“Judah and Israel were as numerous as sand grains on the seashore; they ate, drank and enjoyed themselves” (1 Kings 4:20).
While the grains of sand are not quite stars, we still catch a reminder that God maintained his part of the covenant that He made with Abraham regarding his descendants. The Hebrew people flourished in the promised land under the guidance of the Holy One of Israel. For now, Solomon ruled the nation and prosperity brought in a new era of peace and faithfulness to the Almighty. God’s chosen nation lived up to its promise; to follow in the path of holiness.
We know that life would not remain as tranquil. War and exile will overcome the land, forcing many of the inhabitants out of their homes and into cities and towns on foreign soil. Faithfulness eventually gives way to lamentations and chaos. Many years passed before the people returned back to their ancestral homes. Facing them was a sea of destruction and unrest with many forgetting the covenant between God and the Hebraic race. The people forgot how to worship.
For many of us, this may be a season of joy and jubilation. Let us remember to give thanks to the One, who blessed us with the beauty of our land, hopes, and dreams. When we struggle and feel like we are in exile, let us hold on to our faith and find our way back into the loving arms of our Creator, who promised to never let us go. May we reclaim our unique heritage and serve our God well.
Our heritage will number as the grains of sand; countless. Blessings from the Holy One will count as the stars; impossible to name. Our part of the covenant is to remain faithful, honor God with our lives, and to love our neighbors as ourselves. We must acknowledge our part of the bargain and follow the One who liberated us.
From a Pastor's Point of View 