Did God Say?
Now the serpent was more crafty than any other wild animal that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God say, ‘You shall not eat from any tree in the garden’?” – Genesis 3:1
Our scripture lessons for Lent feature a wily bunch of tempters, the serpent, Satan, the devil, who pose questions that cast doubt on the truth of God’s Word. That’s their job.
Although they make for a colorful cast of characters, we don’t really need them since such questioning is more likely to come not from them but from deep within us.
We are all partisans in the perennial human rebellion against God. We revel in our personal sovereignty and unbridled freedom.
God made us for worship, but instead of worshiping God we “worship ourselves and the things we have made,” as one of our old UCC prayers of confession so wisely put it.
Some of what God says seems just too good to be true, and so we question the truth of it.
Did God say, “I will be your God and you will be my people”?
Did God say, “Look, I am doing a new thing, do you not see it?”
Did God say, “Do not fear, for I am with you, do not be afraid, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand”?
Did God say, “For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope”?
Did God say these wonderful words, full of comfort and love, of promise and hope for the whole human family?
Yes! God said them.
Prayer
God of the future, let us put our full trust in you, and in the truth that is always breaking forth from your Holy Word. Amen.
About the AuthorRichard L. Floyd is Pastor Emeritus of First Church of Christ (UCC) in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. A writer and author, his most recent publications are Romans, Parts 1 and 2 (with Michael S. Bennett), new titles in the “Listen Up!” Bible Study Series. He blogs at richardlfloyd.com.