What’s Your Witness?

I love a good crime drama. Call me hooked on NCIS (all of them), Elementary, Murder She Wrote reruns, and any other show that has the who-done-it element. In TV Land, the case is closed when the good guys get the bad guys because these shows stop short of what happens next: trial by jury.

In a court of law, two opposing sides argue their case, each bringing their own witnesses to bolster their position. Eyewitnesses. Expert witnesses. Character witnesses. They’re chosen because of what they saw, what they know, and whom they know. Their role is to influence the jury in determining the outcome of guilt or innocence, victory or defeat. Witnesses are crucial to the outcome.

The Old Testament relates the story of the relationship between Israel and God. It’s quite a compelling drama. God chooses a man, and through him he births a nation: Israel. This nation ends up in bondage to Egypt, and God sends Moses to lead them out of slavery. The mighty hand of God delivers them as they escape the plague of the firstborn and cross the Red Sea on dry ground. Fresh water gushes from a rock, quenching their thirst. Manna from heaven satisfies their hunger. Their shoes never wear out despite a forty-year expedition in the desert.

The Lord defeats their enemies without them raising a sword. As a nation, they grow and prosper under the kingships of David and Solomon. Israel has a front-row seat as an eyewitness to God’s power and provision. They should be the perfect people to proclaim him as God to their neighboring, pagan nations.

And yet Israel was not the witness the world needed.  Witness is both a noun and a verb. Which one are you? Join me over at The Glorious Table as we learn how to be both.

Blessings,

Denise