Today's readings are Genesis 8.13-9.17 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=gen.+8.13-9.17 ), Mark 4.1-20 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Mark+4.1-20 ), and Genesis 9.18-11.26 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Gen.+9.18-11.26 ).
There's a great theme that emerges in the Genesis readings for today. Despite man's pursuit of sin, God provides people with all they need, including protection and blessing for those who reject and despise him. Even the scattering of the nations at Babel is evidence of God's loving hand, as he protects people from banding together and practicing their evil without restraint.
When we look at the words of our Lord and Savior in Mark 4, we see that same hand of God in a microcosm. In the past, many people, myself included, have wanted to call this the parable of the soils, rather than a parable of a sower. But when we think of the context of God's hand as we saw it in Genesis, we start to think the people who emphasize the sower in the parable are quite right. God is the kind of reckless farmer who scatters the seed of the Gospel all over the place, even where it is rejected, even where it is snatched away by Satan. And what does the seed do? Wherever it lands, it grows. Even that seed that is snatched away by birds ends up having an effect - it is spread and often replanted in amazing places.
Rejoice in the Lord who has taken the seed of the Gospel - Jesus crucified for our sins, dead, buried, and raised on the third day by the mighty hand of God - and has scattered it so broadly. May it grow in you and in me this day.
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