sin

an epilogue

I

It's an old, old tale:
lust, murder, betrayal, hate—
the seeds were sown when the serpent
planted a germ of an idea
in the woman's mind:

the fruit was good for food,
pleasant to the eyes,
and desirable to make one wise,
knowing good and evil.

Yet she and the man became fools,
exchanging the glory of the immortal God
for judgement, death and curses.

They had a son who killed his brother
then had another who had a son,
who had a son, who had a son,
the seed of Adam's line.

II

Jacob's seed grew forth
and sprouted twelve sons.
Joseph, the eleventh, took away
his mother's reproach, and added
zeal for another son.

He was the favourite son,
the son of Jacob's old age—
seized at Dothan and stripped,
thrown in a waterless pit
while his brothers plotted his death.

For a bag of silver,
they sold him into bondage
and smeared his many coloured coat
with red goat's blood.

Yet, he enjoyed the Lord's favour,
growing up before him like a tender plant,
a root out of Egypt's desert.
Dreams were like seeds;
he read their potential—
and within himself, he realised his:

Second in the kingdom, by an outstretched arm,
Jacob's house was delivered,
many souls kept alive.

III

God held the seeds before creation:
with foreknowledge, preordaining,
predestining God the Son
became the Son of God—
Jesus, the Lord's salvation.

Only begotten of the Father,
full of grace and truth—
he was seized at Gethsemane and stripped,
thrown into a faithless pit of faithless men
while his countrymen called for his death.

For a bag of silver,
one sold him into bondage
to a wooden cross,
and smeared his stainless soul
with our blood.

Yet, he enjoyed the Lord's favour;
he grew before him like a tender plant,
the root of David out of dry ground.
His body was not left in Sheol to rot;
he ascended into heaven and sat down
at God's right hand. With outstretched arm
he delivered us, and many souls
he made alive.

IV

We all sow discontent—discord—unrighteousness;
the old, old tale: lust, murder, betrayal, hate
implanted in us, our decaying minds.
We reap unrighteousness, grow old and die
exchanging God for judgement,
death and curses.

We sow rebellion
but God reaps forth love;
we sow dishonour
but God reaps forth glory;
we sow in slavery
but God reaps forth sons;

we meant it for evil
But God
meant it for
good.