In times like these <3
This has been a rather full week for me and yet I am thankful to have had time to continue my annual Bible read through. I am finishing up the book of Jeremiah and at the same time mid-way through a summer study of Nehemiah. It is so interesting to be reading about Nehemiah and the Jews rebuilding the walls and returning from exile at the same time I am reading about Jeremiah prophesying God’s word to King Zedekiah and the people. Interesting and extremely sad.
Time and again, Jeremiah tells the King to surrender and all will be well. He warns him to submit to God’s sending of the Chaldean’s as a measure of discipline for the waywardness of His people. But when the Babylonian army breaks through, the King and his closest people flee. The army captures them, kills his family in front of him, gouges out his eyes and then burns the city of Jerusalem to the ground.
Now I understand that surrendering to the invading powers would not have been a walk in the park. But God gave specific and clear instructions numerous times to submit to the discipline and things would end better. Obedience to God would mean a different outcome to Zedekiah personally and to his subjects. However; choices made brought consequences to an entire nation and devastating results to Zedekiah’s story.
I can’t help but think about the situations we are facing right now. It would seem that God has pulled back His hand of prosperity and protection from our nation. Will we seek His direction in how to live obediently through a time of great trial and testing as a nation? Or will we, like Zedekiah, refuse. I am not speaking to the powers that be in the world system here. I am speaking to those who call themselves God’s people through the redemption of Jesus Christ.
He has great advice for how to live in these times. Will we heed it, or flee because we think we know better?
Next week on the blog, I will be doing the annual VBS and we will look at some of the things God has spoken to guide us through times like this.
Blessings.
Remember He knows the end from the beginning.
He’s got this. Hang close to Him <3