Advent #5 of 10:

Even though the inclination of the human heart is evil.

(Genesis 8:21)

Thieves broke into our friends home while they were vacationing in Hawaii. They returned immediately to view the pillage, catalog their losses and put things back in order—“Just things,” they tell me.

Yet, there is this lingering hurt that our “just things” rationale cannot satisfy or heal. Something deeper and personal had been violated. The Bible word “trespasses” comes to mind. It’s one of those sin words that speaks of violating the boundaries and defying sacred space.

It’s the kind of insult that riles God: “The wickedness of humankind was great, and every inclination of their hearts was evil”; resulting in the flood. “But God remembers Noah” and the waters subside. Nothing changes much after the flood. “The human heart is still evil”. If anything changes it comes from God’s side. He decides to stick with his fallen creation “even though the inclination of the human heart is evil.”

That “even though,” makes it an Advent story. The rainbow is an “even though” sign that somehow God is going to keep the world open and see his creation through until The One arrives who enables us to “forgive those who trespass against us.”