Plotting
Can you see him? The book of Ruth barely mentions God. But can you see him behind all the scenes, before the beginning of the book, plotting for their happiness, their fairy-tale ending? The Triune God chuckles within himself, "This will be good." He laughs in star-shaking, brilliant glee.
Meanwhile, back in Moab... Naomi weeps. Ruth wails at the grave of her husband. Naomi rails. Ruth courageously ventures forth in faith in a different God, future unknown to her.
Up in the heavens, God weeps with Ruth and Naomi (John 11:35; Isa. 63:9). He patiently listens to the railings of Naomi; he travels with Ruth. The complex, timeless God is not distant from their pain, even though he knows the good--the eternal good for Naomi and Ruth, the Star of Jacob and Joy For All--that will come. The transcendentally joyful, immanently suffering God.
Meanwhile, back in Moab... One ray of hope, then a storm of setbacks. Ray: Ruth in the field of Boaz. Cloud: but a Boaz who doesn't move. Gleam: Ruth at Boaz's feet and a favorable response. Gloom: but another closer go'el redeemer. Flicker: Boaz at the gate, sealing the deal. Blaze: A son! God, quietly moving, plotting for their joy, in the daily ins and outs of life.
Sometimes the storms seem to be the overwhelming factor, the nebulas, gloom, hazes, and grays. Our lot, lines, and inheritance from the Lord seem to be in the valleys rather than the pleasant pastures (Psalm 16 and 23). The eternal pleasures at his right hand seem to be just that--eternal, heavenly (Psalm 16). We fall into the smog of despair, or a haze of apathy. We lose sight of the character of God--the God of Life, the God of star-shaking galaxy-riveting Joy, the Blesser, the God-Who-Plots-His-People's-Happiness, the Weaver-of-Joy-in-the-Daily, the Giver-of-Light-in-Gloom.
Today, in my pain and grief, he is still weaving my eternal good. For those who love him, he is still plotting their happiness. Look! Watch! Wait! Do not lose that childlike wonder, that fairy-tale ending expectation, that search for joy even in the shadows. There will be a joy that eclipses all. It is not a fake ivory tower hope, a mere wish upon a magic star, because our God has overcome, risen up, is faithful. The joy he plots will come, as sure as the sun rises meanwhile in Moab, sent from the heavenly chambers.
Meanwhile, back in Moab... Naomi weeps. Ruth wails at the grave of her husband. Naomi rails. Ruth courageously ventures forth in faith in a different God, future unknown to her.
Up in the heavens, God weeps with Ruth and Naomi (John 11:35; Isa. 63:9). He patiently listens to the railings of Naomi; he travels with Ruth. The complex, timeless God is not distant from their pain, even though he knows the good--the eternal good for Naomi and Ruth, the Star of Jacob and Joy For All--that will come. The transcendentally joyful, immanently suffering God.
Meanwhile, back in Moab... One ray of hope, then a storm of setbacks. Ray: Ruth in the field of Boaz. Cloud: but a Boaz who doesn't move. Gleam: Ruth at Boaz's feet and a favorable response. Gloom: but another closer go'el redeemer. Flicker: Boaz at the gate, sealing the deal. Blaze: A son! God, quietly moving, plotting for their joy, in the daily ins and outs of life.
Sometimes the storms seem to be the overwhelming factor, the nebulas, gloom, hazes, and grays. Our lot, lines, and inheritance from the Lord seem to be in the valleys rather than the pleasant pastures (Psalm 16 and 23). The eternal pleasures at his right hand seem to be just that--eternal, heavenly (Psalm 16). We fall into the smog of despair, or a haze of apathy. We lose sight of the character of God--the God of Life, the God of star-shaking galaxy-riveting Joy, the Blesser, the God-Who-Plots-His-People's-Happiness, the Weaver-of-Joy-in-the-Daily, the Giver-of-Light-in-Gloom.
"There
was something that He hid from all men when He went up a mountain to pray.
There was something that He covered constantly by abrupt silence or impetuous
isolation. There was some one thing that was too great for God to show us when
He walked upon our earth; and I have sometimes fancied that it was His
mirth." (G. K. Chesterton, Orthodoxy)
Today, in my pain and grief, he is still weaving my eternal good. For those who love him, he is still plotting their happiness. Look! Watch! Wait! Do not lose that childlike wonder, that fairy-tale ending expectation, that search for joy even in the shadows. There will be a joy that eclipses all. It is not a fake ivory tower hope, a mere wish upon a magic star, because our God has overcome, risen up, is faithful. The joy he plots will come, as sure as the sun rises meanwhile in Moab, sent from the heavenly chambers.
Comments
Post a Comment