This is some of what I mean when I tell my confirmation students that the Bible is not rated G. Or even PG-13.
Sometimes - like today - I'm not sure it would get an R.
Today I read about God's judgement on Sodom and Gomorrah. How the men of Sodom wanted to rape the men (God's messengers, aka angels) staying with Lot. How Lot offered them his virgin daughters instead. Not exactly a candidate for father of the year in my book! The men then trying to break in by force until the angels blinded them.
Even though the citizens are reprehensible and judgement is looming, Lot and his family can't bear to leave. They dally and the angels have to drag them out of the city. Lot's wife can't stand it and looks back, only to be turned to a pillar of salt.
Yeah. We know this story.
But it gets worse.
Lot takes his daughters and settles way up in the mountains. They are so remote that there is no one for his daughters to marry, (Lot's still deficient in parenting responsibility) So they get dear old dad drunk, and sleep with him to get pregnant.
Abraham has his own failings. He's afraid that the men of the town of Gerar will find his wife so beautiful that they will kill him to get her. So he says Sarah is his sister (true, but not the whole truth) the king of Gerar takes her as a wife.
Fortunately God steps in, and Sarah is kept from the king's bed by God's hand.
Mind you, Abraham has already pulled this trick before - with Pharaoh. Not his finest moment - again.
Yikes!
Just.
Yikes!
Then I read the last part of today's reading - Issac is born, This child is the beginning of the fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham - to bless him and make his descendants number the stars and through him to bless the nations.
And I went back and re-read the first bit of today's reading- where the birth of Issac is again promised, this time with a date given. (Abraham and Sarah have only been waiting on God's promise of a son for about 20 years!)
And then it hit me - God keeps God's promises.
God promises....humans do horrible stuff....God keeps God's promises.
Even when we lie and deceive.
Even when we get so focused on ourselves that we ignore the needs of others.
Even when we longingly look back at those less- than-savory things.
Even when we reluctantly heed God's call.
Even when we can't or don't believe that God will actually follow through and do what God promised.
Even when..... (fill in the blank)
Even when we do not keep ours.
Takeaway for today
- God keeps God's promises
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