Lev 24-25 Justice, Mercy, God's Blessing

February 9th, Leviticus 24-25

       What is Justice? There seems to be two(or maybe three) sides to this coin. First we find these verses in Leviticus 24. It is the eye for an eye code. Injury for injury, break for break, life for life. To some, this sounds a bit harsh. But let me interject that before we get too immersed in how bad this might sound, it is a break from the the more normal view of justice that people have.
       The normal view of justice that mankind has when there is no restraint is eye for head, life for entire families life and all your belongings and the offender's existence stricken from the record forever. Victims never want something equal from someone, victims want offenders to pay at levels that are over the top. You killed my cow, I kill your herd. God's instruction here is to show some constraint to the injustice of justice that human nature seeks.
       I say all of that, because it seems there is a new understanding that all of these thoughts are wrong. Life for life is defined by me as life taken wrongfully is paid for by life taken justly. But some are rearranging the terms using the word violence. Seeing both acts as violence and that all violence is evil. Change the word from justice to violence and words are being used to incite a bunch of feelings into the system of justice. Our symbol for justice here in America is the lady blindfolded with a scale. Feelings are what make people want more than justice, and it seems to also make want people less than justice feeling bad for people who have done wrong.
       Some say that the New Testament is a new way. That forgiveness is the order of the day. That all sounds nice until my family is murdered and the judge simply asks me to forgive the person and lets them go free. People then cry out for justice.

Overjustice, Justice, Underjustice   Certainly subject for debate.

       Good News: The Year of Jubilee  The year of restoration.  An underlying theme in this is the realization that the land is not to be swallowed up by a few to lord it over many, rather that the land is on loan for a certain number of growing seasons. When you buy land your actually purchasing the number of crops you can get off the land before you give it back in the Year of Jubillee. How much better would it be if we saw our lives as leasing what is God's. Holding it with an open palm instead of a clenched fist.
       A year for trusting God's provision. In the sixth year a crop that is three times what it is in a normal year. All of this is about putting our trust in Christ that he will provide for our needs.

       In the song "My Jesus I love thee" one of the lines says "I'll praise thee as long as Thou lendest me breath." From matters of justice to the realization that life is on loan all I can really think to say is... COME LORD JESUS COME.

Gen 41-42 Forgiveness

January 14 Gen 41-42

       Imagine your dreams fulfilled. The thing you said years ago is now being fleshed out in real time in front of you. In Joseph's case, it's as conflicted a moment as there could be. The story played out is a story of betrayal, loss, abandonment and lies. As the victim you now have power over the perpetrators of your story. The dream has come true and the stars are bowing to one star just like the dream.

      Joseph has done several years(at least 7) of processing his whole life. That God was able to bring him to his current position through a lot of heartache, but life is different now...better. In the midst of better, what happens to Joseph is the same thing that enters your life and mine. History comes back to us in our minds or in person and it calls for a response. Will Joseph seek revenge on his brothers or will forgiveness be the option chosen. I feel like I would need time to decide that. Maybe that's why Joseph puts all these requirements together. All I know is that life comes at you fast and when everything has seemed to take a turn for the better, sometimes surprises step in and reveal to us things on the inside that are not taken care of inside of us. It's only in these quick turn of events when you can see what's going on in our hearts.

       Forgiveness is one attribute that we need to learn. It's at the heart of God's story of reconciliation with us. It's the story of God's expectation of us with others, "Forgive as the Lord forgave you."

       I pray that we could drop our swords today and everyday with those for whom forgiveness has been an obstacle. May we be inspired by our Lord who not only forgave us, but also paid the price. Learning to sometimes pay the price that we feel others owe. A tall order indeed. Forgive, forgive, forgive.