"and he could no longer bear to see Israel suffer"

That's Judges 10:16b. And it cuts me right to the bone.

It is often remarked that using the phrase God the Father is too archaic in this, our postmodern era. There has been too much child abuse, too many absentee fathers, too much parental disappointment and inappropriate discipline and psychic scarring for the phrase to retain any positive connotation.

This verse does not alleviate all of the concerns, of course, in calling God Father. What it does do, however, in my estimation, is take fatherhood out of the ethereal, out of the numinous, and base it on God's character. How many times have I, as a father who loves my children, had to punish them? Many. How many times have I relented? a few. But how often, while they're crying and weeping (no, I don't beat them...they're just two very tender and emotional girls), have I looked at them and could no longer bear to see them suffer? Every time. Every time I hear their weeping, even if it's over something justifiably punished, my heart breaks. There's nothing so sweet as gathering them in my arms after discipline and hearing them say "I love you Daddy." It hurts me to have to punish and discipline, but I love that they keep running to me for comfort, because they know they're really loved.

It happens with parishoners too. So often College and Career will come to me with a problem, and I'll think to myself that I should just let them sweat the consequences so they can learn from their mistakes. And I do. For awhile. But I can't stand to see them suffer. I chase them to give comfort. I love them.

Isn't that what God is saying here? the Father chases, the Father comforts and loves and can not bear to see us suffer. It makes him ache!!

Am I skipping theological justification of wrath? Am I saying God's holiness is not offended? No. But I'm not trying to say that. I'm trying to say God loves us and chases us and can't bear to see us suffer. So there.

Mike

I know, I suck at blogging lately (well, maybe not just lately!). However, that's that!

I was reading Joshua this morning, and again it hit me. The Story. How often in the old testament (and the new...think steven...hebrews...peter) the Story is told? How important is the Story?

Which Story, you ask? THE STORY! The Story of God interacting with God's people, creating them, punishing them, freeing them, leading them, working with them and sometimes against them in an effort to add to them and bless them.

It also struck me that not telling the story has devastating consequences. How often does it say in the OT that the Israelites arose who didn't know God, or what God had done for the Israelites, and so they followed other gods? A lot. that's how often.

My children need to know the Story. Their children will need to know the Story. The Story of how God saved the Israelites, and how God continues saving, redeeming, recreating, and loving. My parishoners need to know the Story. Everyone I know needs to know the Story. I recently preached about the Story, and how God is able to redeem our histories by retelling our Stories in light of the kingdom. I don't want to sound puffed-up, but it's something we need to hear. God retelling our Story.

How about you? Any Stories to tell or have retold?