A Fierce Caring
A Sermon on Genesis 9:8-17
Dear Diary,
I'm having a very difficult time with these humans. I'm so angry, I'm seeing red. I have such a strong desire to just chuck it all. I thought maybe writing about some of this might help calm me down a bit.
These humans have been such a mess that I can't believe I desired good for them. How could they have messed it up so completely?
My frustration level is off the charts. I gave them all this beauty — the mountains, the oceans, the sunrise and sunset, grassy green hills, snow-covered forests, and lush, green rain forests. The beauty is beyond imagination, even for me.
The beauty was supposed to enhance their lives, to show them how great and good all things am be. But what do they do with it? They ignore the beauty, they hurt the land, and they try to destroy each other.
The other day, I was watching the folks as they prepared for the Sabbath. To my surprise, they weren't preparing for the Sabbath at all. They were planning on how they were going to get the best of their neighbors. They seemed to be thinking that if they could just make a bit more money — just have a nicer courtyard to relax in — they would be happier. In order to do that, they needed to figure out how to best their neighbors.
What happened to loving each other and working together so everyone could cherish the world and all that I gave them?
I've about had it. Maybe a flood would get their attention. No, it's too late for that. I think I'll just do away with the whole kit and caboodle. I guess I have that right; I am God after all. I gave them a shot, and they blew it.
You know, Diary, underneath all this anger, I feel a sadness that's deeper than any I've known. I had such hopes for these folks. It grieves my heart, that it doesn't seem to have worked out. Well, enough for tonight. Maybe something will happen to lift my spirits a bit. See you tomorrow.
Dear Diary,
Good news — I found one righteous man. Now, what am I going to do with him? I think a flood might be a good idea after all. Have this Noah guy build an ark, get the animals on it with him, and flood the whole place. An easy way to get rid of the riffraff. They're killing each other, anyway. Violence seems to have taken control. The streets are filled with brother killing brother, mothers, killing children, gangs that destroy for the sake of destruction. Ugh! Sometimes I just can't believe what's going on.
So, away with them. I've had it. I can't watch this much longer. I know I gave them free will, but who knew? I thought they would love each other and the land. I didn't know they'd try to destroy it. More tomorrow....
Dear Diary,
It's been a while. I've been watching Noah build his ark; he's doing a good job. His sons and his wives are helping, so it's moving along quickly. Noah really is trying to convince folks of what's going to happen, but they just laugh and call him loony. They're having too much — what they call — fun. What a pity. I'm going back to watch some more. I have an idea. Now that I've calmed down a bit, I'm reconsidering. We'll see.
Dear Diary,
They're all on board. Two of every being I created. I'm sort of leaving my options open here. Well, here comes the rain. I figure 40 days and 40 nights might do the trick — dean up the place a bit It looks pretty scary down there. This hard rain is giving the folks something to think about. Well, it's too late now. It's all set in motion. I hope Noah and his family survive this mess.
I'm beginning to think of this whole flood experience as a new beginning. You know, in the beginning, all I had was watery chaos, too. Maybe this is a way of starting over.
Dear Diary,
I haven't talked to you in over 40 days and 40 nights. So much has happened. It was a terrible thing to watch. My heart and soul broke. I know I said earlier that they deserved not to exist — that I couldn't go on watching this violence and destruction. But when I was watching this, I kept thinking: I can't abandon all this to evil. My commitment has to be more than any simple sin-punishment way of dealing with my creation and evil.
I'm the one who has to change. Obviously, these humans, most times, don't seem to have the capacity to do it. So, the only way I've found is to have a long-suffering solidarity with humanity, to be with those poor souls no matter what they do.
I'm making this commitment for ever and ever. Never again will I destroy them because of evil. I'm going to be with them no matter what happens.
I know this is the only way. I'll help them fight this evil. I've got to give them a sign, though. They seem to need something a bit more concrete. I think a rainbow should do it. They won't see one every day, like the sky or the green fields, but I'll send one just often enough so they'll remember.
This is my promise. This is the covenant I make with them — not something they do or don't do.
My biggest fear is that the people won't remember my promise — that no matter what they do, I am with them in their suffering, I'll never abandon them or destroy them.
Well, Noah sure won't forget my covenant with them. I just hope he and his family are able to pass this new covenant on from one generation to the next. Knowing humans the way I do, it would be pretty easy for them to think I'm going to punish them continuously instead of suffering along with them.
I hope Noah makes it dear that I made these promises to the non-humans, too. Their future on earth is linked to each other's well-being. I sure hope they're able to communicate that to each other. I'd hate to see that the goldfish or the manatee no longer exist because the humans forgot that the covenant (that rainbow) includes all the animals and plants on earth.
I know there's a lot of chaos in store for all of them. The only way they're going to survive is to remember the rainbow — that they are never alone.
Well, Diary, I'm sure thankful I could write down some of these thoughts. My ow loneliness is sometimes overwhelming, and it has helped me a bit.
I guess that's one of the main reasons I made sure I gave them a rainbow. I know how loneliness can hurt. Now they know that I'm always with them, even to the end of time.