Surprising. God. These two words were in a sentence I read recently. Not next to each other, but just in the same sentence. They jumped out at me. Surprising God.
Our tradition teaches us about a God that is full of surprises. Creation itself with all of its diversity and majesty and mystery is a surprise. The flood shows a surprising God. Abraham and Sarah being called to head to a new land and have a family late in life is surprising. The Hebrews being rescued from slavery in Egypt is a surprise. A Messiah born in humble circumstances is a surprise. Jesus gathering followers from among those who are poor, lame, outcast, and sinners – that is a surprise. The Messiah being put to death as a traitor by the Roman Empire is a surprise. Jesus’ followers gladly facing death for their beliefs is a surprise. Again and again, the Bible shows us a God full of surprises.
The God of the Bible is not portrayed as we might expect or predict. The God of our tradition is experienced as a God that is free. Completely free. Not bound by human demands or expectations. But also, in that freedom, seemingly responsive to human desires and needs. We see a God that chooses to favor humanity with forgiveness, mercy, and compassion. But over and over again, we see a God of surprises.
Surprising God. But if we hear that phrase another way, it can be interpreted with humanity as the subject. We may be surprising God. We may be the ones that deliver the surprise. Maybe our foolishness is surprising. Maybe our generosity is surprising. Maybe how we are despoiling the earth is surprising. Maybe our development and application of our intellect is surprising. Maybe our love of violence is surprising. Maybe our compassion is surprising. Maybe our creativity is surprising. How might we be surprising God? Are we different than God expects us to be? Would God predict that we are as we are?
Surprising. God. Unexpected. Astonishing. Shocking even. And it works both ways.
Prayer: Again and again a surprising God breaks into our lives and our world in unexpected ways. May we learn from God to be surprising. To shock with our forgiveness and compassion. To astonish with our patience and generosity. To exceed expectations with our commitment to justice and peace. We are, after all, created in the image of a surprising God! In the spirit of our beloved Savior Jesus we pray. Amen.
Lakewood United Church of Christ 