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 1:12,
"Those who live in Maroth writhe in pain, waiting for relief, because disaster has come from the Lord, even to the gate of Jerusalem."
Micah's message is not just for the northern ten tribes of Israel, but for the southern two as well. Maroth was a town probably not far from Jerusalem. As Micah prophesied the coming destruction of Israel by the Assyrians at the hand of God, mention is made of this town.
The folks in Maroth were suffering. Micah's prophecy tells us the pain was so great, the folks were writhing in it and looked for relief. In short, it was a disaster from the Lord these folks fell into. It brings to mind Hebrews 10:31, "It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God."
How do we square this action of the Lord, his bringing pain and destruction to people, when we read of his great love for man? How does our Creator both love man and inflict this kind of pain on man? In John 3:16 we read that God loved man so much he sent his Son to die a miserable death to pay the penalty for all of our sins. How can God, who would send his Son also send pain and destruction like this?
To know the answer to this requires us to understand what God's agenda is for us all in this life. This life has one chief purpose: God is building his kingdom, his family. Anything and everything that impinges upon that agenda will bring action from our Creator. Nothing will stop God's campaign of redemption for all who will embrace him in faith. This life is all about God building his family, his kingdom.
Israel, God's "covenant people", had prostituted themselves in turning from God to serve idols. Idol worship, of course, leads folks away from their Creator and Author of salvation. God is not going to build his family out of a people who reject him, who turn from him and he will not allow those who do so to thwart his program of redemption. Not only had these folks rejected God, they had also placed themselves in a position where the agenda of God's redemption was not going to be furthered through the direction they had taken.
Therefore, we read of the Lord stepping into human affairs and making course corrections for the direction things were going. Because Israel, in this failed spiritual condition, was no longer useful in moving God's program of redemption ahead, they now found themselves subject to painful changes the Lord took to ultimately get things back on track.
I am reminded of what Paul wrote to the church in Rome, "The creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God." Romans 8:20-21.
"Those who live in Maroth writhe in pain, waiting for relief, because disaster has come from the Lord, even to the gate of Jerusalem."
Micah's message is not just for the northern ten tribes of Israel, but for the southern two as well. Maroth was a town probably not far from Jerusalem. As Micah prophesied the coming destruction of Israel by the Assyrians at the hand of God, mention is made of this town.
The folks in Maroth were suffering. Micah's prophecy tells us the pain was so great, the folks were writhing in it and looked for relief. In short, it was a disaster from the Lord these folks fell into. It brings to mind Hebrews 10:31, "It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God."
How do we square this action of the Lord, his bringing pain and destruction to people, when we read of his great love for man? How does our Creator both love man and inflict this kind of pain on man? In John 3:16 we read that God loved man so much he sent his Son to die a miserable death to pay the penalty for all of our sins. How can God, who would send his Son also send pain and destruction like this?
To know the answer to this requires us to understand what God's agenda is for us all in this life. This life has one chief purpose: God is building his kingdom, his family. Anything and everything that impinges upon that agenda will bring action from our Creator. Nothing will stop God's campaign of redemption for all who will embrace him in faith. This life is all about God building his family, his kingdom.
Israel, God's "covenant people", had prostituted themselves in turning from God to serve idols. Idol worship, of course, leads folks away from their Creator and Author of salvation. God is not going to build his family out of a people who reject him, who turn from him and he will not allow those who do so to thwart his program of redemption. Not only had these folks rejected God, they had also placed themselves in a position where the agenda of God's redemption was not going to be furthered through the direction they had taken.
Therefore, we read of the Lord stepping into human affairs and making course corrections for the direction things were going. Because Israel, in this failed spiritual condition, was no longer useful in moving God's program of redemption ahead, they now found themselves subject to painful changes the Lord took to ultimately get things back on track.
I am reminded of what Paul wrote to the church in Rome, "The creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God." Romans 8:20-21.
We tend to think of a life well-lived is a life rich in purpose, meaning, fulfillment, and, at the more base levels, satisfaction, pleasurable distractions, toys, the "American Dream" and so on.
Precisely, a life well-lived is any life that finds us entering into God's family, having a place at his table, eternal life, eternal pleasures at God's right hand (Psalm 16:11), a share in the inheritance for all those who are his. This is what this life is all about... God is building his family, his kingdom for these very things.
An act of love on God's part is not to let us wallow in sin and rebellion, no matter the satisfaction or pleasure it might bring. If we have placed ourselves opposed to embracing God in faith, seeking him, he will do all that is necessary to provide us every opportunity to reach out for him. Unfortunately, given our sinful condition, this often involves pain and suffering. Pain and suffering from the hand of our loving God who does not want us distracted from eternal life by the limitations of what this life has to offer.
Often, God has to bring folks to their knees.
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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