God Having Faith In Us
A Week with W. H. Auden
Written by Rev. Dr. Scott Paczkowski
“But Moses implored the Lord his God, and said, “O Lord, why does your wrath burn hot against your people, whom you brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? ”
May it not be that, just as we have to have faith in Him, God has to have faith in us and, considering the history of the human race so far, may it not be that “faith” is even more difficult for Him than it is for us? –A Certain World, “God” (1970)
W. H. Auden successfully empathizes with the mind of God in this passage of poetry. There are examples of moments where God is frustrated with human beings throughout the Bible. Especially in Exodus, Moses seemingly talks God out of giving up on humans. Moses and God are disappointed by the chosen people, and there is an irony that Moses is more sympathetic than God at times.
I do not believe an all-loving God was less patient with people than the fallible Moses, but I do think the Biblical stories and Auden’s passage were written to remind us of our need to live lives worthy of God’s attention and trust. Like a wayward child, we always love our children even if we sometimes show tough love and distance ourselves. Our calling is to be supportive and loving children worthy of God’s praise.
Today, prayerfully think about how we have individually, and as a people, disappointed God over the years. Then ponder the ways you honored God, especially when those around you were not responding faithfully. It is important to remember both our faithful judgment and our poor responses to God’s love. Finally, by giving Jesus the Christ, remember that God will not give up on humanity or you. God’s love is more powerful than our ability to sin. Hallelujah!
