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 1 Chronicles 6:15,
"Jozadak was deported when the Lord sent Judah and Jerusalem into exile by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar."
When Judah was overrun and Jerusalem destroyed by the Babylonians, it was the Lord's doing "by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar."
The simple answer as to why the Lord had his people defeated with a remnant shipped off to captivity was that they had sinned against the Lord. God's people had rejected him, abandoned him, and went their own way.
As we read the history of Israel with their God, we find that the Lord had to bring some changes to his people to prepare them for the coming of their Messiah. Through their sinful proclivities (which all mankind share in since the fall in the garden) they went the way of the pagan nations around them and worshiped and served false idols.
The impact of God's precise dealings with the nation can be seen in the gospel accounts where Israel rejected and repudiated all the nations around them, even the half-breed Samaritans. Although as a nation they ultimately rejected their Messiah, the imprint of God's dealings with them has remained a permanent part of the fabric of their national life. God hacked the nation of Israel.
"Jozadak was deported when the Lord sent Judah and Jerusalem into exile by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar."
When Judah was overrun and Jerusalem destroyed by the Babylonians, it was the Lord's doing "by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar."
The simple answer as to why the Lord had his people defeated with a remnant shipped off to captivity was that they had sinned against the Lord. God's people had rejected him, abandoned him, and went their own way.
As we read the history of Israel with their God, we find that the Lord had to bring some changes to his people to prepare them for the coming of their Messiah. Through their sinful proclivities (which all mankind share in since the fall in the garden) they went the way of the pagan nations around them and worshiped and served false idols.
The impact of God's precise dealings with the nation can be seen in the gospel accounts where Israel rejected and repudiated all the nations around them, even the half-breed Samaritans. Although as a nation they ultimately rejected their Messiah, the imprint of God's dealings with them has remained a permanent part of the fabric of their national life. God hacked the nation of Israel.
In Romans 11:25-26 Paul assures us that eventually the nation will embrace Jesus Christ as her Savior. "Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in, and in this way all Israel will be saved."
One thing I note in this passage is that the Lord often works through the agency of others. In this case it was "by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar." The Lord will often cloak himself in his doings such that an environment may exist to provide for the opportunity of faith to manifest itself in the hearts and lives of people.
Who might the Lord be working through in our day?
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.
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.
No comments:
Post a Comment