Hope That Means Something

Isaiah 54:1-13

One key aspect to God’s relationship with humanity has been the series of covenants God has established. God bound the divine self to Noah soon after the waters of the flood receded (Genesis 9:8-13). God did the same with Abraham (15:18-21). The blessing that Jacob received at the ford of the River Jabbok is covenantal in nature (32:22-29). And of course at Mt. Sinai God made a covenant with the Hebrew people (Exodus 19:1-9). In our readings for today the prophet Isaiah reminds us of the nature of God’s connection with God’s people. “This is like the days of Noah to me: Just as I swore that the waters of Noah would never again go over the earth, so I have sworn that I will not be angry with you and will not rebuke you. For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed, says the Lord, who has compassion on you” (Isaiah 54:9-10).

Here, then, is hope that truly means something for humanity. Not only has God entered into a binding relationship with creation, but God has renewed that pledge over and over again. For Christians the most grace-filled sign of the promise came in the birth of Jesus, for in this way God entered into our lives standing with and for us even unto death. In Jesus our faith finds a focus that allows us to live more fully just as God has become more fully known to us. The mountains and hills may fall away, but God’s “steadfast love” will never end and God’s “covenant of peace” will not expire.

Prayer: Lord, give us eyes with which to see your love and hearts to share it with those around us that we, too, may live in a covenant of peace. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Limping, Leaping, Wavering, Living

1 Kings 18:20-40

Our reading from 1 Kings today describes the prophet Elijah’s duel with the worshipers of Baal. Speaking to the people of Israel Elijah asks, “How long will you go limping with two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him…” (1 Kings 18:21; NRSV). The word that means limping implies a wavering on the part of the people, an unwillingness to commit to God over and against Baal. Later in the passage we read that the prophets of Baal “limped about the altar that they had made” (v. 26; NRSV). Other translations use the word “leaping” instead of limping, but it implies a sort of halting liturgical dance that apparently was typical at that time. Now think of Jacob’s night by the ford of the River Jabbok. As the story goes Jacob limped away from his wrestling match with God (Genesis 32:24f; NRSV).

All of this limping, whether a sign of indecisiveness, wrong-headedness, or blessedness, seems to sum up life pretty well. Everybody limps, one way or another. Everyone takes false steps or gets muddled about faith. We are all limpers, and in so many ways we are all in this thing together. Jesus warned us not to point out the speck in our neighbor’s eye until we had dealt with the log in our own (Matthew 7:3). Perhaps we might also refrain from laughing at a stranger who stumbles until we can actually manage to stand up. Thinking too highly of ourselves may be the greatest “limp-causer” of all and was certainly something about which Jesus had a lot to say.

As I limp through my life I feel called not so much to judge the way others walk as to share my own efforts at getting it right while offering the balance and stability that I believe God offers in Jesus Christ. We all walk with faltering steps; it is part of being human. Grace abounds when we learn to help each other stay upright and rejoice in the path we are called to travel.

Prayer: Lord, help us to acknowledge our own limping even as we offer a hand to those around us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.