So last week my squad was supposed to launch to Guatemala but covid threw us for a curve once again, we have to stay on base for a few more days before getting to leave. During this extra time I have had on my hands I started listening to the BEMA podcast which I really recommend. It goes through the Bible looking at it from the perspective of the culture and audience it was written for. It has already stretched my understanding so much but something that floored me from the very first episode is that there is not a word for perfect in ancient Hebrew.
In the creation story found in Genesis we see a poem depicting God creating our world. At the end of each day God admired His creation and called it good.
3 “And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good”
10 “God called the dry ground ‘land,’and the gathered waters he called ‘seas.’ And God saw that it was good.”
12 “The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.”
17 “God set them in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth, 18 to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good.”
21 “So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living thing with which the water teems and that moves about in it, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.”
31 “God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.”
Over and over God declares that his creation is good, not perfect.
I often feel as if the things I do cannot be considered good unless they are perfect. But the words are not synonymous, and God never called us to be perfect. God’s calling requires one thing, for us to give ourselves fully to Him in our imperfection.
Thank you Jesus that your perfection is enough to cover me.
Emily, I am so excited that you are finally almost on your way to Guatemala. It is clear that that God has already been at work within you over these many months in waiting (now you know how the Israelites felt during their 40 years of wandering:) I love your insight on the use of the word for “good”. I can be good (sometimes) but wow perfect – NOPE! – so I can really relate to “give ourselves fully to Him in our imperfection”. May the Lord bless you and your team while in Guatemala and reveal Himself to all of you in ways that will draw you nearer to Him and allow you to show and share His love and peace with all you are blessed to meet. A former World Race parent and friend of your Lakeway grands – Joyce
Thank you for the updates! Praying for you and your mission!