Exodus 32:7-14, Psalm 51:1-10, and Luke 15:1-10
When we read the Bible, we often ask ourselves: Are the God of the Old Testament and the God of the New Testament the same? Why is that? The reason is that when reading the Old Testament, it is easy to get the impression of a fiercely angry God. Conversely, when reading the New Testament, it is easy to picture the God we imagine through the Gospels as a very merciful face. At the same time, we can imagine God’s face through charming metaphors, like Solomon’s Song of Songs in the Old Testament.
God reveals His own face to us through various ministries. He is with us sometimes as a friendly father, sometimes as a loving mother, sometimes as a friend, and sometimes as a fearful judge. We can see this again in Exodus today. God, who loved the people of Israel so much, saved them from slavery in Egypt. He led Israel out of Egypt through numerous miracles. But the journey into Canaan is not simple. It’s only about 500 kilometers, roughly the distance from Red Deer to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. It is a distance that can be easily reached in two weeks by walking 10 hours a day. But God made Israel walk and walk and walk this distance for 40 years.
Babies and children make mistakes several times a day. Israel often forgot the existence of God. They envied the lives of the people wherever they went. They also admired the local gods. At this time, God became terribly angry. Verse 10 expresses this well. “Now leave me alone so that my anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them. Then I will make you into a great nation.” That’s a terrifying expression. Moses pleaded with God: “Please relent. The nations will say that you saved Israel with evil intentions and plans.” He desperately tried to persuade God. However, God, hearing this, says that he will not become angry right away. He quickly calmed down. Isn’t it amazing?
As I raise my children, I often realize that I have a lot of anger inside me. Psychologists say that children are children and need psychological independence and distance from their parents. However, when this distance is very close, parents often interfere with their children without any boundaries. So, people who are so kind to others can be very strict with their children. What is needed at this time, as we all know, is to support children to develop self-esteem and independence. It is to help them so that they can harness the power of faith, manage their emotions effectively, and acquire the wisdom to overcome difficulties.
Dear friends, as we all know, when the Book of Exodus was written, Israelite society was different from modern society. At that time, many people thought of God as simply the god of the Hebrew people. They thought he was just one of many gods. But Almighty God shatters their thoughts. We can see the image of God, who transcends the God of one nation and encompasses all of humanity, in the Gospel of Luke today.
Several of the parables found in Luke 15 through 17:10 are unique to the Gospel of Luke. There is no record in Matthew or Mark, which share a common account. Through these parables, we can identify the problems of the religious leaders, the Pharisees, while also gaining insight into God’s character. Through the stories of the lost sheep, the lost coin, the lost son, the shrewd steward, we can see that God cares for and loves every one of His lost people.
It is a society of laws where if you meet a sinner, you become a sinner, and if you touch something unclean, you are separated from the community. Yet, right in the midst of that society, sinners come to Jesus, as in Luke. No, to be exact, Jesus visits an area that is considered a neighborhood of sinners. He preaches the gospel to them and transforms their lives. However, the Pharisees and scribes criticized Jesus’ ministry. Maybe they are just thirsty for recognition. Please look at us first, for we have kept the law so well. Please praise us. The Pharisees of that time believed that God hated sinners, so a righteous person should not associate with sinners. Based on this perception, they thoroughly avoided sinners. Just as the word “Pharisee” itself means “separated one,” they criticized and rejected Jesus for associating with tax collectors and sinners. But through these three parables, Jesus explains the joy of God when lost sinners are restored. It describes the heart of a shepherd who goes out to find even one lost sheep out of a hundred. It is testified that Jesus came to desperately seek every sinner, just as a master desperately searches for his one and only sheep. Jesus said that he experiences greater joy when one sinner repents than when 99 righteous people repent.
Here we encounter another face of God. In this story, we do not find a God of terrible wrath. We can only think of God with a merciful and loving expression. We can understand God’s longing heart as He seeks out the people of the world, beyond Israel. Until now, God has sent the law and prophets to this earth. So, through them, God’s will and plan were conveyed. It was God’s guidance through agents. But from now on, He will send Jesus Christ directly. Through Jesus, who is God himself, God helps humans better understand God’s heart. God shows us through Jesus what the gospel is and what God’s great and deep love is like. He willingly met the poor and sinners. He went to seek out the marginalized of this land, those who had lost their names and their language. For those who feel abandoned by society, Jesus remains a source of hope today. What face of God can we see here? We can picture them being saved, restored, and coming back to God. We can imagine the joyful faces of parents who find their lost children again.
Beloved, God’s bright face looks upon all the peoples of the world. I hope you live this week in joy. May you be blessed to be with Jesus, who comes to you every day with incredible grace and hope prepared for you. Amen.