Scott doesn’t know the price of milk
Anthony can’t recall the RBA interest rate
Adam says you can Google it
There’s been a string of gotcha questions asked at press conferences recently, all aimed at embarrassing our political leaders. As someone who faces a weekly (albeit less aggressive) question time, it makes me ache with empathy for them and wish that they had the post-it on the lectern with all the details.
It’s a bit silly when you think about it: Why should Scott Morrison know the price of bread? Even people who buy it all the time don’t necessarily keep that detail in their heads, and I think we’d like our leaders to be focussing on the affairs of the nation rather than popping down to Coles. Why should Anthony Albanese keep the interest rate in his head? In government you have a slew of advisors and public servants who wouldn’t let you make major policy decisions based on your mere recollections.
What we want our leaders to remember in a democracy, is us. They can find out everything else. What matters is that they don’t forget us before they make decisions.
Last Sunday we heard God speaking though Isaiah 49. He asks:
"Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne?
God is comparing his relationship with us to a breastfeeding mum. All those physiological things that happen within a new mother that make her enamoured with her child. God is saying, “I’ve got that for you.”
And before our mind even has a chance to think “Well…” and then mentally list examples of terrible mums, God cuts that thought short and says,
“Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands […]”
If you are ever inclined to wonder if God has forgotten you, that you are unimportant to him, that his saving work at Easter doesn’t cover you – then know that all he has to do is look down at his nail marked palm and see your name.
Grace & peace,
Steve