History has a way of repeating itself, doesn’t it? Unless we are absolutely dedicated to following the Word and teaching of our Father, mans selfish ways begin to lead. Where self exists, so do patterns of evil and destruction.
Yesterday I began reading through the book of Jeremiah. Here’s the background: The people of Israel (a nation set apart as God’s followers) stop following the One true God. They no longer place a priority on Him or His commands. Instead, they have adopted other ways and other gods from the cultures around them. No longer do the people of God look or act any different than the people that God moved out from the land.
As a result, and from His great love for His people, God sends out prophets to speak truth and try to make the people aware of what they are doing. He is trying to provide them with yet another chance to return to Him. God’s hand of blessing and His presence, will not be upon those who are living in disobedience to Him.
Yet even with warnings, reminders, and prompts, Israel wants to continue and does continue in whatever they want to do. They continue to disregard what God says, and embrace the other cultures gods and customs.
Sound familiar? It should. Are we not repeating it now? Picking and choosing some of God’s word – perhaps only in an effort to try and maintain His blessing – but not really wanting Him. Skewing the word and trying to justify that the word no longer applies to us…
When things go wrong, we then justify our separation from God and His ways blaming Him for not stepping in a protecting us from evil. A shooting takes place, where was God? Thousands of children are taken and their bodies are sold, why isn’t God preventing it? Natural disasters occur and hundreds or thousands of lives are lost, did God not see, or care? If God is really who He says He is, why does He do nothing? He must not be real. He must not be more than any other god.
“You shall have no other God before me.” We have. We do. And then, as it says in Jeremiah 2:29 “Why do you accuse me of doing wrong? You are the ones who have rebelled,’ says the LORD.” He also says: “Has any nation ever traded its gods for new ones, even though they are not gods at all? Yet my people have exchanged their glorious God for worthless idols! They heavens are shocked at such a thing and shrink back in horror and dismay,” says the LORD. For my people have done two evil things: They have abandoned me – the fountain of living water. And they have dug for themselves cracked cisterns that can hold no water.” (v. 11-13)
God will not and cannot bless our disobedience. Our sin. He cannot. He is too holy and too wise to do so. But God is also a God of great mercy and compassion. “Therefore, go and give this message to Israel. This is what the LORD says: ‘O Israel, my faithless people, come home to me again, for I am merciful. I will not be angry with you forever. Only acknowledge your guilt. Admit that you rebelled against the LORD your God and committed adultery against Him by worshiping idols under every green tree. Confess that you refused to listen to my voice. I, the LORD, have spoken!” (Jeremiah 3:15)
God wants to treat us as His children. He wants to bless us. He desires to be close to us. He will faithfully do so, but only if we make Him our God and focus.
It is not too late. History repeats, but so does the faithful, merciful love of our Heavenly Father. “My wayward children,’ says the LORD, ‘come back to me, and I will heal your wayward hearts.” (Jeremiah 3:22a) For it is “Only in the LORD our God” that “Israel will ever find salvation.” (v. 23) It is only in the LORD our God that we will ever find salvation.
Let’s learn from history, not repeat it.
Blessings!