Sometimes, I ask myself how much God’s patience stretches out. (Of course I know it’s till forever, no reason to give me mal de ojo, I don’t deserve that!) But, as history proves itself once again, God seems to be reasonably agitated. His people, His protection, His inheritance, are the same ones that kindly spit Him in the eye!
Enough with the big things like the golden calves and the broken rocks and the never-ending dietary complaints. Now, what about the small things- the very, small, things? Let’s think about that old lady we’ve once neglected to help her cross the street. Or that person whom we know is struggling on that math problem we’ve conquered ages ago. Or that person whom we rejected a hug when we most needed it, not minding what happened a few seconds ago with her boyfriend.
A crass word. An insult with the flick of a finger. A hand that slaps a bit too much- even if they gave you ten thousand reasons. An impure thought. A wrong sticker. A wrong joke. A really bad attitude. People who manipulate others, forcing them to believe that their whole existence is worthless without them…
We deserve to die. We deserve to be punished. Every bad thing that happens has a reason- and I dare bet 99% of that has to with our own stupidity... our own selves. The wages of our sin is death- and someone had to pay for it.
But someone knew better.
Someone knew that it was hopeless, worthless, to live with potato sacks in our drawers and show our horridly pale faces to the world. Someone knew that our pain can only last for so long. If done wrong, it would alienate us, not bring us closer to home as He intended. He tried everything He could in his power to call us into attention.
Sun.
Moon.
Stars.
Tabernacles.
Mighty wars.
Firstfruits at our feet.
He did everything! Not that His efforts were worthless; they just weren’t up to the task of looking up and seeing His hand. If anything else wouldn’t work, perhaps blood would work…