MacGregor EMC Now Has a Blog!
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Hello everyone! Pastor Russell here. As it is becoming increasingly plain that this time of isolation may go on for a while, I figured this was a good time to start a church blog. That way we can keep learning together, on a more regular basis than just once a week.
The plan for the blog is simple at this point. At least once a week (hopefully more) a post will go live. Feel free to share it or comment (although know I will be moderating).
Our topics are yet to be narrowed down, but they will include things like pastoral care items, short Biblical reflections (thank you Menno for the suggestion), deeper theological discussions…really, as of now the sky is the limit. Also, if you have any suggestions for topics or are interested in writing yourself, feel free to click here and let me know!
But as for our first post, I have for you just a quick Biblical reflection. I hope it reaches it where you are at.
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
This passage, Isaiah 41:10, is one I have seen going around a lot on social media over the past few weeks. And I suppose that is for good reason. In the face of the kind of once-in-a-lifetime event that Covid-19 has turned out to be, it is a passage that goes a long way to reminding us of something we all need to remember just now: that even though things look beyond comprehension, God is still with us. But saying that, as it is always important when we quote scripture to make sure we understand it as to make sure we aren’t spouting heresy at people unintentionally, I think its only right to give this verse a closer look. And by doing that, I suspect we will find it talks to us today even more than we at first thought it could.
This verse takes place in the second major section of the book of Isaiah. A book that is one of my favourites. The story of this book can be split into three main sections. In the first, we read about a people who are really doing everything they can to get on God’s nerves. They are worshiping idols. They are seemingly going out of their way to break every law set for them. But worst of all, the rulers of these people are stepping on the backs of those beneath them, grinding them into the dust, for no reason other than to better themselves. To add insult to injury, these rulers were justifying these terrible actions by saying they were actually God’s Will, something both God and Isaiah go out of their way to make sure we know is not the situation at all.
Time and time again God reaches out to these people to try to get them to stop what they were doing. People were being hurt, after all, and God’s heart we know from the Bible is always first and foremost for those who are being hurt; for those who are on the bottom of the heap. But despite being given ample opportunity to straighten up and fly right, the rulers would not repent and so we read that they sewed the seeds of their own destruction. In this case, the nation of Babylon invaded and carted all those oppressive off into exile.
The Euphrates river, which SURROUNDED the heart of Babylon
The second section of Isaiah, and the one this verse is in, focuses on the exiled rulers while they were in Babylon. After years of feeling untouchable, suddenly these exiles found themselves forced to come to terms that the simple fact that the reason they were now kings without a kingdom was that they had been terrible and as such had suffered the consequences. But while they were coming to terms with this, something interesting happened. The rulers did what God had been calling for them to do for years. They repented for what they had done. And so, God, always faithful, comforted them. And that is where this verse comes in.
“So do not fear…” is how it begins, and rightfully so. These people in exile were terrified for their lives. It would be weird if they weren’t scared.
“…for I am with you: do not be dismayed for I am your God…” A promise from the Lord to all those who follow him. It does not matter if you were the single worst person in the history of time, as many of those in exile likely were. If you only come back to God, he will be with you all the same. This does not mean the fallout of what was done magically disappears, but instead simply that God will be with you if you are with him.
“…I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” In the chapter surrounding this verse, not only are those in exile told that God will hold on to them, but they are also told that even in spite of all that happened, God still had a place for them in his plan to reach out to the nations of the world to build his kingdom. And while the former rulers did not think in any way that they could do what God had planned for them, a valid thought as they were in exile, in this verse we are reminded in no uncertain terms that with God, the things he calls us to are always made possible.
So that is what this verse is about. A reassurance to terrified undeserving people that even though things may look impossible right now, God has their back, and wants them to know he still has a place for them and will even help them to get done all that they need to do.
And to my ear at least, I think that is a good message for us to hear right now. Many of us are scared of what is going on in the world with Covid-19. Know it’s alright if you are. I think it would be a little odd if you weren’t. But also remember God is still with us. He is still with you. And while we may be powerless on our own to do anything in the face of such a cosmic seeming threat, God is not.
But more than just comforting, this verse has a deeper thing to remind us in this time as well. There are still things to be done, even now from the comfort of our own couches as we isolate. There are people to call. There are supplies to pick up. There is always prayer that needs to happen. There are donations to be sent to the many who now need just that. There are local businesses, our friends and family members, who are very soon going to be balancing on a knife’s edge of bankruptcy and who need our business (although in whatever way is considered the safest way possible, of course). And there are healthcare and government officials, both in a large sense and right here in town who have been running non stop since this all started who could use all the prayer and appreciation that they can get.
While it may not seem it, all of us in our homes, many of us scared by the world around us… now is our time to shine. And while that may not seem doable, don’t worry about that. Because to me, the best takeaway for us today from this verse is simply this; God will help.
