One way of looking at it
You could look at the history of God with his people and think that it was a story of broken promises: broken by God, that is.
It all started with the expulsion from Eden and then got steadily worse. Every time we put a foot wrong the punishment was severe: reach out for the tree of knowledge, and get kicked out of paradise; a bit of high living, and get flooded; try to work together to build a city to be proud of, and get confused; follow a promise, and be asked to sacrifice your son. And then there’s Exodus, the failed monarchy, the exile to Babylon…need I go on? The painful waiting for God to finally get around to doing what he said he’d do, redeem his people.
You thought Brexit was drawn out? You’re not reading your Bible!
“After such knowledge, what forgiveness? Think now
History has many cunning passages, contrived corridors
And issues, deceives with whispering ambitions,
Guides us by vanities. Think now
She gives when our attention is distracted And what she gives, gives with such supple confusions
That the giving famishes the craving.”
T. S Eliot, ‘Gerontion’
Who was left?
Little wonder perhaps that when Christ did at last come the only ones interested were an old woman, past the age of giving birth; an old man still stoically doing his duty but silently giving up hope; a decent working man just trying to build a life; a couple of dears hanging around in a temple, and, o yes, a young virgin named Mary in the back of beyond of back of beyonds.
Finally, someone who would listen.
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