25 Nov Pearls are Healed Wounds

PEARLS ARE HEALED WOUNDS

16 Days of activism against Sex and Gender-Based Violence

The narrative's background is about the Israelites' exodus on their way to the land God had promised them. In this narrative, I want to draw special attention to vs 22-27.

The Israelites were led by a chosen leader of God. They believed in God’s ability to save (Jehovah-Hoshe’ah) and deliver them from the Egyptians and the ten plagues. They didn’t doubt his ability to cross over the red sea, which, in turn, they rejoiced in a song, but now,72 hours later, the writer informs us that they had forgotten about the mighty hand of God and had begun to complain. As we had previously heard many times, the Israelites were ungrateful and were a nation of little faith despite the mighty works of God.

However, from a perspective of trauma and deep woundedness, I beg to differ. I would like to argue that they were deeply wounded people by trauma, oppression, and suppression. Slavery was their custom, culture, and normality. It was not so much their physical slavery but a mental one which happens to be the most difficult and complex one to recover from. The biological brain is an ecosystem of its own, and there are complex intricacies that, when compromised, lead either to selfdestruction or self and social dysfunction.

Exodus 15:1-27

In this narrative, God was dealing with traumatised or, should I say, wounded people. In our contemporary Christian culture, individuals who have suffered trauma from SGBV have deep-rooted wounds and difficulty with self-actualisation and social engagement. It is as if God cannot do more than just love and save them from the fires of hell.

Personally, the key verse in this narrative is v. 26. There was an immediate need for water from vs 22-25, and I found God’s response striking in verse 27. The Lord identified a need for healing in the quest for water. The Israelites were not crying for healing but for water. God responded to their brokenness, saying, “I will heal you”. God responded to their misguided view that he is more than a deliverer and one of the mighty wonders. He is a God that can heal your soul and spirit and sees past the adapted character and personality because wounded and traumatised individuals are often trapped where the trauma has taken place, and not very many recovers and heals from the incident. They adapt characters and personalities that are not their authentic selves and also have a vivid perception of God, which is limiting to theology that God loves you and can save you!

Pearls are healed wounds. When a grain of sand gets into an oyster shell, it is the shiny substance called nacre which the grain enters. The cells go to work and cover the grain of sand with layers to protect the oyster’s defenceless body. As a result, a beautiful pearl is formed. An oyster that has not been wounded in any way does not produce pearls because a pearl is a Healed Wound. Is SGBV despicable and uncalled for? Indeed! Nevertheless, there is healing. Jesus is the ultimate oyster which has been wounded for our healing and offers that healing!

prayer

God, our heavenly parent, thank you for your extended hand to reach out and heal us. We believe that the redemptive work of cavalry is never in vain. We accept your redemption and will be healed in Jesus’ name. Amen!

for further thought

How can you turn your wound with his grace and mercy into a pearl?

Belinda Crawford

University of KwaZulu Natal

Notes

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