In
which the exiles exult in God’s blessing for all peoples
Genesis
1:20-23
And
God said, “Let the waters swarm with the swarm of living creatures and let fowl
fly over the earth across the vault of the heavens.” And God created the great
sea monsters and every living creature that crawls, which the water had swarmed
forth of each kind, and the winged fowl of each kind, and God saw that it was
good. And God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the
water in the seas and let the fowl multiply in the earth.” And it was evening and
it was morning, fifth day.
Isaiah 54:1-5,
9
Sing
gladly, O barren one who has not given birth, burst out in glad song, exult,
who has not been in labor, for the desolate one’s children number more than the
children of the one with a husband. Spread wide the place of your tent, and let
the curtains of your dwelling place stretch out—do not stint. Lengthen your
cords, and strengthen your tent pegs. For to the north and the south you shall
burst forth, and your seed shall take hold of nations and shall settle desolate
towns. Do not fear, for you shall not be shamed, and you shall not be
disgraced, for you shall not be dishonored. For the shame of your youth you
shall forget, and the dishonor of your widowhood you shall no longer recall.
For he who takes you to bed is your Maker, the LORD of Armies is His name, and
your redeemer is Israel’s Holy One.
“For
as Noah’s waters is this to Me, as I vowed not to let Noah’s waters go over the
earth again, so have I vowed not to be furious with you nor to rebuke you.
In
biblical imagery, the fish of the sea represent the nations of the earth; the
sea monsters, gods, beings we might know as angels or demons, created by God
and appointed to guard over nations; the fowl who fly over the earth,
messengers from God, guardian angels. Though we shall see, as this great myth
unfolds, that some such beings rebel against God, here God is reestablishing an
order in which even former enemies are blessed. An order within which there can
be a release of blessing for God’s people, in no way restricted to God’s
people.
As
we hear of wars and rumours of wars and as we see the plight of displaced
peoples looking for asylum—for a welcome and a place to build a new life, in
which their family can flourish and by which they can contribute to the
flourishing of their new neighbours—let us lift to God all those in danger, who
yet hope for blessing.
May
we speak out in support of angels who have been labelled demons.
Biblical
texts: Robert Alter, The Hebrew Bible: A Translation with Commentary
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