"This fulfilled the prophesy of Jeremiah that says, 'They took the thirty pieces of silver-the price at which he was valued by the people of Israel, and purchased the potter's field, as the Lord directed.'" Matthew 27:9-10.
The money of course, was originally paid to Judas Iscariot, world-renown betrayer whose cooperation with the religious leaders would lead to the execution of Yeshua, the Christ. In one final moment before Judas ended his own life, he offered the money back to the religious leaders, realizing his role in leading an innocent man to die for the sins of the world. And yet, God's involvement never leaves the situation as we read "as the Lord directed" at the end of verse 10. So the money was used to purchase a plot of land where immigrants could lay their loved ones to rest if they died while separated from their home land.
Friends, there are times when I really struggle to understand what it is God is trying to get me to understand as I delve into his word. These few verses really lept off the page to me because to understand that God would still have something to do with a situation that is so purely evil. I just can't. As someone who understands what it is like to feel the sting of betrayal, especially from a human perspective, and knowing how anger, hopelessness, or depression can grip one's emotions during that time, looking for God in that equation can seem distant. Understanding however, that He says he is with us through everything, brings things back into perspective as he still has his finger in the universal purpose of what is going on in our lives, as well as others.
God still had a plan for the blood money that had been used to betray his son. In stating "as the Lord directed," that tells me that further supernatural direction was still occuring. He had not turned away from the situation. He was still watching the money that had paid for the betrayal of his son get passed around, yet didn't separate himself from those who continued to pass it. He kept watch and directed.
I think the reason I keep coming back to these thirty pieces of silver is simple: it is further evidence that God never separated himself from the evil that man had become. No matter how bad. No matter how loathsome. Or despisable. Scripture says that God sees the heart where man sees outwardly appearances. What a refreshing thought, honestly. I know that there was a time in my life where many of you would have had a hard time offering the same grace that God showed to the people that were passing around the blood money that killed his son, yet he chose to stay engaged. I thank God that instead of pulling away like we sometimes do when we look at what we might consider a lost cause, God does just the opposite: he gets involved. He takes up our cause. He redirects circumstances towards Himself where they are ultimately unified with Him.
But is that what we are called to do? It is so easy to throw out daggers that would put man in his place, the judgement seat where the world would see a lost cause not worthy of a second look. But when you have eyes that see things the way that God does, how beautiful to see what he sees and love them as such. By ourselves, we are a hot mess. But with Him, our failures, our flaws, our disapointments, our let downs become beautiful because that is what he does. He restores us.
Beloved, God has his eyes turned to you. He sees what's going on in your life and is ready to jump in and save, as any proud parent is. He has his ears turned to you, and knows the things you are telling yourself: about how you are not fit to love, not fit for acceptance, not worth the time. He would remind you that those are all lies and that he already bought you with a price that cost a lot. He reminds you that you are not alone, and even though you feel that way at times, he is listening and ready to respond.
Take that step of faith,and when you do, please let someone know. I will be waiting.
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