I’m struck by the opening sentences;
“Here’s what will happen. While you’re out among the nations where God has dispersed you and the blessings and curses come in just the way I have set them before you, and you and your children take them seriously and come back to God, your God, and obey him with your whole heart and soul according to everything that I command you today, God, your God, will restore everything you lost; he’ll have compassion on you; he’ll come back and pick up the pieces from all the places where you were scattered.”
Here is Moses passing on God’s revelation to the people, and God in essence says; “I know you’re going to wander away, you’re going to find other lovers but once you’re ready to come back I’ll be here, waiting for you with open arms. I’m ready to love you all over again.” That’s not how I think I’d respond if I was God.
Then later he says;
“God, your God, will cut away the thick calluses on your heart and your children’s hearts, freeing you to love God, your God, with your whole heart and soul and live, really live.”
It’s like God is saying “I know that deep down you really love me but I have to let you go; let you do what you think will make you happy and deal with the after effects. Then and only then can I remove the calluses from your hearts. Only once you see what I see will I do the surgery , painful as it is, that’s required to restore our life together.”
Jesus, how many times have you watched me walk away in the direction of another love? How painful was that for you to watch knowing that it would end poorly? I have felt the painful surgery and I’ve experience new life and renewed relationship with you. Thank you for continually pursuing me. Thank you for your desire to purify and refine me. Please give me the courage to continue down this path despite all of the uncertainties and temptations to find a quick fix. You are faithful and I can rest in you and you alone.
Amen!
Cal Funk
Cal who is married to Joan, is the Director of Cell Ministry at Seeds Church and a part of the Leadership Team.