God’s Foolishness and Weakness

Micah 6:1-8, I Corinthians 1:18-31

In Micah 6 the Lord has a case against his people. God lists all the things God has done for them. The Lord saved them from Egypt, and brought them safely to the promised land, and saved them from their enemies. The Lord’s saving acts are literally righteousness, deeds that establish a right relationship with God, Israel, and the world.

In the wisdom of the time sacrifices and offerings were the acceptable response to the gods. God however says that the Lord does not require the best sacrifices even the giving up of one’s first born (remember Abraham with Isaac, yet God would not allow this sacrifice.)

God tells them differently what the Lord requires in verse 8. This should be the proper – good response to the Lord’s redemption. They are to practice justice. This is to set things right between themselves and others. They are told to love kindness. Other translations say, “Love mercy.” They are to maintain a loyal commitment to God and others that transcends the legal requirements – the wisdom of that day. This can only be done if they walk humbly with their God. This will result in a transformed life conformed to the image of God.

This is Micah’s summary of the Torah or teaching of the Pentateuch showing God’s gracious deeds and the proper human response, this of course is foolishness to the culture which promotes doing whatever you can by whatever means it takes to elevate yourself to bring riches and power to one.

Our I Corinthians passage talks about what is considered the foolishness of God, this being the proclamation of Christ crucified. Yet Paul says God has made foolish the wisdom of the world since it is this message that brings salvation to believers. The cross confounds both classes of human society who find the whole idea foolish. The Jews who seek signs (Didn’t Jesus provide many of these with his miracles and healings?) Then the Greeks/Gentiles who seek wisdom in philosophy and charms of eloquence. There was nothing eloquent about the crucifixion.

Today we have atheists and agnostics who find the whole story of Jesus and his redemption to be foolish. We however acknowledge the great love and redemption on the cross and God’s great power – strength in the resurrection.

 Jesus came and turned the wisdom of the world upside down. Instead of living only for one’s self and placating God with elaborate sacrifices (could this be monetary bribes?) God’s wisdom is the one and only one sacrifice needed of God’s son on the cross. Due to this we are not just to live for ourselves but to seek justice for the downtrodden, love kindness/mercy for the world and not to boast in ourselves but as Corinthians tell us to boast in the Lord. We do so by doing what Micah demands walking humbly with our God who has the greater wisdom and power. Amen

 

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