This is my most dramatic post ever...
Okay, maybe not. But I am going to talk about a television show that regularly uses similar phrases. Can you guess? That's right, dear readers and friends--today we're going to talk about "The Bachelor."
One bachelor + twenty-five beautiful bachelorettes = A ton of drama. I don't know what it is about the show, but periodically, "The Bachelor" sucks me in. Maybe it's because I love people--and the show is all about interesting people (some are pretty funny, actually!) put in interesting situations? Or maybe it's the drama of one person with so many choices...or on the flip side, the idea of being one person chosen from among the many options?
As fascinating as it is (sometimes), I actually dislike the show at its core. My matter-of-fact sister may have put her finger on it when she said, "The Bachelor's concept is fatally flawed. One guy with 25 girlfriends does not a monogamous husband make."
Of course, I laughed when she said it. But I think she's probably right (with perhaps a few very rare exceptions). The best relationships are based on trust--and how can you honestly trust someone who "has strong feelings," dates or kisses 24 other people while simultaneously "falling in love" with you?
That said, I think being the Bachelor or the Bachelorette would be tough, too. Call me a little bit traditional, but instead of having 25 great options, I'd rather have the clear choice of one AMAZING guy who completely ignored or forgot about all the other choices available to him. I'd rather have that amazing guy decide to choose, pursue and love me first (and preferably, not in front of millions of viewers!).
Believe it or not, I thought about "The Bachelor" when I read today's passage. In these chapters, Moses is still in the midst of his message to the Israelites (what I referred to yesterday as the Cliffs Notes summary of their journey through the desert). Take a look at this part:
What other great nation has gods that are intimate with them
the way God, our God, is with us, always ready to listen to us?
And what other great nation has rules and regulations
as good and fair as this Revelation that I'm setting before you today?
Just make sure you stay alert.
Just make sure you stay alert.
Keep close watch over yourselves.
Don't forget anything of what you've seen.
Don't let your heart wander off.
Stay vigilant as long as you live.
Teach what you've seen and heard to your children and grandchildren.
The line, "Don't let your heart wander off" grabbed me today. Ultimately, God's greatest desire (and commandment) is that we would love Him with all of our hearts, minds and souls. But like the Bachelor, our hearts are often tempted to wander...to other things or people, the gods of our world.
Why would we choose other options, when the very best--God Himself--has clearly chosen and loved us first?
It sounds crazy, but it happens. This passage calls God jealous--not because He's mean-spirited, but because He deeply loves us (with the purest kind of love that totally surpasses romantic love). Still, our hearts wander...to money, other people, jobs, habits, ourselves, sports, music, false spirituality...you name it. Whenever your heart wanders, remember this:
But even there, if you seek God, your God,
you'll be able to find him if you're serious,
looking for him with your whole heart and soul.
When troubles come and all these awful things happen to you,
in future days you will come back to God,
your God, and listen obediently to what he says.
God, your God, is above all a compassionate God.
Tomorrow: Deuteronomy 5-7
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