“God’s passion for justice”
By Rev. Michael Stonhouse
Meditation – Wednesday, October 5, 2022
Micah 2:1-13 (Forward, p. 68) CEV p. 944
It is so very easy, given what can readily be seen of the state of things in the world, that theft and piracy of various sorts will go unaccounted for and unpunished. It really does seem as if they are ‘getting away with it’, and that, somehow, this will continue, on into the future. Micah describes this situation and these people in amazing detail. They lay awake at night formulating their evil plans, and once morning comes, they put these plans in motion—simply because they have the power to do so. And what they do is particularly malicious. Not only do they seize what land or houses that they want, but they also despoil women—probably widows—of their cherished homes and rob their children of their rightful inheritance. It is said that no one’s property is safe from this thievery. And even with those that they should be grateful to and should aid and protect, those that had rightfully earned their respect, soldiers returning from battle, they steal the very clothes from off their backs.
And yet, such people think that they are safe and secure. After all, we belong to God’s people. God would never even ‘think’ of doing anything to us! In reality, however, if this confidence is a farce. In reality, they go about seeking teachers and prophets who will tell them only what they want to hear, and who will applaud and sanction their decadent lifestyle—here mentioned as getting into the booze—but probably far more than that!
God, however, says that their end is in sight. God will punish them and bring disaster upon them, and they will not be able to escape it. No, they will not be able to walk so proudly anymore. Indeed, when that happens, people will tell the story of their fate as an example to others.
Meanwhile, God will gather together the besieged and the dispossessed. Those who have felt themselves to be without a home, in exile as it were, will find themselves back home, and God’s land will once again be filled with His people.
This account from a time long ago has an uncanny resemblance and application to today’s world. Almost daily we hear of companies laying off people or eliminating their jobs through automation in order to save costs or increase profits—for instance, with ATM machines in the banks or automated tellers in grocery and drug stores. And, the practice of ‘shipping’ manufacturing or assembly jobs overseas to where labour costs are less or safety and environmental stipulations are less exacting, is almost so routine that we take it for granted. In spite of some past agitation concerning ‘sweat labour’, it is probably still occurring, almost unabated. And, as for ‘legalized’ thefts of land and houses, or mistreatment of veterans, they are barely even on ‘our radar.’
But, nevertheless, they are certainly on ‘God’s radar’, and He will see to it that such people are held to account for their evil deeds. However, we must, in this connection, also ask some searching questions of ourselves. Are we not complicit, at least in some lesser way, of enabling these deeds—by our choices of what to buy or not buy, for instance, or by our investment policies, or by what government measures we support or allow?
In some circumstances, this may simply be because we were ignorant or ill-informed—or uncaring—like the illegal thefts of First Nations lands or the financial short-changing of their education systems—but, does that really ‘let us off the hook’? I think not. I think that just as our God is innately and passionately concerned with justice, so too should we, His people. And, as such, we should do our best to see that it happens, and whenever possible, help to ‘make’ it happen. Amen.
Forward notes: “I will surely gather all of you, O Jacob, I will gather the survivors of Israel; I will set them together like sheep in a fold, like a flock in its pasture; it will resound with people” (verse 12).
“Today, with so many people on the move because of wars and political turmoil, climate extremes, lack of economic opportunities, religious intolerance, persecution, injustice, and more, these lines from Micah offer some hope. The litany of societal wrongs in biblical times—evil deeds, jealousy, theft, oppression, bitterness—are familiar to us today. And our hope, like theirs, is certainly in the Lord.
“Setting today’s refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants ‘like sheep in a fold’ calls on us to enact God’s saving hope for his people, to be the light in the darkness. Like the survivors of Israel, these flocks need pastures where they can flourish and resound. What might this look like? Temporary shelter in unused safe spaces? Community meals after Sunday services? Regular clothing drives? Invitations to join us at a community, club, or social meetings? We can start with small acts, but the key is that we start.”
MOVING FORWARD: “Do you know about the work of Episcopal Migration Ministries? Research and explore how you might help.”