"And it will be when you say, 'Why does the LORD our God do all these things to us?' then you shall answer them, 'Just as you have forsaken Me and served foreign gods in your land, so you shall serve aliens in a land that is not yours.' Declare this in the house of Jacob and proclaim it in Judah, saying, 'Hear this now, O foolish people, without understanding, who have eyes and see not, and who have ears and hear not: do you not fear Me?' says the LORD. 'Will you not tremble at My presence, Who have placed the sand as the bound of the sea, by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass beyond it? And though its waves toss to and fro, yet they cannot prevail; though they roar, yet they cannot pass over it. But this people has a defiant and rebellious heart; they have revolted and departed. They do not say in their heart, 'Let us now fear the LORD our God, Who gives rain, both the former and the latter, in its season. He reserves for us the appointed weeks of the harvest.' Your iniquities have turned these things away, and your sins have withheld good things from you." --- Jeremiah 5:19-25
A gigantic host of questions has been asked over the centuries as human history has run its course. These have come from persons of all ages and involve many subjects under a wide range of circumstances. Today is no different than a hundred or a thousand years ago -- questions in one form or another continue to be asked of someone somewhere in this world of despair.
For us in a republic known as the United States the time has not yet arrived when the BIG QUESTION will be asked -- but rest assured, there is a time coming when it will be asked and that time may be much closer than any of us would want to admit!
Oh, you are wondering what the BIG QUESTION is, that a huge majority will be asking? Well, it will be worded something like this:
"Why is God doing all these things to us?"
There may be a slight variation in the way it is worded, but it will be in reference to the same concern -- God is doing some most unpleasant things and people from all walks of life -- powerful politicians -- prestigious church leaders -- high and mighty persons of wealth and far reaching influence -- and a multitude in what is considered the insignificant and lower class of persons. All in a frantic chorus of high pitched voices calling out, "Why is God doing these things to us?"
It's not the first time it has happened -- centuries ago it happened in what is known as the ancient Israelite kingdom of Judah. After years and years of appeal to repent, turn from their idolatrous and immoral ways, and come back to God the response of the vast majority was one of rejection coupled with very negative reaction to the few issuing that call to return to God!
And so, after a series of chastising actions inflicted on the kingdom in an effort to wake it up to its perilous condition and the people crying out and asking the BIG QUESTION of their day (while refusing to repent), God brought a devastating judgment upon them -- it was total destruction and the end of the kingdom! The people were in such a hopeless condition spiritually and blind to truth that they no longer saw sin for the horrible and deadly thing it is! In a previous post I cited a reference to 2 Chronicles 36 -- I refer to it again and urge all who read this to take time to go to the Old Testament of the Bible and slowly read this account -- it summarizes in a very few words the basic formula as to how a culture comes to a devastating end and the clear reason for such an end!
Now then, since the nation of the United States is presently walking down the same road as did the ancient Israelite kingdom of Judah, and since we have always had access to God's special revelation of light and truth as did they, and since we insist on living our lives in constant defiance against God as did they, then we can expect a similar outcome, can we not? The big difference between us and those people of centuries ago is the fact that we have the total revelation which they did not at the time. So we, in a sense, are in far bigger trouble because of having that total revelation God has made available through His Spirit!
But even as the frantic question was asked, God was looking for a few persons who were sensitive to what was really happening and willing to "stand in the gap" -- read of His search and what He found in the latter part of Ezekiel 22. Are you willing to be one of the kind for which God was searching, or will you be among the BIG CROWD asking the BIG QUESTION at some point in the future?
By the way, just how long do YOU think it will be before that B. Q. is asked?
And if you say in your heart, "Why have these things come upon me?" For the greatness of your iniquity your skirts have been uncovered, your heels made bare. Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard its spots? Then may you also do good who are accustomed to do evil. "Therefore I will scatter them like stubble that passes away by the wind of the wilderness. This is your lot, the portion of your measures from Me," says the LORD, "Because you have forgotten Me and trusted in falsehood." --- Jeremiah 13:22-25
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