This
morning we are connecting our theme (generational sins) with Malachi 4:6 (NAS). We read that the Lord will send Elijah before the great and terrible day of the Lord, and that he “will
restore the hearts of the fathers to children, and the hearts of the
children to fathers, lest I come and smite the land with a curse.”
To my mind it is no coincidence that this is placed as the very last verse of
the Old Testament. What I am saying is
that it transitions Elijah's Old Testament ministry of judgement, to his New Testament ministry of reconciliation. The Hebrew word
translated here as "restore," is translated “turn” in many Bibles. But according to the Hebrew lexicon, the word means
return, turn back, or restore. It particular, it is talking about what the relationships once were. I mean picture the “honeymoon”
stage of the relationship of a father and son, the time when the son still
confuses his father with the true and living God.
I
say the true and living God, because the disillusion that inevitably
comes when the son realizes the father is not perfect, is often
transferred, in the mind of the adult son, to the the face of God. It is a
lie of course, but it accounts for the fact that so many find it
difficult to relate to God as Father. I remember one man saying it
took him forty years to wipe the face of his father off the face of God!
But the last part of this morning’s verse (lest I curse the earth) speaks to me of how strongly God feels about
restoration of parent child relationships (yes the
mothers too!). I love the balance of Scripture here, fathers are
commanded to nurture, and not provoke their children, and (adult) children
commanded to honour father and mother (Ephesians 6:2-4; Exodus 20:12). There is no bias here!
With respect to the "great and terrible day of the Lord." We
are in the last days, not the last day (Hebrews 1:2; John 6:44). And Elijah is sent "before" the latter day. And
there is a real sense, if we can receive it, that the spirit of
Elijah has already come (Matthew 11:14). We can cooperate with
this spirit, or not! Peter talks about our ability to hasten the day of
the Lord which, for the Christian is something to look forward to (2
Peter 3:12; 2 Timothy 4:8). In context Peter asks “what manner of
persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness” (verse 11).
In other words by our conduct and attitudes we can either accelerate
or hinder the restoration of these relationships with “the
fathers.” At the very, very least, (adult) children should honour,
and parents should when allowed to, to nurture, but certainly not
provoke.
Father,
while it is You who send Elijah to do these things, we always have a part to play. Your
Word tells us that “as much as is within you, live at peace with all"
(Romans 12:18). It is not always possible of course, and we need wisdom and council as to the when, the how, and even the if, but also what to do when the loved on has passed on. Also we may not be
healed up enough to deal with rejection when we seek to make amends.
Thank You Lord for twelve step programs that help very much with these things. Thank Your for the council of the saints, of Your Word and of
Your Holy Spirit in Jesus Name Amen
No comments:
Post a Comment