Winter is showing her true fierceness here in Cooke City these days. She dumped over a foot of snow at the chapel two nights ago and is now keeping us locked inside with temperatures holding steady at -30 F. The real issue here is not that it's too cold, but that it's too cold to ski; but since my arm and shoulder are sore from shoveling snow yesterday in an attempt to free my car from the white knuckles of winter , I guess I wouldn't be out skiing even if it was a reasonable temperature!
Tonight was going to be our first evening of Bible study in the Crandall Community, but the voice of reason has forced its postponement until next week.
We did, however, have a wonderful Bible study here at the Chapel last night! Since November we have been plowing our way through the Old Testament Story, looking at God's work of redemption in Israel and in the world. Each week we see more and more of who God is and who we are through the example of Israel and her idolatry. Last night was our first look at the divided monarchy, focusing entirely on the northern kingdom: Israel. There was much bloodshed to discuss as we read about kings like Jeroboam, Jehoash, Jehu, and wives like Jezebel. The northern kingdom was destroyed by Assyria in 722 BC and the people scattered throughout the land known today as the Middle East, and they were destroyed because of their idolatry and their disobedience toward God their creator. In Lev. 26 and Deut. 28, we see how God promised Israel that if they would obey him, then he would bless them greatly, but if they disobeyed and did not follow his commandments, then he would not protect them from their enemies, would destroy their land, and would scatter them among their enemies. For over five hundred years God was patient with them, continually demonstrating compassion and grace despite their evil and wicked ways, despite the fact that they were worshiping two golden calves and Baal and many other gods, despite the fact that they did not trust God to protect them but paid tributes of money to foreign kings. God was gracious, but he also had a promise to keep, which he did in its fullest in 722 BC.
Israel broke the first two commandments time and time again: You shall have no gods before me and you shall make no graven images. Idolatry was at the heart of Israel's sin. But what does this look like for us as Christians living in America in the year 2010? I am not compelled to worship the sun when it peaks over the mountain at 11:45 a.m., nor am I inclined to hike to the peak of Mount Republic and erect an altar there to the god of the mountain. Nonetheless, this does not mean that I am in my heart any different than Israel. I am still prone to idolatry, even if it looks different on the outside from what it did 3,000 years ago, because I am still from Adam, and the same desire that afflicted Adam is the same desire that afflicts me - I want to be God. If I myself am God, then I am the creator, the controller, and the determiner of reality. It means that I decide what is or is not good, what is or is not obedient, and what is or is not honorable. I am not in subjection to anyone but myself, but decide for myself how to live my life. Adam and I are no different. Israel and I are no different. And even though idolatry here in America may not be as blatant or objective as it was for Israel or even as it is in many regions of the world today, it is nonetheless equally as pervasive and destructive. And it is equally as deserving of punishment. But as God was with Israel, so God is with me - gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love...
...even if it is -28 at 11:00 a.m.!
