“That night the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am the God of your father Abraham. Do not be afraid, for I am with you…” -Genesis 26:24
The story of our faith is filled with imperfect people. Many of the people that God uses have a troubled past, and some have troubles in the present. The start to the Year in the Bible has been a wonderful reminder that God is at work in and through the lives of all His children. As we completed the book of Genesis and began to read the book of Exodus, I was reminded that God is not scared off by our messy lives. God works through His children to show his immersible love and grace to the world.
In the book of Genesis, we encountered people who were disobedient to God’s commandments, jealous siblings, marriage troubles, and warring tribes. The Book of Exodus will have many of the same attributes reflected in the people. Moses himself will commit murder and flee Egypt before God calls him to go to Pharaoh and lead God’s people to freedom. (Exodus 2:11-15) God’s children are far from perfect, but that does not keep God from working in their lives. God is love and God loves each of us unconditionally.
God is at work in our lives, not because of what we accomplish or how perfect we are, but because God loves us and wants to bless us. God wants to use us to bless others. I have had many times in my life when I struggled with God’s unconditional love. How could God love me after all my failures? Why would God work through me when God knows my shortcomings? The story of our faith is a reminder that God loves us because that is who God is. God created us in love. God continues to care for us, not because we have earned it, but because that is who God is.
The Bible records the story of God’s love. The books of Genesis and Exodus were not written to record humanity’s great accomplishments; they were written to remind us that God is the One who works among us, empowering us to be the people we were created to be. God, who is love, is at work in our messy, imperfect, and troubled lives. Thanks be to God.
– Rev. Keith King, Pastor of Worship
