The Deep End of the Ocean

"Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity & passing over the transgression of the remnant of your possession? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in showing clemency. He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities under foot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea."

(Micah 7:18-19)

The Old Testament prophets were masters at identifying the ways God's people had forsaken Him by their sins. Humanity has always preferred ignorance and/or avoidance over accountability when it comes to our sinfulness. Thus many came to "dislike" the prophets, immensely! But they weren't only "gloom & doom" messengers. They also conveyed God's grace! Here at the end of Micah we encounter a reminder of God's forgiveness & compassion. The end result? Our sins are cast into the deep blue sea!

Living in Hawaii, the ocean is a part of our life. We're surrounded by it, connected to it, and sometimes even dependent upon it. We know it can generate fun, joy & recreation... but it can also be foreboding, dangerous, and deadly. In short, we have a genuine respect for the ocean around us.

Micah tells us that god's plan is to cast our sins into the DEPTHS of the sea. Not the "shoreline," where the waves wash over & over, bringing items up & down the beach. This would be like being constantly reminded of our sins during every "tide change"! God doesn't dump them onto the "reef structures," in the ocean, either... below the surface, yes, but still within recreational diving range... where people can search for and discover our "treasure chests of iniquity." Micah went out of his way to use the word depths for a reason. I envision a place like the Mariana Trench, off the coast of Japan. It's not only the deepest part of the ocean, but the deepest location on the earth's crust... with a depth of almost 7 miles below sea-level (how's that for a divine number?!). It's so deep, no submersibles can even venture. It's so dark, it's pitch black. Once there, sins will be "lost" forever. how comforting to know that we're not only forgiven, but that God also gets rid of the evidence, too. Forever!

PRAYER: We've all messed up, God. Too often WE keep reminding ourselves of our past sins. But You don't! You forgive us and cast away our sins. Forever. Thank you. Help me to better trust Your grace. Help me to model Your example in my own relationships, too... as I forgive those who have hurt me. AMEN.