Hebraic Musing – Might God Use Drastic Measures to Get Our Attention?
When I published the
musing “Are ‘acts of god’ really acts of GOD?” in 2011, many thought it can’t
apply because we serve a loving God who would not do those things to His
people. If a parent does not apply
discipline, sometimes drastic, to get a child’s attention, is the parent really
showing love to the child?
Let us explore what scripture tells us about the disciplining actions
His children required. (from NIV)
·
Exod. 11:5-7 – “Every firstborn son in Egypt will die from
the firstborn son of Pharaoh, who sits on the throne, to the firstborn son of
the slave girl …”. Pharaoh did not
listen so in v.9 the wonders multiplied!
·
Gen. 18:14 – “Is anything too hard for the LORD? I will
return to you at the appointed time next year and Sarah will have a son.” And Sarah laughed but God promised a
‘wonder’.
· Jonah – Spent three days
and nights in the whale’s belly until God had his attention.
· Exod. 4:1-7 – Moses’
staff becomes a snake and his hand becomes leprous. God had Moses’s attention!
·
Num. 20:8 – “Take the staff… Speak to that rock
before their eyes and it will pour out its water. … Moses … struck the
rock twice with … Water gushed out, and the community … drank. But the LORD said to Moses
… “Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of
the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.”
Is being deprived of the that ‘goal’ a
drastic measure?!?!
·
Lev. 10:1-7 – “Aaron's sons Nadab and Abihu took their
censers, put fire in them and added incense; and they offered unauthorized
fire before the LORD, … So fire came out from the presence of the
LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD. … Aaron
remained silent.” Interesting that
Aaron remained silent when his two sons died.
God had made His point!
·
Num. 16&17 – “…they moved away from the tents of Korah,
Dathan and Abiram…Moses said, ‘This is how you will know that the LORD has sent
me to do all these things and that it was not my idea’ … the ground under them
split apart and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them …” The people learned a lesson!
· Num. 25 – Zimri was
killed for worshipping Baal, and 24,000 were killed by plague.
· 2 Sam. 12:18 – David
lost his son, conceived in sin. I know
that personally the loss of a child will get one’s attention. I lost a 10-month-old daughter and have experienced
the impact on our family.
·
After the
Jews returned from Babylonian exile, they no longer worshipped idols! They learned their lesson!
· 400 silent years – from
Malachi to Matthew. Do you think God
enjoyed cutting off communication with his wayward children?
· John 3:16 – “God
so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son,” to us.
And in Matt. 27:45-50 GOD DID THE
MOST DRASTIC ACT POSSIBLE, permitting the crucifixion of His own Son. God did the most drastic act of all to get
our attention. Did He get yours?
(Drafted
before Election results were in.) How
bad might it get for America, and why?
Are we relying on Trump to be our savior; or are we to recognize Jesus
as our LORD?
Many have been saying that
America is ripe for judgement. God brings judgement on His
people two ways - (1) using foreign
enemies to take over; and (2) allowing internal corruption and ungodly behavior
to destroy the heart and soul of a nation from within. We lost our moral compass a long time ago. Prophetic dystopian novels written years ago warned
us – “1984”, “Animal Farm”, “Fahrenheit 451”, “Brave New World”, etc.
We look for a Godly leader, but
isn’t a Godly Church more important? Our government is designed to be
representative of the people; how can we expect God-fearing leaders if they are
elected by lost non-believers. Those in
power reflect the people who voted for them.
Which is the most important – Our American citizenship or our Kingdom
citizenship?
Could our problem be lack of
persecution? In a “Persecuted” country, a Pastor corrected
someone praying for relief from persecution.
He reminded them “It is because of
persecution that the church in our country is growing.” As we reflect on the comfortable nature of
churches in America, have we pursued “nickels & noses” so that our churches
are attended by a blend of sheep and goats, believers and non-believing
pretenders? Matt. 25:32-33 “All the nations
will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another
as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his
right and the goats on his left.” Do the sheep need to
be separated from the goats today?
So, is
it time for a “Reset” in America’s Church (capital “C”)? Do we need an “Awakening” like the first,
second and third ones that caused people to commit their lives to the Lord and forsake
their ungodly lifestyles?
Points
to ponder
What have we done
to preach, share and stand for the Gospel?
Do we now
find more people ready to talk about “End Times” possibilities?
Are we
Christians willing to openly question the ungodly behaviors around us?
Are we willing to pay the price, tolerate persecution, if necessary?
Have we done enough yet to warrant or bring on persecution?
Is it easier
to tell if a flashlight is “on” in a lighted room or a dark room? Is yours on?
♫ This
little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine, Let it shine, all the time,
let it shine, All around the neighborhood, I'm going to let it shine! … Hide it
under a bushel? No! I'm going to let it shine … ♫
Yosef
a.k.a. Joe Brusherd
November 12, 2024
Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages
exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith”
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)” Weekly “Hebraic Musings”
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