The Baptism Of Our Lord / Epiphany 1 / Ordinary Time 1
Devotional
Water From the Rock
Lectionary Devotional for Cycle C
Object:
... he who formed you, O Israel: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.
-- Isaiah 43:1
Israel was in exile. All that confirmed their identity and well-being had been taken away. The land, which had been a confirmation of God's promise to Abraham; the kingdom, which also fulfilled God's promise to David; and the temple, which was the very seat of God's presence with them had been taken away from them. They had been forcibly resettled in a foreign land with other customs and other gods. In the midst of every sign that they were dying as a people, the prophet spoke words of hope and future. He spoke of God having created or formed them. The one who gave them life had the power to redeem them.
This was not a private spiritual promise removed from the historical reality of their life as a nation. The prophet was speaking of corporate redemption. This was not a cost-free redemption caused by some cosmic wave of a magical wand. There was a cost to every change of circumstance in a group's condition. Egypt, Ethiopia, and Seba would pay a price for Israel's redemption. The world would conform to God's purpose.
All this was done for the glory of God. God would not be defeated by history but would shape history to fulfill the divine purpose that was embodied in the physical reality of Israel. Such hope was not based on Israel's actions; certainly not on its faithfulness. It was based on God's decision to love this people. If God is consistent and the scriptures accurately record the nature of God's involvement in this world, what are the implications for Israel and the church today? Is there a cost to the rest of the world for the sake of the future of Israel and the church? There is a mystery in the election of God that defies rational explanation. In light of the event of the cross, we are left with the further question as to our responsibility to the world in light of the price the world is paying for our sake.
-- Isaiah 43:1
Israel was in exile. All that confirmed their identity and well-being had been taken away. The land, which had been a confirmation of God's promise to Abraham; the kingdom, which also fulfilled God's promise to David; and the temple, which was the very seat of God's presence with them had been taken away from them. They had been forcibly resettled in a foreign land with other customs and other gods. In the midst of every sign that they were dying as a people, the prophet spoke words of hope and future. He spoke of God having created or formed them. The one who gave them life had the power to redeem them.
This was not a private spiritual promise removed from the historical reality of their life as a nation. The prophet was speaking of corporate redemption. This was not a cost-free redemption caused by some cosmic wave of a magical wand. There was a cost to every change of circumstance in a group's condition. Egypt, Ethiopia, and Seba would pay a price for Israel's redemption. The world would conform to God's purpose.
All this was done for the glory of God. God would not be defeated by history but would shape history to fulfill the divine purpose that was embodied in the physical reality of Israel. Such hope was not based on Israel's actions; certainly not on its faithfulness. It was based on God's decision to love this people. If God is consistent and the scriptures accurately record the nature of God's involvement in this world, what are the implications for Israel and the church today? Is there a cost to the rest of the world for the sake of the future of Israel and the church? There is a mystery in the election of God that defies rational explanation. In light of the event of the cross, we are left with the further question as to our responsibility to the world in light of the price the world is paying for our sake.
