Isaiah 35: Redeeming our Tears
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But he was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are healed.
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Hundreds of years before Christ, Isaiah prophesied the Savior would redeem our suffering.
For Indians, this is more than pretty words.
Consider the story of Tsali, a Cherokee chief. Federal Troops came to drive the people from their homes, and Tsali and his family were driven out at gunpoint. When his wife needed to stop to tend to the needs of their baby, there was a scuffle. The baby was killed and Tsali’s wife was wounded. In retaliation, he and his family killed the soldiers, then fled into the hills.
A bitter stalemate followed. At last, Tsali and his sons negotiated a settlement. They would sacrifice themselves so the soldiers could save face. In return the government would withdraw from Cherokee land.
At the appointed hour Tsali and his sons came forward to freely give their lives so their people could be free.
Tsali was a real person and his sacrifice was real, but it took on mythic stature. You see, Tsali is short for “Tsalagi.” In English, you know that word as “Cherokee.” So Tsali came to embody the spirit of the Cherokee people. His sacrifice made the people whole and set them free.
Tsali is the Cherokee example of God’s sacrificial love in action, but every Native group has similar stories. We do not have time today to talk about Selu, Deganawidah, Tecumseh, Pontiac, Crazy Horse, Black Kettle, Wovoka, or Leonard Peltier. Suffice to say that there are countless stories of Native people who laid down their lives that others might have life.
God does not call all of us to lay down our lives in a spectacular way. However, we are all called to follow the path of sacrifice that others might be free. God who redeems us also redeems our tears.
People of EVERY nation are here today because of the sacrifice of those who came before us. Our lives are proof they did not sacrifice in vain. God is still redeeming those tears.