"I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies, says the Lord GOD." Ex 18:32
Many believers struggle with what to them appears to be a very vengeful God in the Hebrew bible. There any number of passages that would demonstrate this, including a verse from today's first reading in which God seems to be abandoning a wayward son to death, "Because he practiced all these abominations, he shall surely die; his death shall be his own fault." Only when we keep reading do we hear God's bottom line: I take no pleasure in the death of anyone!
God wants to save us. We can never hear this sentiment too often. At times when we are desperate, hurt, angry or confused, we forget God's goodness to us and the world. We hear only our sadness and rage, not God's care, and unless we pause to hear the entire message of the Bible we will get lost in the darkness. No doubt this happened to Jesus' first disciples, but when they let the Holy Spirit work in them everything changed. The same can be true for us.
Today, accept the darkness. Then look for the light.
How can we learn to listen to the fullness of God's promise?
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