God's Intervention
Then the men set out from there, and they looked down toward Sodom. And Abraham went with them to set them on their way. 17The Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do, 18seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? (Genesis 18:16-18)
The more I learn about my mom's family I never knew, the more I really like them (for now, I never met them). Nicholas Jackson Farris (Jackson being a prominent middle name in the Farris male lineage until my mom married a Minnesotan), born in 1827 in Mississippi, would be my 2nd great grandfather following a trail of Scottish people who immigrated to the US and moved south to farm. Nicholas Jackson Farris settled in Louisiana ultimately and then the Civil War happened. Louisiana was governed by a Union general named Butler (Benjamin Butler was hated by a good number of people both North and South). However, Butler managed to get over 5000 (some historians say 10K+) Louisianans to join the Union army, tapping into a sentiment of defiance among the commoners who felt betrayed by the "ruling elite."
That included Nicholas. An article I found after talking to my friend from college yesterday notes that "...this defiance of regional allegiance is attributed to a class revolt against the planter elite who, by their own political machinations had orchestrated a "rich man's war and a poor man's fight." Nicholas fought with the 1st La Cavalry, the only one to leave the state to fight of several groups that formed. They fought ferociously throughout the south, according to the article.
The reason I bring this up is to ask, "What did God see at the time he decided to create his nation of Israel?" The LORD, the pre-incarnate Christ many believe, is visiting with Abraham, on his way to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah. He tells Abraham that he's going to be the father of a great nation, a people who will have a special relationship with him as he fulfills his covenant.
Our Civil War was a critical juncture in our nation's history that we still feel the effects of today. To our faith, God's intervention in the world at the time of Abraham is a critical juncture in our faith as recipients of the promise given on that day.
God's work through Abraham is eternal and one, the Civil War, is temporal. God's eternal steadfast love for his people speaks of his commitment to free his people from sin, Satan and death. While our war may have ultimately been about freedom (historians will say it was an economic war or a war about differences in the North and South), its enduring legacy is slaves were freed from bondage when it was over. Ultimately, God's triumph is for all nations.
What does God see in our time now? Having been freed from sin and the fear of death and Satan's influence, what has God's intervention in our world in Abraham's time meant to us today? What does it mean to be "God's people?"
Pray with me: Gracious Father, we give thanks for your work in our lives to free us from sin. We give thanks for the simple grace and mercy you have shown in giving us the power over Satan through Christ and the fact that we no longer have to fear death. Help us to know you through your Word and use us as your vessels to carry this message forward to our community. In your Son's name, Amen.