salvation. The key to being like Esther is really found in understanding the urgency of the matter. For often we exempt ourselves from compassionate action due to apathy which only exhibits our ignorance of our huge capacity to effect change. Can I challenge you to see yourself as Esther? Treat your current situation as a divine trust, in which a sovereign God has given to you, for only one reason, that you would aid in bringing deliverance to those in need for the kingdom. And remember, you have been called for such a time as this.
“Do not imagine that you in the king's palace can escape any more than all the Jews. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place and you and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?”
Esther re-acted immediately with bravery and proceeded to intervene on behalf of the Jews, leading to great deliverance and historical symbolism that the jews still celebrate today with the festival of Hannukah.
The ministry of Lawndale Community Church in Chicago represents a movement spearheaded by Christ in a man who chose to lay down his own life so to speak and relocate into a violent neighbourhood in inner city Chicago. 30 years later, this pastor has lead a ministry that has resulted in much renewal and revitalization of the city, providing a church, healthcare, jobs, and affordable housing to many. As I researched about this ministry, time and time again, Esther’s message resounds. God called a few people to use their influence at great risk to influence many.
Just as God called Esther and the Lawndale Church leadership to influence the dying (physical in Esther’s case, and mostly spiritual with Lawndale) so is he also calling you and I. The charge of Mordecai, Esther’s uncle is from God. Do you have privilege, power and position? Are others around you without? Then share, give, sacrifice, for it is the way of Christ. These could be in the form of resources that we might possess, opportunity that we might have access to or privileges that we hold such as salvation. The key to being like Esther is really found in understanding the urgency of the matter. For often we exempt ourselves from compassionate action due to apathy which only exhibits our ignorance of our huge capacity to effect change. Can I challenge you to see yourself as Esther? Treat your current situation as a divine trust, in which a sovereign God has given to you, for only one reason, that you would aid in bringing deliverance to those in need for the kingdom. And remember, you have been called for such a time as this.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
