Wednesday, November 29

When God is Hurt

Narrative Lectionary Daily Devotions written by Kace Leetch from Clergy Stuff.

Oooh, God's pissed. Or hurt. Or feeling sorry for God's self for losing the affection of God's people. 

I know a young woman who is in a terribly dysfunctional, toxic relationship. They get together, they hurt each other, they break up, and then they get back together again. From my perspective, it's hard to see why she would continue to put herself in the situation of being hurt over and over again by the same guy.

But when I think of how God's people have hurt God -- when I think how I have hurt God with my fickleness -- I hope and pray God will continue to return to me over and over again, even though I continue to hurt God. In this text, it sounds as though God is over it. God doesn't want to return to a people that continues to disobey, cheat, and turn away from God. God is rightfully hurt and angry.

Thankfully, we know that God does continue to return to us, no matter how many times we hurt God. I wonder if knowing how badly my sin hurts God will shape how I behave in the future.

Narrative Lectionary Text: Jeremiah 3:1-5

If a man divorces his wife and she goes from him and becomes another man’s wife, will he return to her? Would not such a land be greatly polluted? You have played the whore with many lovers; and would you return to me? says the Lord. Look up to the bare heights, and see! Where have you not been lain with? By the waysides you have sat waiting for lovers, like a nomad in the wilderness. You have polluted the land with your whoring and wickedness. Therefore the showers have been withheld, and the spring rain has not come; yet you have the forehead of a whore, you refuse to be ashamed. Have you not just now called to me, “My Father, you are the friend of my youth— will he be angry forever, will he be indignant to the end?” This is how you have spoken, but you have done all the evil that you could.