The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, and majestic in his radiant splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Ezekiel 21:1-5,
"Son of man, set your face against Jerusalem and preach against the sanctuary. Prophesy against the land of Israel and say to her: 'This is what the Lord says: I am against you. I will draw my sword from its scabbard and cut off from you both the righteous and the wicked. Because I am going to cut off the righteous and the wicked, my sword will be unsheathed against everyone from south to north. Then all people will know that I the Lord have drawn my sword from its scabbard; it will not return again.'"
As I read the words of this prophecy the phrase comes to mind, "politically incorrect". In today's world the discussion among the nations would be "Unilateral, bilateral or multilateral?" The concept of destroying a people, no matter how well deserved, has become something of an "anathema" in our day.
Negotiation is the way of our day. Reason and understanding, possibly some education is the way. But this is not the tack that the Lord took with Israel and her surrounding neighbors. They were warned of impending judgment and destruction if they persisted in a life of rebellion and sin against him and having had ample time to repent without doing so they were destroyed. Jerusalem was leveled and its inhabitants yielded to either captivity, famine, sickness at the Lord's hand, or put to the sword. He destroyed Judah and Jerusalem as they had existed. A little over a hundred years earlier he had destroyed the northern ten tribes of Israel.
So, have we "evolved" now past the Lord? He tells us he is "the same yesterday, today and forever." Since he didn't employ the craft of the diplomat and reason with Israel and her surrounding neighbors to arrive at some acceptable settlement but rather resorted to violence, has mankind now come to a superior point where we view God's actions with disdain?
I think not. I find in my God action that is always appropriate and effective. My perspective is he knows a few things we do not. He knows mankind has an amazing facility for delusion. We are artful in deceiving ourselves and accepting that which is abhorrent and abominable. Those who find repugnant the use of force to eliminate those who engage in horrific acts are often engaged in it themselves.
We deceive ourselves all too easily and at times divine wisdom has dictated the removal and/or elimination of the wicked and rebellious. Whether through the flood in Noah's day, the judgment of Israel and her neighbors, or the future judgment the world will see in the Day of the Lord, our God's actions are always fair, just and appropriate!
As I read the words of this prophecy the phrase comes to mind, "politically incorrect". In today's world the discussion among the nations would be "Unilateral, bilateral or multilateral?" The concept of destroying a people, no matter how well deserved, has become something of an "anathema" in our day.
Negotiation is the way of our day. Reason and understanding, possibly some education is the way. But this is not the tack that the Lord took with Israel and her surrounding neighbors. They were warned of impending judgment and destruction if they persisted in a life of rebellion and sin against him and having had ample time to repent without doing so they were destroyed. Jerusalem was leveled and its inhabitants yielded to either captivity, famine, sickness at the Lord's hand, or put to the sword. He destroyed Judah and Jerusalem as they had existed. A little over a hundred years earlier he had destroyed the northern ten tribes of Israel.
So, have we "evolved" now past the Lord? He tells us he is "the same yesterday, today and forever." Since he didn't employ the craft of the diplomat and reason with Israel and her surrounding neighbors to arrive at some acceptable settlement but rather resorted to violence, has mankind now come to a superior point where we view God's actions with disdain?
I think not. I find in my God action that is always appropriate and effective. My perspective is he knows a few things we do not. He knows mankind has an amazing facility for delusion. We are artful in deceiving ourselves and accepting that which is abhorrent and abominable. Those who find repugnant the use of force to eliminate those who engage in horrific acts are often engaged in it themselves.
We deceive ourselves all too easily and at times divine wisdom has dictated the removal and/or elimination of the wicked and rebellious. Whether through the flood in Noah's day, the judgment of Israel and her neighbors, or the future judgment the world will see in the Day of the Lord, our God's actions are always fair, just and appropriate!
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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