Judges 2:
18
18 Whenever the
Lord raised up a judge for them, he was with the judge and
saved them out of the hands of their enemies as long as the judge lived; for the
Lord relented because of their groaning under those who
oppressed and afflicted them
Investigative reporter and author Lee Strobel, took on his hardest topic
to date, faith, when he wrote a series of books that became best sellers,
selling millions of copies. One of the books, a Case for Faith, possess the
question, “How can there be a good and loving God when so many bad things happen
in the world.” Strobel was an atheist and wanted to prove
the absence of God but in the process of his research was converted to
Christianity based on what he heard. Why, he asked if there is a God does he
allow such bad things to happen, why does God not interfere. The question
Strobel asked is one many people ask. It is also a question we all form our own
understanding around. It is a question the ancient Hebrews struggled with as
well, we see it so well in the book of Judges.
In the
book of Judges we have a cycle of idolatry by the Hebrews, hard times befall
them and they cry out to God. God answers them by raising up a judge to champion
the people. The people rejoice but the cycle soon begins yet again.
In today’s world where we as God’s people still seek a champion God still
answers by raising up a champion. People like, Martin Luther King Jr., Gandhi,
Mother Teresa, the Freedom Riders, Sojourn Truth, Fredrick Douglas, Harvey Milk,
the textile workers who strike, the immigrant workers who band together to fight
the sweat shop conditions,
NOH8 and organizations like them, and our very own
United Church of Christ. All raised up by God to champion the people. God is
speaking in and through people like this. He is still speaking through each of
us each time we take a stand against something we know is wrong, each time we
champion the weak and the helpless. Each time we invite, embrace and champion
love, God is speaking.
Is God
calling you to be a champion, to be his voice?
Prayer:
Lord, in your grace and mercy you strengthen us to be your hands and feet in
this broken world.
Give us the
strength to reach deep inside and be your voice. Call us to the dark places
where there is need. Give us a heart like Jesus for your people.
Amen
“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that
matter.”
Martin Luther King Jr.,
I Have a Dream: Writings and Speeches That Changed the
World
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