Broken

Day 17 Exodus 31–35; Psalms 55–60; Luke 1–3

John the Baptizer, dressed in camel's hair and on a diet of locusts and honey stands int he tradition of Israel's ascetic prophet Elijah.  It was prophecied that Elijah would return to announce the coming of the great day of the Lord (Ma. 4:5-6).  It is a warning to all who are watching.  They will not be caught unaware.  They will have a herald to tell them to prepare.  John, a son of a priest, calls out in the words of Isaiah, "Prepare the way for the Lord; make His paths straight!"

And the Messiah comes through a son of King David, Joseph of Nazareth, betrothed to Mary of Nazareth. The Holy Spirit is active in the birth of Jesus and in the unborn life of John, His cousin. The Spirit fills Mary, Elizabeth and Zechariah (John's parents).  Angels announce the coming Christ Jesus and His herald John. Shepherds are told to the good news and they go to see Jesus lying in a food trough.  Such a lowly birth for the King of Kings.

Zechariah  celebrates what God is doing...

"He has dealt mercifully with our fathers  
    and remembered His holy covenant  —
    the oath that He swore to our father Abraham. 
    He has given us the privilege,
    since we have been rescued
    from our enemies' clutches,
    to serve Him without fear
    in holiness and righteousness
    in His presence all our days." (Luke 1:72-75)

Mary, too celebrates...

"His mercy is from generation to generation  
    on those who fear Him.
    He has done a mighty deed with His arm; 
    He has scattered the proud
    because of the thoughts of their hearts;
    He has toppled the mighty from their thrones
    and exalted the lowly." (Luke 1:50-52)

Those who are watching are not caught unaware.  Anna and Simeon see the Redeemer of Israel (Lk. 2:25-38)

But there are those who do not keep their hearts tuned to God, nor diligent in keeping His covenant.  They are quick to turn away from God and turn toward lesser gods.  The terrible tragedy of Mt. Sinai tells of how the people grew wrestless while Moses was on the mountain of God for 40 days and nights.  They built a golden calf from the plundered treasures the Egyptians gave them on the night of Passover.  They celebrated in pagan revelry drinking wine to excess and other despised frivolity.  In the garden of Eden, God had one rule.  Adam and Eve did not keep it.  In the newly formed covenant community the Israelites heard rule # 1: "Do not have other gods besides me (Ex. 20:3)."  They could not keep even the first rule and their worship degraded into self-gratification and falsity saying, "these are your gods who brought you out of Egypt (Ex. 32:4b)!"

God was angered and His wrath burned against them.  Moses interceded and God "turned away" from His fierce anger.  The multitude was spared.  But when Moses came down and saw what the wayward people were doing, he threw down the stone tablets on which God had written all the words of the covenant and shattered them.  The covenant was broken.  Their promises to God were a lie when they all said, "We will do everything the Lord has commanded (Ex. 24:3b)."

Moses did not "turn away" from his rage.  Instead he called for blood and the Levites slaughtered 3000 disobedient men, women and children. Soon after God struck the people with a plague as He had warned them at the waters of Marah (bitterness) (Ex. 15:26), for they had not carefully obeyed Him , nor paid attention to His commands and statutes.

The Holy God could not dwell among these unholy people.  The brokenness is painfully portrayed as Moses moves the tent of meeting outside the camp rather than among them.  They longingly watch from the entrance to their tents as Moses goes to meet with the Lord.  In time the brokenness is healed.  God renews the covenant with Moses and the Israelites and continues with them into the land of promise.  God is pleased with Moses and even though Aaron failed and the rest of the people fell into unfaithfulness, God forgives and shows Moses His glory. 

Moses saw all God's goodness as He passed by in the rock cleft.  And God pronounced His name, Yahweh, compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, faithful love and truth for 1000 generations, forgiving them. But the guilty do not go unpunished.  Their sinful lives carry curse into their succeeding generations...just like alcoholism and other unhealthy and neurotic cycles that enslave families until someone finds the courage to stop.

We have a prayer in the United Methodist Book of Worship that begins, "O God, who gave us birth, You are ever more ready to hear than we are to pray."  It seems that God is far more ready to heal brokenness than we are ready to pursue holiness and health in a right relationship with God, neighbor and self.  I thank God that He came to us in Jesus and overcame our bend to sinning by placing the Holy Spirit within us to give us hearts that want to obey and the ability to carry out His will (Ezek. 36:26-27; Phil 2:13).  Our salvation is never based on our ability, on our righteousness. If it were we would always be in peril.  Rather our salvation is based on God's ability, His faithfulness to us who trust in His love through Jesus Christ.

And so I join the psalmist in crying out for wayward nations and peoples all over the world, including my own heart which "prone to wander; prone to leave the God I love."

God, You have rejected us;
    You have broken out against us;
    You have been angry. Restore us!  
    You have shaken the land and split it open.
    Heal its fissures, for it shudders.

Save with Your right hand, and answer me,
    so that those You love may be rescued  (Psa. 60:1-2, 5)