The Actions of Understanding

“He found him in a desert land, and in the howling waste of a wilderness; He encircled him, He cared for him, He guarded him as the pupil of His eye.” Deuteronomy 32:10

The Actions of Understanding

Cared – Do you remember this verse (June 14, 15 and 16)?  We discovered that God is in those places of terror, building fences of protection.  But now we find something else.  The Hebrew word for “care” is biyn; the same word used for “understanding” is Isaiah and John (yesterday).  Conversion is tied to care.  Changing my mind and aligning myself with God means that God’s grace finds me in the desert and “cares” for me.  God perceives me, discerns what I need, understands who I am and acts reflectively on my behalf.  Changing my mind is tied directly to compassion and care.

It isn’t possible to adopt God’s point of view and not act with care.  If I see the world as God sees the world, my heart is instantly broken over the desperation, despair, chaos and hopelessness of the wilderness within each person.  If I see the world as God sees the world, I am compelled to act for justice and redemption.  I cannot sit and think about it.  I cannot delegate, regulate or ignore the sorrow and pain.  I must respond!  That is what it means to have the heart of the Father in me.  If I see the world as God sees the world, there is only one path for me – the path blazed by the Suffering Servant, dying on behalf of others.

Every time I act without care, I crucify Him again.

If God can find me in the desert and act toward me with reflective compassion, can I do any less for one of my own fellow travelers?  There is a good reason why Jesus commands us to give to those in need without considering our own circumstances.  God gives.  If I understand, then I too must give.

Changing my mind does not mean that I embrace a new doctrinal creed.  It doesn’t mean that I adopt a new systematic theology or a new order of service or a new set of rituals.  Changing my mine means nothing unless it changes my actions of care.

Today you will encounter wanderers in the wasteland.  God will see to it that they cross your path.  You must see to it that you recognize them with the eyes of the Father.  And then you must act for if you deny even the least of these, you deny the Lord of all these.