sand

Monday August 12^th, Genesis 15: 4 Then the word of the LORD came to him: "This man will not be your heir, but a son coming from your own body will be your heir." 5 He took him outside and said, "Look up at the heavens and count the stars—if indeed you can count them." Then he said to him, "So shall your offspring be."  Abraham and Sarah waited for the promised son until they received that blessing late in life.  For them, the star in the heavens and the grains of sand analogy was something far off and beyond their comprehension.  Later the Hebrew people saw themselves as being the only sand and stars God was concerned about and the rest of humanity only as something other.  Then Jesus went to the cross for the salvation of all people, represented by all the stars and sands.  Paul still had to carry the argument forward however to include the Gentiles as the people of God.  God’s message through Paul continued to broaden the human definition of who was included in that stars and sand analogy.  Today we still are arguing about who is included in that stars and sand analogy.  Today, many who want to call themselves Christian want to exclude the sons of Ishmael, those whose gender orientation may be different, and whatever other category we can put someone in.  The call is to  point to say, not them.  They have a limited view of God’s promise.  Look up at the havens and count the stars if indeed you can count them.  Now get a telescope and look again and count them if you can.  Such is the kingdom of God.  It is not limited to a single constellation or a single beach, but includes all the heavens and all sand on all the beaches.  Humanities limited view of who God is capable of loving is one of the main things for which we need forgiving.