Entry Thirty-One: Daniel 9:4-11
But what of Benjamin’s sin? Is there a sin that cannot be forgiven? Hate can distort everything…we cannot bear reality, so we invent an alternate reality…a reality of our own, in which we see ourselves in a more favourable light. Not as God sees us…but as we want Him to see us. Here we may justify our every action and absolve ourselves from all blame. Here, we alone are righteous. Aaron has done this…the rabbi has done this…the community has done this.
How is it possible to erase a life…a whole life…because of error? Did God erase Adam and Eve? Did God erase the Patriarchs? Did God erase Israel? No. He disciplined them, yes, because He loved them. He sent them into exile and brought them back seventy years later. But He did not erase them. How could He? He says that He has indelibly inscribed us on the palms of His hands. Our kings, our princes, our fathers…our nation…we are all covered in shame as we have all rebelled against Him. Are our thoughts always His thoughts? Are our ways always His ways? No. No, even our best deeds are like rotten rags before Him in whom no evil dwells.
The Lord God…at least, the Lord I believe in…He is merciful and gracious…He is forgiving and kind…even though we have rebelled against Him. All Israel has transgressed His laws…all Israel stands in need of forgiveness. Which one of us can say we have not done what Benjamin has done?
Reality can only be viewed through the lens of love. Love is the great leveller of all…it is by love that we understand that we are all in need of mercy, forgiveness, and grace. Moses tells us that God chose us, not because we were a special people, or a great people, or a righteous people…indeed we were the least of all people…we were slaves! No, God chose us because He loves us. So love teaches us to forgive as we have been forgiven…to love as we have been loved.
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