Relevant Verses: Exodus 33; Hosea 14; Matthew 22
Theme: God Loves Freely
Leading Question: Given all that we know about the human race and about ourselves, is it “reasonable” to expect that God should love us?
Our lessons this quarter juxtapose the concepts of God’s love and justice. Here are some crucial questions that help us address the tension between his love and his justice:
- Which is the more pressing question for us: Can I love God? Or: Can God love me? What drives each question? Perhaps the more sensitive and devout person would be the one to raise the question: Can God love me? The more skeptical would be inclined to ask: Can I love God?
- Is it self-evident in Scripture that God is both loving and just? What could call into question either one of those concepts? Doesn’t love sound “friendlier” than “justice”? What kind of person would likely champion God’s justice? God’s love?
- Does the Old Testament record emphasize God’s love in a way that furthers human hope? Does the New Testament emphasize God’ love because of Christ’s death on our behalf?
Biblical passages:
Exodus 33:15-22 – after appearance to Moses at Mt. Sinai after Israel’s rebellion.
The sobering reality of Israel’s rebellion is juxtaposed to the remarkable revelation of God to Moses.
Hosea 14:1-4 – God’s promise to “love Israel freely” – against the backdrop of the whole book of Hosea
Matthew 22:1-14 (the wedding banquet): The violent treatment of those who refused to come, and to the one who did not have a garment provide a stark contrast to the “gentle” Jesus tradition. The only redeeming feature is that this is a parable, not a real-life experience from Jesus’ ministry.
