Usually when I think of the trafficker I focus my attention on justice. I really don't care much for them. I'm angry. I want them locked up, put away, and unable to harm precious lives. I really haven't considered much their need for healing, their need for peace, and for freedom of a life without greed.
As I've been grappling with the enormity of pain and evil in this world, God put this word before me.
Build up, build up, prepare the road! Remove the obstacles out of the way of my people. For this is what the high and lofty One says--he who lives forever, whose name is holy: I live in a high and lofty place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the spirit of the contrite. I will not accuse forever, nor will I always be angry...I was enraged by his sinful greed; I punished him, and his my face in anger, yet he kept on in his willful ways. I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will guide him and restore comfort to him.-Isaiah 57:14-18
For all the traffickers:
Today I see YOU. I see you breaking hearts and homes. I see you tearing communities apart. I see you leading others to gates of hell experiences. I see you hard in the face of tears, screams, and death. I see you harming. I see YOU. I see your wallet growing. I see your greed growing. I see your guilt. I see you wash it away with drugs and alcohol and dollar bills. I see your lust. I see your anger. I see your pain. I see your double spirit. I see the chains on your own hands. I see the darkness on your own heart. I see you trapped, all wrapped up in this sin. I see blood on your hands. I see children you have sought to destroy that I have covered in my love. I have collected every tear of pain cried out because of your willful ways. I have every account before me. I have seen your ways. You need healing. There is no peace for you without me.
I blog for Exodus Road, a non-profit coalition that empowers rescue from sex slavery through fueling investigations and interventions.
What in interesting perspective and a good reminder that God calls all kinds of people to Himself. Have you read John Newton's testimony? He would fall under the category of a trafficker...and it's amazing to read how God transformed his life!
ReplyDeleteThanks Hannah for the recommendation, I'll have to check that out! Oh what a lack of grace I have had.
DeleteI pray for the ending of human trafficking in our prayer room often. We need to pray more for the traffickers, for they are loved of God and His desire is that they would walk in the light of His truth and be free of this lust, greed and bondage that holds them. Thanks for writing this post.
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