Humanity has been and continues to be a slippery group. Our propensity to blame and accuse others, to consider ourselves greater and others lesser, and to justify our own acts toward others is epic.
“But at the evening offering I arose from my humiliation with my garment and my robe torn, and I fell on my knees and stretched out my hands to the Lord my God; saying “O my God, I am ashamed and embarrassed to lift up my face to You, my God, for our iniquities have risen above our heads and our guilt has grown even to the heavens. “Since the days of our fathers to this day we have been in great guilt, and on account of our sins against You our people, our kings, and our priests have been given into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity and to plunder and to open shame, even to this day. But now for a brief moment grace has been shown from the Lord our God, to leave us an escaped remnant and to give us a peg in His holy place, that our God may enlighten our eyes and grant us a little reviving in our bondage.” Ezra 9:5-8
Over Our Heads
The picture we are given in Ezra is one of our choices being out of control, and that we are drowning in our wicked acts. What is a wicked act? There are many points that could be made (the 10 commandments are helpful in this) but even beyond what we choose and do is our rejection of the One Who created us. When we choose to be kings above God we slip into the throes of arrogance, and we lose all perspective on ourselves.
There is a biblical difference between sin and wickedness. Follow the threads! Sin is a condition in which we all share. Wickedness are our personal choices made within each of our acts of deceit and oppression. While we all are condemned by (and can be rescued) from our sin, our choices for wickedness are weighty and difficult to escape. When we reject God and oppress others (through impurity, greed, and pride) we engage in wickedness. While no one person is worse than another (sin) we can spiral into caverns of choices which lay hold of our souls in unique and powerful ways. While we all share in “sin” our acts of wickedness define us uniquely. Repentance and forgiveness provide our only escape.
“Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. The Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. The Lord said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, from man to animals to creeping things and to birds of the sky; for I am sorry that I have made them.” But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.” Genesis 6:5-8
So we see even back at the time of the flood (very early in our history) that God was sorry He had made us and was ready to destroy all. Apart from Noah finding favor in the eyes of God, this is exactly what would have happened. This should make us grateful that this is true as well: “Tear your heart and not your garments and return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness and relenting of judgment.” Joel 2:13
Even when we as individuals or people groups are in over our heads there is mercy with the Lord our God. We, as well, can “find favor in the eyes of the Lord” even when God is sorry He has made us. The impact of hearts of greed, impurity, and pride can be reversed by our merciful God. Selah! We have the ultimate hope.
Dave and Burnadette