“Far be it from us that we should forsake the Lord to serve
other god’s” turns out to not be too far from them at all. In the future the
prophets speaking for God will lament, “These people honor me with their lips
but their hearts are far from me.” (Isaiah 29:13) I suppose after forty years
in the wilderness you’ll say anything to get some relief in the Promised Land.
I’ve read the Old Testament more times than I can count and far be it from me
to find times these people pledging faithfulness made good on the promise. Oh
there are times they listen to what the Lord is saying (as for me and my house we will serve the Lord) and experience blessing,
but the land promised (albeit taken violently from others) is ultimately divided
between two kingdoms who hate each other more than they fear their enemies. I
think the truth of the scriptures is that it doesn’t sugar coat the story of
the people of God who turn out to be just as unfaithful as everyone else. But
in the same way that the scripture speaks the truth about us it reveals the unique
nature of our God. Every other god would
visit vengeance on promises made but not kept. This God declares through the crucified and
risen Christ, “far be it from me” to forsake you.
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