Why did God create man, knowing in advance he would sin and generally make a mess of things? What kept Him from crushing man in his rebellion and wiping him off the face of the earth? A friend who pastors a Messianic congregation pondered those very questions during a time of prayer and reflection, and this is how God answered: Because I knew it would be a blessing for you to know Me.
God chose to love us in our filth and depravity, sending His Son, Yeshua of Nazareth, to atone for our transgressions. Not only that, God fills believers with His Spirit and sends us His Word to draw us into intimacy and fellowship. By reading the Word, which comes alive through the Spirit, God reveals to us His attributes and character. Therein lies the blessing.
In 2 Chronicles 30, Adonai even bends His own rules in order to restore fellowship. The story unfolds with King Hezekiah sending messengers throughout Judah and Israel to invite his brethren to a long overdue Passover celebration in Jerusalem. He exhorts the Israelites, "The Lord your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn His face from you if you return to Him." Some tribesmen mock and laugh at the messengers. Yet God gives those who participate a "singleness of heart to obey the command of the king and the leaders, at the word of the Lord." A great assembly gathers for Passover in the second month, a belated celebration because the priests had not had time to consecrate themselves. Neither are the people ceremonially clean and they eat Passover "contrary to what was written." Hezekiah attempts to appease God by praying, "May the good Lord provide atonement for everyone who prepares his heart to seek God, the Lord God of his fathers, though he is not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary."
Verse 20 says God listened to the king of Judah and healed the people. The word "healed" in Hebrew means to mend, repair, make whole. God cut His people a break because He longed to have fellowship with them. The Israelites respond by celebrating the Feast of Unleavened Bread an additional seven days with great gladness. Why is their joy complete? Maybe it is because they got to know Him. They were blessed because they saw His nature and character – compassion, grace, mercy and truth (Psalm 86:15).
Posted by Jeff King at August 3, 2006 10:15 AM