Always a way back

Ever been so ashamed by the inhumanity of us humans to other humans that you have no words to say?

Ever been so appalled by our capacity for hatred and retaliation that your heart literally aches?

Ever been so afraid of our ability to get it spectacularly wrong that it keeps you awake at night?

Ever been so frustrated by our unwillingness to seek God’s way and walk in it that you feel like tearing your hair out?

Ezra has.

When I heard this, I tore my tunic and cloak, pulled hair from my head and beard and sat down appalled.  Ezra 9:3

The issue in that context was intermarriage. I don’t understand why that was such a big deal to God at that time, but maybe it had a lot to do with His people being set apart, becoming established without compromise. It would be hard enough to get God’s laws and practices firmly set in place, without the compromise and attraction of other people’s faiths and traditions muddying the waters.

Anyway, it mattered. A lot. Enough for God to give His people this command –

‘The land you are entering to possess is a land polluted by the corruption of its peoples. By their detestable practices they have filled it with their impurity from one end to the other. Therefore, do not give your daughters in marriage to their sons or take their daughters for your sons. Do not seek a treaty of friendship with them at any time, that you may be strong and eat the good things of the land and leave it to your children as an everlasting inheritance.’  Ezra 9:11-12

Which many of them ignored. They did not obey God. They did not trust Him enough. They did not believe He knew best. They did it their own way. They didn’t see the point of the ruling and therefore didn’t believe it applied to them.

And so there were consequences –

From the days of our ancestors until now, our guilt has been great. Because of our sins, we and our kings and our priests have been subjected to the sword and captivity, to pillage and humiliation at the hand of foreign kings, as it is today.  Ezra 9:7

We know all about that. We’ve been following the faith journey of God’s people from the very beginning. We also know that all hope is not lost. It never is. God is a God of compassion. God is love. There is always a way back.

But now, for a brief moment, the Lord our God has been gracious in leaving us a remnant and giving us a firm place in his sanctuary, and so our God gives light to our eyes and a little relief in our bondage. Though we are slaves, our God has not forsaken us in our bondage. He has shown us kindness in the sight of the kings of Persia: He has granted us new life to rebuild the house of our God and repair its ruins, and he has given us a wall of protection in Judah and Jerusalem.  Ezra 9:8-9

A little respite. God has been gracious.

A firm place. Light to our eyes. A little relief.

God has not abandoned us.

God has shown us kindness.

God has granted us new life.

The opportunity to rebuild and repair.

And He has given us a wall of protection.

What a beautiful passage of hope and redemption.

In all that is happening in our world today, isn’t this what we are yearning for?

A little respite from all the sorrow and loss and inexplicable acts of violence and hatred?

Grace. For God to show us His grace. For us to share God’s grace.

A firm place when we feel that the very ground beneath our feet is shifting.

A light in the darkness.

Relief from fear and terror and sadness.

The knowledge that God has not abandoned His world. That He is there to be found in the middle of all this mess.

And kindness. How important is kindness right now? When fear breeds prejudice and over-reaction – in our families, our workplaces, our Facebook feed – where is the kindness and understanding?

New life.

This way isn’t working.

We need to find a new way.

To take this opportunity to rebuild and repair according to God’s way. The God of love and hope and forgiveness and fresh starts.

And as for a wall of protection – wouldn’t the assurance of that be amazing? We are beginning to know the opposite – the fear that this new kind of war is coming ever closer. And we don’t like it. This feeling that we can never be sure of being safe is new to us in this country. Some people have been living with it all their lives….That’s why we need to be searching for a new way. God’s way. God’s kingdom here on earth. I cannot assure you that you will be physically safe – that is the nature of terrorism. You cannot predict when and where. But I do believe you can find a way with God to deal with your fear, to be able to carry on, to be able to sleep at night, to be able to live every day to the full.

There is hope.

There is always a way back.

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1:5

The darkness will never put it out.

Love wins.