The Circle of Life

"I remember you laying on the floor right in front of the TV so you could just reach up and change the channels."  We were reminiscing with some old friends but it reminded me of the world before remote controls.  In the "olden days" the youngest child often functioned as the remote control.  "Son, go change the channel."  When he was a toddler it was so cute and he was so willing.  As he got older, he figured out the situation and commented, "It's not fair."  The father's response was "It's the circle of life and one day you'll have a child to change the channels."  Elton John even penned a song for a hit movie at that time to musically reinforce the concept!

The Circle of Life.  I thought of that as I outlined Deuteronomy 31:24-Deuteronomy 32:47.  Moses gave the people of Israel a Book and a Song.  They were to put the book of the laws, decrees and commands in the ark of the covenant and carry it with them everywhere.  Then he assembled everyone and gave them a song to remember the circle of their lives.

He reminded them to listen up and learn, to proclaim God's greatness, they were warped and needed God, to remember to ask their leaders for guidance and that God's boundaries were for their protection and not a burden.

Then the song recaps their history:  God found them and protected, nourished and provided; yet the people turned to idols and become enslaved to the false; God became jealous and angry;  with regret God turns away from them; God will judge them and yet have compassion; He will show Himself and ask them to choose Him again; God will take vengeance on the enemies and will make atonement for His people.

This is the true circle of life.  As I read the biblical history, time and time again, the Israelites are  living comfortable, because of God's provision.   They forget the Source and follow the temptations of the false gods and get themselves into trouble.  When they can't save themselves, they ask God and in His infinite love and mercy, He delivers them.

In hindsight I pity those poor Israelites but realize that cycle repeats too often in today's world and even in my life.  Too often, when I get what I want, I forget where it really came!  I follow after the temptations of the world and let the world control me.  When I realize I can't get myself out, I cry out to God. He is always ready to take care of me, even when I don't deserve it!  He, Himself, has made atonement for me. 

I think of atonement as at-one-ment.  My life is really best when I'm on the path with God, at-one-ment. My life is provided and protected when I am in at-one-ment. The world entices me with false promises of comfort.

My straying from relationship with God breaks the at-one-ment I have with God.  Even when I don't deserve it, when I have failed in upholding the relationship and left the One path, God is ready to have relationship with me. He has made the Atonement, once and for all (Thank you, Jesus, for paying  a very expensive price for me.) for my failures. When I ask, He will restore our at-one-ment, again and again.

The world can only offer us the circle.  God offers me something unique, at-one-ment. We may feel trapped in the circle of life but God gave us a Book and a Song.  The Book will guide us and warn us but we have to learn what is in the Book!  God offers us life outside that circle.  Listen to the Song as a reminder that even when we don't deserve it God loves us.

Moses tells them the words in the Book and the Song are not just idle words but they are life.  Living by the words of the Book and the Song will give them long lives in the Promised Land.

God has told me I have a propensity for this circle of life and even when I trap myself in that circle, God loves me and awaits my cry for help and delivers me. I learned it in a Book and heard it in a Song.

Now that's a  pretty Great God!