God's Intent

God is not an angry Judge, just waiting for the chance--for an excuse, or reason--to punish people.

In spite of a track record of rebellion, defiance and independence on humanity's part; God is patient and merciful:

Yesterday, Christians around the world celebrated Palm Sunday, commemorating the day when Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, just days prior to his crucifixion.

"When Jesus came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives into Jerusalem, the whole crowd of disciples began to wave palm branches and throw their cloaks in the roadway, and joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:

"Hosanna! Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!"
As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, Jesus wept over it and said, "If you had only known on this day what would bring you peace...

I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify; others you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town...

"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing." (Luke 19; Matthew 23)

I love the picture of God as a mother hen gathering her chicks. When would a hen do that? I didn't grow up on a farm, but my mother did. She tells me that a hen would do that when there is danger--a fire, a storm, a predator--she will give her own life to protect her chicks.

I heard the story of a farmer whose barn burned down. The next day as he surveyed the damage he notice a charred clump of something on the ground. Unsure what it was, he kicked it, surprised when it toppled over a several chicks scurried from underneath.

It is not God's intent to destroy but to rescue. What happens to chicks who refuse to be gathered under the mother hen's wings? What becomes of people who refuse God's care?

God has intention, a will. He gave you one, too; and never violates yours in the process of exercising his own.