Contemplative Bible Reading

2 Kings 17:26 (New Living Translation)

So a message was sent to the king of Assyria: “The people you have sent to live in the towns of Samaria do not know the religious customs of the God of the land. He has sent lions among them to destroy them because they have not worshiped him correctly.”

The people in the Kingdom of Israel had sinned against God for generations. God had the King of Assyria pull them from the land God gave them and scatter them to the winds. The King of Assyria moved folks from other lands into the land formerly occupied by Israel. It seems that the King of Assyria conquered lots of folks and relocated them all, but that is an aside.

These people who were moved into Israel were overrun by the proverbial lions, tigers, and bears (oh my).

Their reaction? It was a religious one. They didn’t know how to serve Jehovah the God of the Israelis. These were religious folks. They believed in more than you could see and hear. They believed in the supernatural.

They were religious but ignorant.

Hmmm, sounds to me like they would fit in just fine in today’s (post?) modern world. Many folks today believe that there is more than they can see and hear. There has to be more. This can’t be all there is, huh?

Our neighbors, friends, and colleagues believe in more than they can see and hear. They are wondering and some are searching. Let’s tell them a few things (when they are ready to hear). Many want to hear something. Many are wanting that hope that comes through a risen Savior.