Grab Hold and Pull

Quoted Verse:Zech. 8:23 This is what the LORD Almighty says: "In those days ten men from all languages and nations will take firm hold of one Jew by the hem of his robe and say, `Let us go with you, because we have heard that God is with you.'"

When we lived out in the country by the sand dunes in West Michigan, we would often make trips to the big city to visit museums and galleries... and to people watch. Especially people watch. We were living in what sociologists call a culturally homogeneous community. But Chicago was full of people who didn't fit that description. Red and Yellow, Black and White, as the old song goes. Plus people in strange clothes--saris and dashikis--and stranger still hairdos and body piercings modeled by artsy students and bohemian types. Now when I people watch, I can spot in a minute the people from the country who are people watching people in the city. But one of the wonders of the city is that it attracts all kinds of people, and all kinds can make their claim here.

In the concluding scene of this marvelous vision of Zechariah, he pictures people streaming into the city. People from all over the world. People of every tongue and tribe and nation. This too is part of the good news of the vision of Zechariah. Much of the Old Testament focuses solely on the children of Abraham, but here in Zechariah (whose name means 'my God remembers'), we remember that God remembers his promise to Abraham: Through him, God intended to bless all nations. Here in Zechariah, we catch a preview of that. People from every corner of the earth come streaming into the city of Jerusalem, grab hold of the garment of a Jew and beg: Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.

Today we celebrate All Nations Heritage Sunday: the reality that the love of God is at work in every nation under the sun. We've moved "My father was a wandering Aramean...," to "...many peoples and powerful nations will come to Jerusalem to seek the LORD Almighty." The Holy Communion of All Nations because of Immanuel: God is with us.

Prayer Heavenly Father, in a divided world where hate is often triggered by differences, we thank you that we are all created in your image. We praise you that through Abraham's seed you planned on blessing all the nations of the earth. For the unity we have from having been grabbed hold of by Christ, we worship and adore you. We pray that all nations will grab hold of the garment of one of your children because they can see that you are with us, and having grabbed hold, might be held lovingly in your grip. In Jesus Name, amen.