I believe in God…
It’s been a real problem for me.
This week we are reading Exodus 20-24. You’ll notice there are a lot of rules. What do you think about God’s Laws– helpful? hopeful? capricious? mean? rigid? liberating?
I’m asking this question as I write: What do God’s laws tell us about God? What does He value? What’s important to His heart? What matters?
And then, what does it tell us about His people? If He gives this Law Gift to His people, how is that an expression of love, delight, and great care?
Shalom Auslander’s memoir is a well-written reflection on God as arbitrary, petty, and egocentric.
It breaks my heart.
August 13, 2009 @ 11:26 am
I just read “The Year of Living Biblically” by AJ Jacobs for my book club. It was a really interesting (albeit secular) look at God’s laws and pretty humorous as they were attempted to be followed in 21st century America. Looking forward to Sunday!
August 13, 2009 @ 8:00 pm
This set off an interesting conversation between Carolyn and me as we watch the Redskins’ game this evening. I (irreverently) compared God’s Exodus laws to some of the ways we tease our kids — “Grace, go make yourself some dinner”; “Daddy, I CAN’T make myself some dinner; you need to help me.” — and thought that God may have been dealing with His people as toddlers in the infancy of His interaction with people.
Carolyn thought that was at odds with our view of God as deeply personal and loving.
We agreed, though, that we set up rules for our kids — “Obey your parents” or “Hewson, don’t go up the stairs alone” — knowing with absolute certainty that they will break the rules and we will have to punish them. It’s not unloving though, right?
Thanks for the thought provocation. We’ll be gone this week so won’t hear how it turns out, but we’ll try to catch the recording! You are fantastic, David.