Spiritual Hiccups - Unquenchable Love

For the last few days, the readings from Isaiah have spoken of judgment and punishment, of how Israel's determination to live in opposition to God leads inevitably to tragedy.  But with the prophets there is almost always a move to restore and set things right.  "On that day the branch of the LORD shall be beautiful and glorious." 

Many people speak of "the God of the Old Testament" who they view as a vengeful, punishing God.  But this seems to miss some of the most remarkable verses of the Bible that speak of God working to overcome human foolishness.  God is committed to Israel and to humanity far beyond anything that springs from logic or reason.  Living in ways that are contrary to the design of the Creator is bound to cause problems, but God keeps intervening, not allowing human refusal to live as we were created to live to have the final say.

One of the great hopes of Advent is the promise that while humanity's incredible capacity to destroy, hurt, oppress, exploit, wage war, and so on does indeed lead to much suffering, brokenness, and death, these foolish actions will not determine the future.  God's love, God's commitment to humanity - a commitment and love that at times seems downright ridiculous - will finally bend history to God's will. 

And so while I will enjoy the good cheer and the spirit of the Christmas season, my real hope lies in God's commitment to us, to me, and that unquenchable love that keeps God "for us" in spite of how absurd such a notion sometimes seems.

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