God caught by surprise? - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing,
majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of
him and what came to my mind and heart in Judges 3:7-8a,

"The Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord; they forgot the Lord
their God and served the Baals and the Asherahs. The anger of the Lord
burned against Israel..."

The history of Israel can be discouraging to read through. From the
historical perspective of the Scriptural accounts we see the nation
making horrific choices in turning from God to pursue the wickedness
and idol worship of the peoples they now live among. We are told,
"They [the Israelites] took their daughters in marriage and gave their
own daughters to their sons, and served their gods." Verse 6. These
are the very people God commanded the Israelites to annihilate due to
the level of depravity they had sunk to.

Do I think God was caught by surprise at how his own chosen people
turned on him? Not in the least. "I am God, and there is none like me.
I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is
still to come. I say, 'My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I
please.'" Isaiah 49:9c-10.

With the nation of Israel, God is showing - declaring to the world -
the depravity of the human heart. It is not just Israel. It is all
mankind. Through Israel's history the sinful heart of mankind is on
display - even when a people enjoys God's favor! As Paul quotes Psalms
and Ecclesiastes, "There is no one righteous, not even one; there is
no one who understands;there is no one who seeks God. All have turned
away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does
good, not even one." Romans 3:10-12.

Paul makes an insightful observation about Israel's history, "These
things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings
for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come. So, if you think
you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall!" Israel's
history is God's curriculum for us concerning the sinful nature of the
deceitful hearts of all mankind. We won't seek salvation if we don't
know we need it.

It is people with such depraved hearts that God loves. He loves man so
much he sent his Son to pay the penalty for all mankind's sins. "He is
the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for
the sins of the whole world." 1 John 2:2. In an unfathomable love for
all of us God had the Son of his love, the Son of his heart, come and
die a miserable death that we might have an opportunity to join God's
own family!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share
what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to
hear from you!

Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com