The Old Testament if filled with the troubles of the world, the world as they knew it. I wonder what they would write about today, when the troubles of the world are tableaued in the same neck of the woods that it was so many years ago. It hurts my heart to realize that the same peoples are in conflict today as they were so long ago. And the fight is with swords and knives, yet with terrible weapons available of much more thorough destruction. I'm so sorry. Lord, that we have changed so little.
Ezekial 25:6 reads, "For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Because you have clapped your hands and stamped your feet, rejoicing with the malice of your heart against the land of Israel, therefore, I will stretch out my hand against you and give you as plunder to the nations. I will destroy you, and you will know that I am the Lord."
Do we not choose sides against one or the other of the nations at war? Every nation will choose for or against another nation. It is human nature.
The Study tells us: (The judgment here) "are God's judgments on nations that failed to acknowledge the one true God and fulfill the good purposes God intended for them. Nations were judged for different things; some because of their joy over the desecration of the temple, some found pleasure in the wickedness of other nations, some because of their racial hatred."
In today's world, we as Christians, must be careful to heed God's judgments made so long ago in a different, but similar time. We begin by not understanding the choice other nations may have to hate us, yet our nation is wealthy by comparison and far healthier. Secondly, we hate the choices other nations may make in their rebellion against or aggression toward other nations and people. We hate their pleasure at another nations difficulties and discomfort. And all of us suffer from racial hatred as it affects a response of some kind, good or bad, from each individual who sees or hears it. Yet, these are the very things which God judged so long ago.
Do we show anger, fear, sarcasm, or delight when other nations fail to find peace with each other? Or do we rejoice to see two nations reunite? Do we hate racial hatred? If not, we need to seriously pray for the generosity of ourselves and other nations to allow ourselves to rejoice in peace. We need to pray for each nation to find some joy in their circumstances that they may be proud people themselves and not yearning to be like some other nation or people.
Yes, we need to pray. Pray for other nations, especially for our enemies, that God will be their guide. And for our own nation, that we will once again be a nation of God! The world needs God's blessings, but we must learn to recognize those blessings and be truly thankful for them.
We also need to remember always to forgive. Forgiveness is so often forgotten, and when forgiveness is forgotten, grudges develop and the years go on in disharmony, or possibly, war.
We don't let our family suffer long over some incident which riled someone, nor should we let incidents between nations go long without forgiveness, either.
God's judgment will be felt by all unless we forgive, forget about retaliation, hope in and trust God, and pray.
Today is the first day of the rest of our lives, let us rejoice in it....
Jo in MN
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