All fall short…

But they would not listen, but were stubborn, as their fathers had been, who did not believe in the Lord their God. They despised his statutes and his covenant that he made with their fathers and the warnings that he gave them. They went after false idols and became false, and they followed the nations that were around them, concerning whom the Lord had commanded them that they should not do like them. And they abandoned all the commandments of the Lord their God, and made for themselves metal images of two calves; and they made an Asherah and worshiped all the host of heaven and served Baal. And they burned their sons and their daughters as offerings and used divination and omens and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the Lord, provoking him to anger. Therefore the Lord was very angry with Israel and removed them out of his sight. None was left but the tribe of Judah only. (2 Kings 17:14–18)

When reading passages like this one, a question comes into my head that would horrify most Christians. Did God “remove” Israel out of His sight for rejecting Jesus by using the horror of the holocaust? 

This question is considered a theological interpretation rather than a widely accepted scriptural doctrine because there is no evidence in the NT that God would deal with His people that way. His desire was that the good news of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ would go out to the world, to the Jew first and then the Gentiles. When the first disciples followed that pattern, eventually the people of Israel rejected it, so they turned to the Gentiles.
And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles. For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, “ ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ” And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed." (Acts 13:46–48)

Many see the holocaust as only about the Jews. But besides, the six million Jews who were murdered, others were also put to death who had no historical involvement with the crucifixion. The only commonality is that all are sinners just as I am even though Roma and Sinti were targeted on racial grounds, people with disabilities were considered "unworthy of life" and a threat to genetic health, Polish and Soviet Civilians, Soviet Prisoners of War, political opponents such as Communists, Socialists, and Social Democrats, Jehovah’s Witnesses, homosexuals, “Asocials" and Social Outsiders including the homeless, prostitutes, alcoholics, and those deemed to be "professional criminals” as well as black people, and anyone else considered "racial enemies," "biological threats," or "enemies of the state” were targeted. 

As for all being sinners, the NT says, “the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ is for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. . . .” (Romans 3:22–24) 

Another issue is that the OT speaks of unbelieving people who prosper in this life, yet will not have eternal life, yet their ‘punishment’ for rejecting God is not mass execution, but an eternity in  torment.

Not everyone thinks this was a horrible event. A Jehovah Witness (a cult that imitates Christian without faith in Christ) told me that they feel honored to have been “persecuted for their beliefs.” While that seems weird, it is a NT truth that those who believe in Christ (which excludes cults) are to rejoice when others persecute them:

“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you." (Matthew 5:11–12)

Certainly the ways of God are above our normal ways of thinking. Yes, it is horrible that millions of people were put to death by others who hated them for various reasons, yet thinking God allowed this to happen to punish them does not make it right. I tend to agree with those who say that we ask the wrong question. Instead of trying to figure out why some are being punished and others receive eternal life, we should wonder why anyone is saved. 

Jesus, when Christians decry the evil that others do, it is best that I respond with, “Yes, yet I am a sinner too” and praise You for Your mercy in forgiving me and giving me life. I don’t want to use the sins of others in an effort to make me look more righteous than they are. Except for Your amazing grace, all deserve to die.

 

Emotional highs and lows

It’s been a week of challenges for my attitude and emotions. Prayer for great needs and experiencing great answers to prayer, feeling helpless and experiencing God’s help, great fatigue yet God’s rest and renewal to keep going. Last night my hubby wanted us to watch a movie. It was a war story based on true events and I usually avoid those but watched it with him. I couldn’t sleep. I kept thinking of two little Jewish boys in the movie being loaded on a boxcar along with that bin of shoes in the Holocaust Museum in Washington DC.

Part of the night was spent in prayer. I confessed to God the guilt of all humanity for our callous cruelty to one another. World War II is only part of it. The daily news is full of it. I felt broken by the movie and those thoughts and the dreams I had after finally falling asleep. I cannot imagine surviving actual events like these when I am not able to deal with a mere movie about them.

Yet God blesses me with this morning’s verse of the day — a great promise from the Lord:

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10)

Concentration camp survivor Corrie ten Boom tells of her fears. She was uncertain about the future and God was not giving her any assurance. Her father reminded her that when they took a train trip, they received the ticket just when they needed it, not before, and that God was like that. She would get the strength when needed, not ahead of the need.

This truth is a learning curve for all of us. In the last part of Philippians, Paul told the church in that city that he was happy about their care for him, yet he had learned something about being needy:

I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:10–13)

He had learned . . . another learning curve because his contentment is not our natural reaction to the demands of life. He learned to be content, not because he didn’t think about the future but because he had learned about God’s care, God’s promises. He knew that God would give him his ticket when he needed it, not before. In that confidence, he rested and relaxed. He didn’t worry about good or bad events for God is in them and would uphold him with His righteous right hand.

The emotions I’m feeling are different from what they would be had I been at that train station watching people being taken to camps and gas chambers. Nevertheless, they are strong emotions. I need to turn to God’s promises and focus on His grace to give me what I need when I need it. Will I soon get over my dismay and feelings of sorrow about what I saw on the screen and in my dreams? I do not know. What I do know is that God is showing me His great heart for the horrors of human suffering. Before Christ came into my life, I didn’t know what godly sorrow felt like.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Dearest Lord Jesus, Paul also wrote that he suffered loss that for a reason: “I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death.” Perhaps my deep emotions are Your way of helping me to know You better, to know how You suffer over the folly of sin and the way it destroys our lives. One thing is certain — I’m feeling a greater desire than ever to intercede for others, for believers who suffer and especially for those who are lost and in need of Your great grace.

Today’s thankful list . . .

Freedom to sleep as long as needed.

Hot baths (this will be often on this list).

A long walk through the pedways downtown.

O Henry chocolate bars.

The ability to fix some computer problems.

More rain (we must need it or we would not be getting it).