Levelling The Ground

I thought the building work opposite my flat had come to a bit of a stand-still when I glanced out of the window earlier.  I couldn't see any builders and there was no obvious work going on.

 

However I soon realised that, whilst things near my flat have stopped, the builders have been focusing their attention on the opposite end of the building site.  The building site is on a hill and the ground is much lower at the opposite end. 

 

Whilst they have stopped work at my end (or have slowed down at least), they have been working frantically at the opposite end to make the ground level.  They have built the foundations up by about 10 feet, so that the flats will be level.

 

I have written a lot about building and construction work lately and about the need to have firm foundations. 

 

Sometimes that means levelling the ground - sanding down the bits that are too tall and building up the bits that are lacking.  Sometimes we have uneven ground and we need to fill in the gaps before we can start building.

 

The Bible talks about making the ground level -

 

      "Every valley shall be raised up,
      every mountain and hill made low;
      the rough ground shall become level,
      the rugged places a plain."

 

      [Isaiah 40:4 NIV]

 

I feel that I have needed to raise up lots of valleys and make a lot of rough ground level recently, so that I can start building again.  But I can't do it myself.  I need God to be my builder. 

 

 

 

 

 

Considerate Construction

I noticed this morning that there is a new sign on the building site opposite my flat: "Considerate Constructors".

 

According to the poster, their aim is to 'Improve the image of construction.'

 

I'm not quite sure what that will look like in practice [perhaps  fewer builder's bums around?]

 

However, the phrase 'Considerate Constructor' reminded me of this passage in Isaiah:

 

       "As a young man marries a young woman,
       so will your Builder marry you;

       as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride,
       so will your God rejoice over you."

 

       [Isaiah 62:5 NIV]

 

Isaiah compares God to a builder, to a constructor.  He describes how God's relationship with His people - with Israel - is not just of a husband and a wife, but of a builder who is lovingly restoring His people.

 

God is in the business of construction.  Construction and reconstruction.

 

However, whilst He is in the construction business, God is a considerate and compassionate and courteous builder.  He doesn't knock things down or bulldoze them or raze them to the ground and leave them.

 

He gently and patiently and lovingly restores us.

 

He is our Considerate Constructor.