The why of this mess?

The hand of the Lord was heavy against the people of Ashdod, and he terrified and afflicted them with tumors, both Ashdod and its territory. And when the men of Ashdod saw how things were, they said, “The ark of the God of Israel must not remain with us, for his hand is hard against us and against Dagon our god.” So they sent and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines and said, “What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel?” They answered, “Let the ark of the God of Israel be brought around to Gath.” So they brought the ark of the God of Israel there. But after they had brought it around, the hand of the Lord was against the city, causing a very great panic, and he afflicted the men of the city, both young and old, so that tumors broke out on them. So they sent the ark of God to Ekron. But as soon as the ark of God came to Ekron, the people of Ekron cried out, “They have brought around to us the ark of the God of Israel to kill us and our people.” They sent therefore and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines and said, “Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it return to its own place, that it may not kill us and our people.” For there was a deathly panic throughout the whole city. The hand of God was very heavy there. The men who did not die were struck with tumors, and the cry of the city went up to heaven. (1 Samuel 5:6–12)

Just prior to this, the Philistines defeated Israel and captured the Ark of God. They put it in a building that housed their idol, but the next day the idol had fallen face down before the Ark. They stood it up but the next day it fell again and its head and hands broke off. These people realized something greater than their idol was among them.

Nearly every day in world news there are tragic stories where people have died, fearful events like mudslides, floods, fires, horrendous accidents, deadly weather, and the like. Most people react with concern, pity, outrage, or sorrow. Many will apply for aid — and get it, but stories of suffering never end.

I’ve wondered if God is behind it with a heavy hand? Entire cultures or people groups have rejected Him. Is He wanting their attention? Their fear of Him? Or do we who preach the love of God assume that good news will soften hard hearts?

I cannot surmise, guess, or assume anything, but from OT stories like this one, and from personal experiences, I know that He can make Himself known to those who mock Him with their superstitions, idols, and notions that they can overpower Him or His people with the power of their so-called gods. 

Even though we are to share the love of Christ, would sharing His wrath agains sin make a difference? even in the weather? Some say simply being thankful would change the world. 

Jesus, I know the stubbornness in my own lazy heart, even with You in my life and the power of the Holy Spirit to bring in love, peace, joy, and all goodness. Those who do not know You cannot live that way and many only turn to You when horrid things happen. I don’t blame people, even leaders, fate, bad luck, or global warming for tragic events that are the result of fists being shook in Your face. But I also do not blame God for ignoring the cries of those who refuse to receive His grace.

God reveals the things we need to know…

 

We woke this morning to a cold house. Our furnace quit during the night. It is -21o Celsius outside with a windchill and was colder than that all day yesterday. I’m thankful for wool sweaters and the promise of a repair person to come soon. 

I’m also thankful for a big-picture God. He gives me this to think about right now:

The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near. (Revelation 1:1–3)

Most people are fearful of this last book of the Bible. It begins with this promise though, so I will look for that blessing and even read it aloud. Here is more good news:

John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen. “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” (Revelation 1:4–8)

Before writing anything, John heard a voice and saw Jesus:

When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this. As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches. (Revelation 1:17–20)

It gave me joy to realize that Jesus explained to John what he was seeing. This Jesus whom I trust does not always explain the things that I see or that happen to me, but what I need to know, He is willing to make known to me. 

For your servant’s sake, O Lord, and according to your own heart, you have done all this greatness, in making known all these great things. (1 Chronicles 17:19)
You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. (Psalm 16:11)
The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law. (Deuteronomy 29:29)

Some things that Jesus explains in today’s reading include a warning not to abandon the love I have for Him, but continue to love Him and show it in the way I live.

I’m also not to fear suffering, even being persecuted to death. I’m not to deny faith in Christ or fall into legalism or false teaching, but remain faithful to what I know and hold fast to Him, listening to His words and waiting for Him and whatever He invites me to do. 

John saw a scroll and many angels declaring only Jesus is worthy to open it because of His death and resurrection. He also heard all creatures worship Him. 

Next, Jesus releases riders on horses to conquer, to take peace from the world, to control food supplies, and to slay one fourth of the earth. He also revealed those slain for their faith, saying more would join them. A great earthquake follows with destruction and all crying that the wrath of God had come. 

PRAY: Jesus, the descriptions in this last part are not pretty, but my desire for justice feels an odd anticipation. You will deal with all sin and evil in those who call on rocks and mountains to hide them from You. No hiding. No one will stand unless they stand with faith in You. I feel sorrow for them, yet am at peace that Your holy plans will happen. 

I’m also thankful for the small stuff — a quick cleanup of a frozen vent and our heat came back on. I’m so thankful that Your will for our good also never changes.

Not getting what I deserve

 

READ 2 Kings 9–13

I keep asking the Lord to give me a single thought each day, something practical, but He continues to show me a pattern in these OT books, a large truth that brings either conviction or joy. Today, I see the trend of evil being thwarted by God often through others who often were just as evil. The stories are gross in detail yet I realize that apart from the saving grace of God, I am no less deserving of the same end.

First, Jehu came to Jezreel and Jezebel “painted her eyes and adorned her head” to address him from a high window. He told servants that were on his side to, “Throw her down and they threw her down. And some of her blood spattered on the wall and on the horses, and they trampled on her.” He had a meal then said she was a king’s daughter and should be buried, “But when they went to bury her, they found no more of her than the skull and the feet and the palms of her hands. When they came back and told him, he said, ‘This is the word of the Lord, which he spoke by his servant Elijah the Tishbite: In the territory of Jezreel the dogs shall eat the flesh of Jezebel, and the corpse of Jezebel shall be as dung on the face of the field in the territory of Jezreel, so that no one can say, This is Jezebel.’ ” (2 Kings 9:30–37)

As sickening as this is, I realize that apart from Jesus Christ taking my sin and dying for me, I should receive no less a fate. My sins are different from hers, but sin is sin and worthy of wrath.

Jehu wasn’t finished. He called for the death of all who remained of the house of Ahab in Jezreel, all his great men and his close friends and his priests. He had Ahab’s sons beheaded, and left none remaining. (10:4–11) Then he “met the relatives of Ahaziah king of Judah” and had all forty-two of them slaughtered. After that, he “struck down all who remained to Ahab in Samaria, till he had wiped them out, according to the word of the Lord that he spoke to Elijah.” (10:13–17)

Then he tricked the prophets of Baal by pretending to align with them. He called for an assembly and when all of them “entered the house of Baal, and the house of Baal was filled from one end to the other” he said to the guard and to the officers, “Go in and strike them down; let not a man escape.” These pagan worshipers were killed and their place of worship burned and used as a latrine. (10:18–27)

Yet even in all this, “Jehu was not careful to walk in the law of the Lord, the God of Israel, with all his heart. He did not turn from the sins of Jeroboam, which he made Israel to sin. In those days the Lord began to cut off parts of Israel. Hazael defeated them throughout the territory of Israel.” (10:30–32)

Jehoiada the priest continued to deal with Baal worshipers and evil leaders, instructing Jehoash, the boy made a king in Judah, to do “what was right in the eyes of the Lord all his days” because Jehoiada the priest instructed him. (12:2) But God’s anger was “kindled against Israel, and he gave them continually into the hand of Hazael king of Syria and into the hand of Ben-hadad the son of Hazael.” However . . .

Jehoahaz sought the favor of the Lord, and the Lord listened to him, for he saw the oppression of Israel, how the king of Syria oppressed them. (Therefore the Lord gave Israel a savior, so that they escaped from the hand of the Syrians, and the people of Israel lived in their homes as formerly. Nevertheless, they did not depart from the sins of the house of Jeroboam, which he made Israel to sin, but walked in them; and the Asherah also remained in Samaria.) (13:3–6)

Then Elisha died but the power of God was with his remains. When a burial was interrupted by a marauding band of Moabites, the body was “thrown into the grave of Elisha, and as soon as the man touched the bones of Elisha, he revived and stood on his feet.” (13:20–21)

I identify with the sinners in these accounts, but also realize the power of God to deal with sin and deliver His people according to His plan. No one earns or deserves mercy, yet because of Jesus, God will not have me thrown out a window, eaten by dogs, slaughtered by sword or spear, or given over to any enemies. He kindly convicts me of sin like a father corrects his child, and blesses me with the assurance that I am forgiven. Reading these stories brings me to worship and puts peace in my heart. I cannot think of anything more practical than that!