The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Isaiah 17:12-14,
"Woe to the many nations that rage—
they rage like the raging sea!
Woe to the peoples who roar—
they roar like the roaring of great waters!
Although the peoples roar like the roar of surging waters,
when he rebukes them they flee far away,
driven before the wind like chaff on the hills,
like tumbleweed before a gale.
In the evening, sudden terror!
Before the morning, they are gone!
This is the portion of those who loot us,
the lot of those who plunder us."
"Woe to the many nations that rage—
they rage like the raging sea!
Woe to the peoples who roar—
they roar like the roaring of great waters!
Although the peoples roar like the roar of surging waters,
when he rebukes them they flee far away,
driven before the wind like chaff on the hills,
like tumbleweed before a gale.
In the evening, sudden terror!
Before the morning, they are gone!
This is the portion of those who loot us,
the lot of those who plunder us."
In this prophecy of the destruction of Damascus we see a number of nations embroiled in military conflict. The northern tribes of Israel had aligned themselves with Syria and now threatened Judah. This motivated Judah into looking at Assyria to bond with. It would seem to me the dark spiritual forces of evil were looking to nullify God's use of Israel as his vehicle to bring about the redemption of mankind. The northern ten tribes were no longer "in the game" so to speak, and to have the southern two tribes unite with Assyria would accomplish the same. But God...
God's purposes are never thwarted. There would be a future for the nation and the history of it is just fascinating to read about. It is amazing how God works out everything according to his plans!
The thought I had this morning is completely unrelated to the events Isaiah speaks of. As I read the above verses I couldn't help but recall all the violence, burning, looting and plundering we in America experienced in the summer of 2020. For those who keep an eye on international news, people do crazy things all over the world. These verses appear to fit what people do from time to time. I wonder if these people today who fit the description in verse 12 might experience what those people back in Isaiah's day experienced as described in verses 13-14?
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!
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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 reply and let me know.
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