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"It's A Tale As Old As Time...."


But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?” Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.  But I ask: Did they not hear? Of course they did: “Their voice has gone out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.”
          Again I ask: Did Israel not understand? First, Moses says,“I will make you envious by those who are not a nation; I will make you angry by a nation that has no understanding.”
          And Isaiah boldly says, “I was found by those who did not seek me; I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me.”
          But concerning Israel he says, “All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and obstinate people.” (Romans 10:16-21)

    “It’s a tale as old as time…” Rich, powerful, misunderstood prince(ss) meets a poor, young, misunderstood (wo)man, and over time, one or both are transformed into noble folks and they all live happily ever after. It’s told repeatedly in Scripture. Jacob is a great example. At one point, he tells God, “If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear so that I return safely to my father's household, then the Lord will be my God and this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God's house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth." (Genesis 28:20-22)
          God says, “If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth.” (Deuteronomy 28:1)
          See the difference? Israel, and we, say “If God does so-and-so, then He can be my god,” while God offers a Suzerain agreement: “If you will be my people, I will do so-and-so.” We hear it a lot. If God would reveal Himself to me (in some humiliating manner that allows me to laugh at Him) then I’ll believe in Him. I could never worship a god who _________. If God wants me to worship Him, He has to see things my way.
          Once again, one of the reasons I believe that the God described in the Bible is God is because He doesn’t do things our way. We’re like children who say, “I’ll hold my breath until I get my way,” but God knows that won’t kill us. We resent God’s “stubbornness” but expect Him to respect ours. At times, when our stubbornness involves our trusting Him as He is, He does.

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