Lost at Sea
Although we never catch anything, and even though I am the world’s worst fisherman, I enjoy taking my kids fishing. Just about every time we go, at least one of my four children will lose one of my lures. It’s not the end of the world, so I don’t get too upset. Okay, when it happens repeatedly on the same fishing trip I might get a little irritated. Unless they have snagged their lure in a bush or tree with a bad cast, generally when that line snaps I give up all hope of finding it ever again. It is gone for good. Anything else that threatens to fall in the water would likely disappear the same way. In those cases, immersion means loss.
In Micah 7:19, the prophet describes immersion in water not as loss but as great gain. “Who is a God like you, who pardons iniquity and passes over the rebellious act of the remnant of His possession? He does not retain His anger forever, Because He delights in unchanging love. He will again have compassion on us; He will tread our iniquities under foot. Yes, You will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.” (Micah 7:18-19) This is an amazing word picture of what God’s gracious character looks like.
Because of what Jesus accomplished through His death and resurrection, God’s compassion is available to us. The imagery here is strong. God does not simply forgive sin, He treads our iniquities underfoot. Picture Christ as a triumphant warrior crushing our sin. If that weren’t powerful enough, He casts all our sin into the depths of the sea. Our sin is lost in the depths of God’s grace. Truly that isn’t a loss. It’s the greatest gain.
This passage pushes me toward two conclusions. First, I am profoundly thankful that God deals with sin so decisively and fully. No one deserves this kind of grace. No one earns this kind of grace. God delights in unchanging love. Wow!
Second, this passage challenges me to live a life pleasing to God. If God crushes my sin underfoot, why do I not always completely share this antagonistic reaction to sin? If God casts my sin into the depths of the sea, I shouldn’t come back myself and try to fish my sins out of the depths. I need that regular reminder of how horrible sin is so I don’t find myself deceived into thinking sin has some possible benefit for me. God has cast our sins into the depths of the sea and we are free. What a glorious truth!