Greatest Love Story
I remember the first time I did the Bible in a year program. The daily readings took me through the Old Testament first and then continued with the New Testament. A friend was doing the same reading program and shared how much death and graphic detail were in the Old Testament and that it was almost difficult to read. I recall feeling similar the first time I read it through from cover to cover. What I love about the Bible is that it is truly a living word. You may read the same verse multiple times and depending on where you are in life or your relationship with God, you will grasp something new from each reading. This is why it is so critical to personally go to the Bible versus being fully reliant on how someone translates what they draw from the Bible for you.
I recently completed two course in theology focused on the Old Testament, and this time, I did not focus on death or the graphic details of sacrifice. Instead, I focused on what I consider to be the greatest love story. Throughout Exodus, God is a Father to the people of Israel. He punishes them similar to a father punishing a child when they do not follow His rules and create golden calfs, but always gives them a way to return to Him. “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punished the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.” (Exodus 34:6-7). He further illustrates this throughout the minor prophets when post exile, the minor prophets remind the people of Israel to repent and that their salvation is through God alone-not through false idols or false gods. “The Lord Almighty says: Return to me, declares the Lord Almighty, and I will return to you..Then they repented and said, the Lord Almighty has done to us what our ways and practices deserve, just as he determined to do.” (Zechariah 1:4-6)
The greatest love story is that although the cycle continues with God’s children of sin and turning from Him, He encourages them to repent and return to Him. Each time, He welcomes them back after their time of repenting. What better illustration than that of a father who, regardless of how many times a child disobeys, disappoints, or even makes decisions that lead to their harm, you will be there for them when they come through the other side. Sometimes the journey of acknowledging the sin and repenting is quick, other times, it takes years similar to the exodus and exile endured by the people of Israel. Once they return to our Father, He opens His arms time and again…what greater love story is there than that enduring love?
Praying today and every day that you open yourself to the love that God has to offer, it is enduring and everlasting- simply believe in Him.
