Tuesday, March 14, 2023

 

Tuesday, March 14, 2023


Psalm 34

Genesis 47:13-31

Luke 15:11-32


Then Israel bowed himself on the head of the bed.


Two situations: one historical, the other illustrative. Both concerning people in hardship, both relying on the one with plenty for their survival.


When you are in times of famine, literal, spiritual or otherwise, there is no time to be wasted scraping the side of the dog food bowl for scraps. Do as the people did; run to the Master and His representative, for our God is generous and loving. Evil brings death to the wicked; but the LORD rescues the righteous from all our afflictions.


Where humans differ from God is in the response to the needy. If we had to bargain with our God as if He were a man, we would never get past the guard house. There is no amount of livestock we could take to bargain with in exchange for our souls. The bars to heaven are locked tight against those who would enter on their own terms.


Jesus teaches exactly what we are to say: “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.” But even this is not an exchange; a trade deal for salvation. The Father is already running down the drive, waving open the boom gate, thongs slapping on the driveway, flannelette robe flapping around Him, His mighty hands reaching out for a big bear hug. We sob our apologies into that hug, but He is already wiping them away and taking us inside, to the party He has organised just for this occasion.


When Jacob was at peace with his inheritance and his God, he bowed down. When our God is the way that He is to us, how can we do anything else?



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