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 heart and mind in Micah 2:6,
"'Do not prophesy,' their prophets say. 'Do not prophesy about these things; disgrace will not overtake us.'"
As the Lord raised up prophets, such as Micah and others, to warn Israel of his coming judgement of the nation, others spoke up, claiming to speak for God. They had a different message. In verse eleven the Lord calls them liars and deceivers. These false prophets told the people what they wanted to hear.
The rebellious folks of Israel had no stomach for word of pending judgment from the Lord. What they wanted to hear was "plenty of wine and beer", verse 11. While any of us might prefer such a message, when it is a false message, and one falsely attributed to God, how detrimental! Listening to the wrong message left Israel in a position of certain destruction from God as they ignored God's ordained prophet with his ordained message for something else they wanted to hear.
I suspect it is just natural for those caught up in sin to only listen to what they want to hear, rather than the truth. However, the truth is exactly what these people needed to listen to in order to avoid God's coming wrath. This is exactly the state of affairs today. People caught up in sin reject the truth for what it is that affords them the illusion that God's judgement is not coming.
Today, as in Micah's day, folks need to hear of God's coming wrath. They need to hear that the only hope they have is in Jesus Christ who paid the penalty for their sins. Without that payment on their account with God, they will have to face God's coming wrath all alone. The only way to secure that payment on their behalf is to embrace him in faith.
How sad that so many today reject God's message for something else they want to hear. Jesus spoke of this to Nicodemus when he said, "This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed." John 3:19-20.
"'Do not prophesy,' their prophets say. 'Do not prophesy about these things; disgrace will not overtake us.'"
As the Lord raised up prophets, such as Micah and others, to warn Israel of his coming judgement of the nation, others spoke up, claiming to speak for God. They had a different message. In verse eleven the Lord calls them liars and deceivers. These false prophets told the people what they wanted to hear.
The rebellious folks of Israel had no stomach for word of pending judgment from the Lord. What they wanted to hear was "plenty of wine and beer", verse 11. While any of us might prefer such a message, when it is a false message, and one falsely attributed to God, how detrimental! Listening to the wrong message left Israel in a position of certain destruction from God as they ignored God's ordained prophet with his ordained message for something else they wanted to hear.
I suspect it is just natural for those caught up in sin to only listen to what they want to hear, rather than the truth. However, the truth is exactly what these people needed to listen to in order to avoid God's coming wrath. This is exactly the state of affairs today. People caught up in sin reject the truth for what it is that affords them the illusion that God's judgement is not coming.
Today, as in Micah's day, folks need to hear of God's coming wrath. They need to hear that the only hope they have is in Jesus Christ who paid the penalty for their sins. Without that payment on their account with God, they will have to face God's coming wrath all alone. The only way to secure that payment on their behalf is to embrace him in faith.
How sad that so many today reject God's message for something else they want to hear. Jesus spoke of this to Nicodemus when he said, "This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed." John 3:19-20.
Sure, I would love to hear that God is promising plenty of wine and beer, but that is not the message. When my eternal existence is hanging on what I listen to, I want to know of God's coming judgement, as much as I hate to hear of it. I also want to know how I can leverage God's love for me by escaping his wrath for my sin and how I can have a place in his family.
How about you? There are plenty of voices out there... who are you listening to?
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!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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