Falling in Love

I hear you're supposed to give your blog posts catchy titles to draw the reader in. Did it work? Lest you think, however, that this post has nothing to do with falling in love, I encourage you to read on.

I had a great talk yesterday with one of the girls in my bible study. We're reading Isaiah, and it has been huge to see a side of God we often do not think about - the side of God which is full of wrath and anger and judgment. It is this God who says "You who are far away, hear what I have done; you who are near, acknowledge my power!" And it is due to this God that "The sinners in Zion are terrified; trembling grips the godless: 'Who of us can dwell with the consuming fire? Who of us can dwell with the everlasting burning?'" (33:13-14) As we discussed this wrathful God and how different He is from the loving, gracious, merciful God we like to talk about, my friend said, "Through reading Isaiah, I am falling in love with God's righteousness." Now, I think I can guess your reaction, because this statement just doesn't seem to follow, but stay with me on this one. She went on to talk about how God's wrath is not at odds with his mercy. It is because of his righteousness that he is angered by sin, and it is because of his righteousness that he refuses to allow wicked men to dwell with him. It is because of his mercy that he came to earth as Jesus, a perfectly righteous man, and it is because of his mercy that he chose to direct all the wrath intended for us upon his Son. If you want a good cry, read about God's wrath in Isaiah, imagine that being directed upon yourself, and then realize that Jesus took it upon himself in order that we might see God's righteousness.

"Because I have sinned against him, I will bear the Lord's wrath, until he pleads my case and establishes my right. He will bring me out into the light; I will see his righteousness." (Micah 7:9)

I, too, am falling in love with God's righteousness.