Readings for today: Isaiah 1-4
There is nothing more painful than being estranged from your child. I remember counseling a family years ago who had an estranged daughter. She was a miracle baby because the doctors told them they would never have children. They gave her everything as she grew up. They lavished all kinds of love on her. They were at every event she participated in. They brought her to church and taught her to love the Lord. But when she became a teenager, she rebelled. Hard. She got into drugs. The drugs led her into a life of prostitution. The prostitution led to several abortions and multiple children out of wedlock. She ran away from home. They lost touch with her. The only time she’d come around is when she needed money and then she’d disappear on them again. The final straw for them was when she came home with her latest boyfriend and he threatened them with a gun. Even shot out the windows of one of their cars. Thankfully, i convinced them to call the police and the man was taken to jail. However, that didn’t solve the problem with their daughter.
In the Westminster Confession, there is a line that says God is “without body, parts, and emotions.” And it reflects the mistake Western Christians too often make when it comes to God. We are far more influenced by Greek philosophy than we care to admit and so end up perceiving God as distant and unemotional, a fundamentally rational being. But that’s not the God of the Bible. The God of the Bible is deeply invested emotionally. He’s invested emotionally in the world He has made. He’s invested emotionally in the creature who bears His image. And most importantly, He’s invested emotionally in His children. Those called by His name. Those set apart for His purposes. Those with whom He made a covenant. It’s why we hear the heartbreak of God at the beginning of Isaiah. “Listen, O heavens, pay attention, O earth! For the Lord speaks: I raised children, I brought them up, but they have rebelled against Me! An ox recognizes its owner, a donkey recognizes where its owner puts its food; but Israel does not recognize Me, My people do not understand.” (Isaiah 1:2-3 NET) One hears the grief of a Father in these words. The pain of a parent who’s watching His children go astray.
It’s important for us to embrace this understanding of God. He is our Heavenly Father and like any faithful parent, He will never stop loving His children. He hurts when we hurt. He grieves when rebel. He pursues us when we run from Him. He is disappointed when we refuse to spend time with Him. The most painful thing we can do to God is reject Him. Cut Him out of our lives. Only show up when we need something from Him. It’s also important to understand God is not like an earthly parent. He is healthy. He is not co-dependent. He cannot be manipulated. He cannot be controlled. He is not subject to His emotions as we are. He is always righteous. Always good. Always holy. Always true. He is also sovereign. Able to bend even our rebellion to His ways. He will set boundaries on us. He will discipline us. He will allow us to face the consequences of our choices with the hope that it leads us to repentance.
I think about the young woman I mentioned above. When her mom and dad stopped rescuing her and allowed her to finally face the full weight of the consequences of her decisions, her life began to change. She moved back home. She got a job. She contributed to the household. She brought one of her own daughters with her and they raised her together. She confessed her sins to her family and to the church. She repented of her former ways and started anew. It was beautiful. Not perfect. But beautiful. God bringing beauty out of the brokenness of her life. That’s what He wants to do for all His children.
Readings for tomorrow: No devotionals on Sundays