Thursday 08 July 2010

Background

One of the things that happened after January's earthquake inHaiti was that many people's compassion reached out to the mostvulnerable members of society - children. There was a rush ofpeople wanting to adopt those whose parents had died and were ingreat need. But some people acted in a way that was offensive toHaitians and suffered the consequences. They tried to take childrenout of the country illegally and were detained.

While children continue to be amongst the most vulnerable in thewake of the earthquake, there are signs that people in Haiti andexternal aid and relief agencies are working hard together torebuild the lives of these most vulnerable people.

The image of a faithful husband who is constant in love with hisunfaithful wife was very important to the prophet Hosea. He was aman who had been through that very situation. Yet here, the imagechanges dramatically. It is now is of a father who adopts a childand assumes duties that, most often are done by the mother.

Time and time again throughout the Old Testament, God has revealed,through the prophets, a very clear response to the people'sunfaithfulness. Yet here, things seem to be different. God takesthe initiative and adopts, nurtures, feeds and protects God'sadopted child (the nation of Israel). The child turns out to bewayward and troublesome and, instead of showing anger, God says,"How can I give you up? ... How can I hand you over? ... My heartrecoils within me; my compassion grows warm and tender."

There is no limit to the tenderness and loving-kindness with whichGod will respond to the people's need. "Amazing love! How can it bethat thou, my God, shouldst die for me?" (from Charles Wesley's18th century hymn 'And Can it Be').

To Ponder

Do you know anyone who has adopted a child?Imagine some of the thoughts and feelings that desperately wantingto adopt a child create.

What do you think are the most importantquestions that an adopted person thinks about?

Read John Wesley's sermon The Spirit of Bondage and Adoption. What do youthink are the differences between fear and adoption in thiscontext?