God in the dock (Mic 6:1-5)
Mic 6:1-5
It is not uncommon these days to meet people who say that they have called out to God in their time of need, but He did not answer, therefore they decided not to believe in Him. After all, how can they turn to a god who does not care for them? Usually, one detects anger and disappointment over what is felt like betrayal. But if there is no god out there, why be upset? And if God is there, not believing that He is will not change the fact of His existence. Despite the confused logic of the argument, what it really says is that God did not meet our expectations, therefore we won’t bother with Him either. For some, behind such attitudes there is often genuine tragedy and pain that runs deep. Yet, it creates a situation in which God is in the dock, the One accused of not doing what He should.
Reading between the lines of our passage, Micah’s audience may have felt some of this, whether they have come to find God’s service wearisome (Mic 6:3) or queried where His help was against the Assyrian threat. While God was going to respond to these issues, the prophet starts with a correction of perspective. For healing to happen, a true state of affairs has to be established. God is not here to do our bidding, He is the Creator, who has a claim on us, not the other way round, so that it is His people who are in the dock. God has a case against them and calls the enduring structures of this world (mountains and the foundations of the earth) symbolically as witnesses evoking a courtroom scenario (Mic 6:1-2). Oddly though, the tone then suddenly changes without pressing on with the charges. Rather, God speaks tenderly to His people addressing what may have been their concern, reminding them of His character. Ultimately, this is at the root of many of our questionings: is God to be trusted?
What follows are highlights from Israel’s story of redemption. The Lord saved them from slavery and gave them good leadership (civil – Moses, priestly – Aaron, prophetic – Miriam; Exod 15:20) in implicit contrast to Israel’s present corrupt leaders (Mic 6:4; 3:9-11). The King of Moab called the pagan prophet, Balaam, to curse Israel as they were coming to the Promised Land (Mic 6:5; Num 22:5-6), a serious threat because effective curses were performative (like saying ‘I do’ at the wedding), so that what was pronounced was going to happen. Yet God was adamant that His people were to be blessed and did not allow harm to fall on them (Num 22:12; 23:8). This is striking when the Balaam incident is wedged between Israel’s continued rebellion and grumbling.[1] It speaks of God’s patient love despite their sin. Indeed, the move from Shittim to Gilgal demonstrates His righteous acts, the fulfilment of His covenant obligations to Israel. Despite their blatant idolatry at Shittim, the last station before crossing the Jordan (Num 25:1-2; Josh 3:1), God divided the river and led His people across to Gilgal in the land (Josh 3:17; 4:19; see map here).
When we struggle with seeing the Lord’s hand in our lives, discouraged how things turn out and tempted to round on God in anger, it is important for us to pause and take a deep breath. While God is often patient with our ranting and railing, especially when in response to raw pain, we must come to a place of acknowledging that He is the potter, and we are the clay. God is sovereign to act as He will. Yet, this sovereignty is rooted in His character and goodness and His actions are motivated by love. Reminding ourselves of all the times when the Lord came to our rescue, when we knew His love and care for us can help gain perspective. His is not a sentimental, wrapping in cotton-wool kind of love, nor does it have a rosy vision of us. Rather, it is a gritty, persistent love, that many waters cannot quench, one that is as strong as death (Songs 8:6-7) and willing to endure death to give us life (John 15:13).
[1] Num 20:2-8 (grumbling about water at Meribah), Num 21:4-9 (bronze serpent); Num 25:1-18 (idolatry at Shittim).
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