As I have been studying through the book of Isaiah, there are some remarkable insights all would do well to heed. King Ahaz of the southern kingdom of Judah faced the threat of advancing armies, and he considered what he would do. Instead of relying upon God alone and walking in obedience to His Word, Ahaz worshiped idols and made an alliance with Assyria. The prophet provided a sobering example of the northern kingdom of Israel in Isaiah 9:8-13: "The LORD sent a word against Jacob, and it has fallen on Israel.
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All the people will know-- Ephraim and the inhabitant of Samaria-- who say in pride and arrogance of heart:
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"The bricks have fallen down, but we will rebuild with hewn stones; the sycamores are cut down, but we will replace them with cedars."
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Therefore the LORD shall set up the adversaries of Rezin against him, and spur his enemies on,
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The Syrians before and the Philistines behind; and they shall devour Israel with an open mouth. For all this His anger is not turned away, but His hand is stretched out still.
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For the people do not turn to Him who strikes them, nor do they seek the LORD of hosts." In pride Israel did not turn to God in their trouble, and God stirred up enemies against them.
Countless nations and men have ignored God and His righteous counsel in dark days. While the world is facing a threat of jihadists and terrorism, governments are mobilising and strategising to deal with this threat. Guns, "radicalised" Muslims, and terror cell groups are seen as a massive problem. In my view, these amount to nothing. My chief concern is leaders and people of nations are not looking to God or His Word, nor is there repentance for our great sins before God. We can plan and strategise all we want, invest in state-of-the-art equipment, amass supplies of weapons, armour, and ammunition, but unless God fights for us we fight in vain. All I hear from politicians is what we are going to do about this growing threat. What can we do? Could it be that God is spurning on the enemies of nations who have turned their backs on Him?
In the wake of the shooting in San Bernardino, President Obama gave an address from the Oval Office. He said, "The threat from terrorism is real, but we will overcome it. We will destroy ISIL and any other organization that tries to harm us. Our success won't depend on tough talk, or abandoning our values, or giving into fear...Instead, we will prevail by being strong and smart, resilient and relentless, and by drawing upon every aspect of American power." Yikes. This is far from the wisdom King Hezekiah spoke in 2 Chronicles 32:7-8 concerning their enemies, "Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid nor dismayed before the king of Assyria, nor before all the multitude that is with him; for there are more with us than with him. 8 With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God, to help us and to fight our battles." There is no rest or comfort for me in the President's words which is found only through faith in God. Where is God in the President's plans? These great and swelling words lack any power whatsoever to eliminate threats of violence. Whenever a man says without an acknowledgement of God, "I will..." or "We will..." it smacks of the tone we hear of Lucifer in Isaiah 14:12-15: "How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations! 13 For you have said in your heart: 'I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.' 15 Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, to the lowest depths of the Pit." Lucifer's heart was lifted up, but God would bring Him low. Those who walk in pride God is able to abase.
President Obama then laid out a plan to snuff out the threat of terrorism by utilising the military and air strikes, providing training and equipment, working with friends and allies, to dialogue for ceasefires in Syria, and establishing stricter laws and background checks. What will these profit if we do not look to God first? He said in his concluding remarks, "My fellow Americans, I am confident we will succeed in this mission because we are on the right side of history. We were founded upon a belief in human dignity -- that no matter who you are, or where you come from, or what you look like, or what religion you practice, you are equal in the eyes of God and equal in the eyes of the law." From my view, the United States and all who look to them for help or hope are on the wrong side of history. Our resolve means nothing if we refuse the path of humility and repentance. When the men of Ai defeated Joshua, it was because there was sin in the camp which needed to be dealt with. They did not seek God's guidance and were afraid and overcome. God used the nations of Assyria and Babylon to defeat and take captive His own people as a result of their sin and rebellion before God, and the United States or Australia is in no way different. If we look to an arm of flesh to save us, how can that turn away the judgment of a Holy God?
The Midianites were a numerous and well-equipped people who oppressed and terrorised the Israelites for years. When God's people cried out to Him in their affliction, He raised up Gideon to deliver His people with a mighty hand. Aided by God in whom they trusted, 300 men armed with torches, clay pitchers, and shofars defeated the great host of Midianites - whose swords God turned upon one another. Could it be ISIS is being divinely aided - not by Allah but the Almighty I AM - to turn the weapons of nations against each other? History says God is able to use conflicts between people and nations to chasten His people to repentance so they might live. All are equal in God's sight, and He will not give the United States preferential treatment when it comes to sin. There is a divine reckoning coming for all who persist in their sin, and also for every nation that in pride lifts itself up to oppose God. God is patient and longsuffering, but the day of judgment will ultimately come.
Those who know God and are familiar with scripture know how it ends when a people forsake God and refuse the path of humility and repentance: they lose. How many loyal servicemen and women will die, how much more blood must be shed on city streets around the world until we come to our senses and repent before a just God? We cannot blame anyone but ourselves if we do not seek God in our times of affliction. President Obama concluded with, "God bless you, and may God bless the United States of America." God has blessed the United States, and a wake-up call is a blessing when your house is burning down around you. This post is not about blaming God or people, but an exhortation for each person to own his sins, repent, and return to the LORD. Daniel confessed and prayed for the sins of his people, and Christians ought to do the same when we recognise them. Hosea 6:1 urges us, "Come, and let us return to the LORD; for He has torn, but He will heal us; He has stricken, but He will bind us up." Let us return to the LORD! Sackcloth ought to be our strategy, and humble repentance before God must be our plan. Brandishing his spear did Goliath no good, for God enabled a shepherd to bring him down with a single stone. What man or nation can fight against God - and win?
Countless nations and men have ignored God and His righteous counsel in dark days. While the world is facing a threat of jihadists and terrorism, governments are mobilising and strategising to deal with this threat. Guns, "radicalised" Muslims, and terror cell groups are seen as a massive problem. In my view, these amount to nothing. My chief concern is leaders and people of nations are not looking to God or His Word, nor is there repentance for our great sins before God. We can plan and strategise all we want, invest in state-of-the-art equipment, amass supplies of weapons, armour, and ammunition, but unless God fights for us we fight in vain. All I hear from politicians is what we are going to do about this growing threat. What can we do? Could it be that God is spurning on the enemies of nations who have turned their backs on Him?
In the wake of the shooting in San Bernardino, President Obama gave an address from the Oval Office. He said, "The threat from terrorism is real, but we will overcome it. We will destroy ISIL and any other organization that tries to harm us. Our success won't depend on tough talk, or abandoning our values, or giving into fear...Instead, we will prevail by being strong and smart, resilient and relentless, and by drawing upon every aspect of American power." Yikes. This is far from the wisdom King Hezekiah spoke in 2 Chronicles 32:7-8 concerning their enemies, "Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid nor dismayed before the king of Assyria, nor before all the multitude that is with him; for there are more with us than with him. 8 With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God, to help us and to fight our battles." There is no rest or comfort for me in the President's words which is found only through faith in God. Where is God in the President's plans? These great and swelling words lack any power whatsoever to eliminate threats of violence. Whenever a man says without an acknowledgement of God, "I will..." or "We will..." it smacks of the tone we hear of Lucifer in Isaiah 14:12-15: "How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations! 13 For you have said in your heart: 'I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.' 15 Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, to the lowest depths of the Pit." Lucifer's heart was lifted up, but God would bring Him low. Those who walk in pride God is able to abase.
President Obama then laid out a plan to snuff out the threat of terrorism by utilising the military and air strikes, providing training and equipment, working with friends and allies, to dialogue for ceasefires in Syria, and establishing stricter laws and background checks. What will these profit if we do not look to God first? He said in his concluding remarks, "My fellow Americans, I am confident we will succeed in this mission because we are on the right side of history. We were founded upon a belief in human dignity -- that no matter who you are, or where you come from, or what you look like, or what religion you practice, you are equal in the eyes of God and equal in the eyes of the law." From my view, the United States and all who look to them for help or hope are on the wrong side of history. Our resolve means nothing if we refuse the path of humility and repentance. When the men of Ai defeated Joshua, it was because there was sin in the camp which needed to be dealt with. They did not seek God's guidance and were afraid and overcome. God used the nations of Assyria and Babylon to defeat and take captive His own people as a result of their sin and rebellion before God, and the United States or Australia is in no way different. If we look to an arm of flesh to save us, how can that turn away the judgment of a Holy God?
The Midianites were a numerous and well-equipped people who oppressed and terrorised the Israelites for years. When God's people cried out to Him in their affliction, He raised up Gideon to deliver His people with a mighty hand. Aided by God in whom they trusted, 300 men armed with torches, clay pitchers, and shofars defeated the great host of Midianites - whose swords God turned upon one another. Could it be ISIS is being divinely aided - not by Allah but the Almighty I AM - to turn the weapons of nations against each other? History says God is able to use conflicts between people and nations to chasten His people to repentance so they might live. All are equal in God's sight, and He will not give the United States preferential treatment when it comes to sin. There is a divine reckoning coming for all who persist in their sin, and also for every nation that in pride lifts itself up to oppose God. God is patient and longsuffering, but the day of judgment will ultimately come.
Those who know God and are familiar with scripture know how it ends when a people forsake God and refuse the path of humility and repentance: they lose. How many loyal servicemen and women will die, how much more blood must be shed on city streets around the world until we come to our senses and repent before a just God? We cannot blame anyone but ourselves if we do not seek God in our times of affliction. President Obama concluded with, "God bless you, and may God bless the United States of America." God has blessed the United States, and a wake-up call is a blessing when your house is burning down around you. This post is not about blaming God or people, but an exhortation for each person to own his sins, repent, and return to the LORD. Daniel confessed and prayed for the sins of his people, and Christians ought to do the same when we recognise them. Hosea 6:1 urges us, "Come, and let us return to the LORD; for He has torn, but He will heal us; He has stricken, but He will bind us up." Let us return to the LORD! Sackcloth ought to be our strategy, and humble repentance before God must be our plan. Brandishing his spear did Goliath no good, for God enabled a shepherd to bring him down with a single stone. What man or nation can fight against God - and win?
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