I woke up this morning to a storm rolling in and our workout schedule canceled. Opened up my Bible and read the following:
“…that widows may be their prey, and that they may rob the fatherless.” Isaiah 10:2
My mind quickly started running through how many times I have heard God make emphasis on orphans and widows. All the time. And before this morning, I had always assumed that the “they” He was talking about was the enemy (Satan). I thought God was trying to show us what “they” were doing to the husbandless and the fatherless.
And that was it! I could feel God’s smirk and slight “she’s-getting’-it” nod.
The husbandless and the fatherless…
The Husbandless and the Fatherless.
God has shown me a good handful of His roles in my life but two that I still hold strong to are His Husband role and His Father role.
As both, He provides for me in ways no person could. Jesus (the Husband/Bridegroom) died for me, one of the most romantic stories I’ve ever experienced. And God the Father has believed in me, laughed and played with me, corrected me, and continues to teach me things that I need to know.
“…that widows may be their prey, and that they may rob the fatherless.”
If God is the Husband to the husbandless, Father to the fatherless and God to those who need one. And I know Him as my Husband and as my Father and as my God then that makes me the “they” in this situation. I am not in need of these things; I have them.
Which also means that I am not immune to robbing the orphan and preying on the widow. Every time I misrepresent Christ I am robbing someone of the opportunity of enjoying the beauty of His love. And every time I take matters into my own hands, every time I manipulate, I am keeping someone else from diving into the intimacy that comes from being in relationship with God.
I have put the sorrow of others on Satan’s plate. I have blamed brokenness on him and in that have given him much too much credit. God has created and sent me to “…heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives…to comfort all those who mourn.” (Isaiah 61:1-2) through His Holy Spirit that dwells within me. When I fall short of that and point the finger at Satan saying “Look at the horrors Satan has brought upon the world!” I am neglecting the fact that God is asking me to help Him fix what is being destroyed. With His Spirit, His guidance, and His power.
