July 17, 2015
There is an unalterable pattern, seen throughout human history with God and nations. People follow Him and know the blessing and protection of God. When they turn away, God removes His protection, allowing enemies to come and destroy.
This is God's judgment and is intended to bring them to repentance and back to blessing. It is like pain to the human body, which is a system designed to warn us that what we are doing is hurting us and needs immediate attention and adjustment. It is not a complicated process. Anyone who observes and believes in God can understand this.
A BOLD PROPHET
Israel was at such a time in the book of Jeremiah. Jeremiah was warning them of the impending judgment of God.
“Behold, I am bringing a nation against you from afar, O house of Israel,” declares the Lord. “It is an enduring nation, it is an ancient nation, a nation whose language you do not know, nor can you understand what they say. Their quiver is like an open grave, all of them are mighty men. They will devour your harvest and your food; they will devour your sons and your daughters; they will devour your flocks and your herds; they will devour your vines and your fig trees; they will demolish with the sword your fortified cities in which you trust. (Jeremiah 5:15-17)
A CURRENT ILLUSTRATION
Just this week, enemies from an ancient nation and people have again attacked our nation, killing a group of military personnel and shaking the foundation of peace in our land.
Such attacks are increasing. Fifty such attacks have been aborted recently, a government official tells us, and warned us that they cannot all be stopped. He is speaking prophetically without knowing it.
When we, as a nation, make decisions completely and blatantly contrary to what God has designed and say, ""We do not want your Word or Lordship in our lives!"" the Lord lets us eat the fruit of our way. His protection is removed and we are defenseless against “enemies from the north.”
It is pure arrogance to think that we are immune to enemies because of our great military and strength. Pharaoh said that...and thousands of godless leaders in history.
We enjoy the blessings of God when we surrender to the Lordship of God. To ignore Him is to ignore the source from which all of these blessings come. If we do not repent as a people we will see greater and greater judgment. How proud and foolish to think that we are not in the same situation now as Sodom and Gomorrah or countless other nations who have forsaken God.
As spiritual leaders it is our job to be the voice of God’s loving reason to people. “If you consent and return you will eat the best of the land,” Isaiah said, but added, “But if you refuse and rebel you will be devoured by the sword. Truly the mouth of the Lord has spoken” (Isaiah 1:19-20)
How can we be silent? How can we not observe the obvious ways of God and not urge our people to extraordinary prayer and full repentance?
We are not immune.
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