Military Threat as a Tool in God's Toolbox - 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 heart and mind in 2 Kings 15:37,

"In those days the Lord began to send Rezin king of Aram and Pekah son of Remaliah against Judah."

Judah experienced difficulties with Aram and northern Israel. King Jotham had his challenges in foreign affairs. I note the words, "the Lord began..." It was the Lord's doing that Judah had her problems with the northern ten tribes and Aram.

It is often thought the Lord wants us all here on earth to behave and "get along" with one another, all living in peace with one another. That is not what I read of and it is not how the Lord has revealed himself in the pages of Scripture.

In account after account I read of the Lord pitting one nation against another as he pursues his own agenda. The simple-mindedness of globalism and peaceful coexistence is a concept not shared by our Creator. In fact, we are told the reason God instituted nations among mankind was for a specific purpose he pursues, "so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us." Acts 17:27. God is pursuing us.

Why does our Creator do this? "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. It is through national identity that provides the context for nations to rise up against one another. It is this very frustration that will hopefully drive us to seek a refuge, a hope, a felt need to be saved.

If we lived in the world John Lennon described in his song "Imagine", we would all be lulled into feeling that this life, as a bed of roses is, in fact, a bed of roses and we just might be lulled into finding our fulfillment in a sense of well-being that belies God's coming judgement of us for our sins. He is drawing us to himself and helping us sense our need of his salvation by disrupting us in the fog of our estrangement from him.

Judah had gone astray... and we have as well. All mankind has gone astray and this is one way the Lord helps us, motivates us, to seek a refuge in him through our Savior Jesus Christ. He disrupts our lives, and often brings frustration and fear to us, to draw us to himself.

There is little in life that can compare to a looming military invasion to drive people to seek refuge.

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.