I've been following another reading plan, going through the Bible again. At the moment we're in the book of Jeremiah, one of the old testament prophets. And as I was reading, this verse jumped out at me!
Jeremiah 17:13 NIV "Lord, you are the hope of Israel; all who forsake you will be put to shame. Those who turn away from you will be written in the dust because they have forsaken the Lord, the spring of living water."
Now I've read this before, but it hasn't caught my attention before! The Bible's a bit like that - God makes something stand out here or there that he wants to teach me. And the reason this caught me this time was that an image flashed into my mind of Jesus writing in the dust! (John 8)
A woman, caught in adultery, and been flung at his feet. The righteously indignant crowd who'd brought her, wanted her stoned to death as in the law of Moses. They brought her to Jesus, knowing his heart of compassion, intending to catch him out! They thought he would refuse, and they could destroy him based on his rejection of this law!
Jesus silently took in the scene, stated that the one who had never sinned should be the one to cast the first stone, and quietly squatted to write in the dust. And one by one, shame overcame them, and they melted away! Till no one was left to mete 'justice' on her - except Jesus. Who told her she was free to go - and free to live life without sin!!!
And it made me wonder - was he writing their names there??? I'm pretty sure they knew the context of this "writing in the dust" statement from Jeremiah. Was he writing the names of all who had forsaken their God??? Whatever he wrote, it was a statement. And they knew their own shame by it. And it was powerful enough that they dropped their stones.
We as humans are so quick to judge and condemn, while we ourselves are so flawed. Thank God for Jesus who, showing the way of his Father, offered hope rather than condemnation. Even though he was the only one in a position to throw that first stone.
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