As I envision the 144,000 (symbolic number for a very large group of people from every nation—12,000 for each of the 12 tribes plus 1000 equals a large number) marked with the seal of God’s loving protection, I realize they have survived the great persecution. They will be led to life-giving waters.

This week we have been dealing with the power of death-dealing and destructive waters. I am not one who believes that a God who is up there and out reaches down to array nature’s forces to cleanse and chastise us. I do believe that nature, like the empire, strikes back. Our failure to care for creation and admit responsibility for the destructiveness of climate change sets in motion forces, such as increased ocean temperatures which increase the fury of hurricanes, which do indeed strike back. Continue reading →