February 24, 2018 Saturday

“‘And if by these things you are not reformed by Me, but walk contrary to Me, then I also will walk contrary to you, and I will punish you yet seven times for your sins. And I will bring a sword against you that will execute the vengeance of the covenant; when you are gathered together within your cities I will send pestilence among you; and you shall be delivered into the hand of the enemy. When I have cut off your supply of bread, ten women shall bake your bread in one oven, and they shall bring back your bread by weight, and you shall eat and not be satisfied. ‘And after all this, if you do not obey Me, but walk contrary to Me, then I also will walk contrary to you in fury; and I, even I, will chastise you seven times for your sins. You shall eat the flesh of your sons, and you shall eat the flesh of your daughters. I will destroy your high places, cut down your incense altars, and cast your carcasses on the lifeless forms of your idols; and My soul shall abhor you. I will lay your cities waste and bring your sanctuaries to desolation, and I will not smell the fragrance of your sweet aromas. I will bring the land to desolation, and your enemies who dwell in it shall be astonished at it.” (Leviticus 26:23-32 NKJV)

            Does this passage horrify you?  Does this make you think that God is a terrible and angry God?  Then maybe as a radio person used to say “now here is the rest of the story”.

            God had rescued the people of Israel from slavery and in the process crushed one of the most power nations.  They saw the amazing power of God and not only were they set free but the people of Egypt wanted them gone so much they gave some of their wealth to Israel.  But right away they started to complain.

            In what was supposed to be a time of discipleship as they approached the land promised by God over and over Israel whined and failed to be disciple.

            Even when they got to the land and God helped them conquer fortified cities they gave up and settled for so much less.  They started worshipping gods like molech and even sacrificed their children to these gods.  The abundant food and provision from God was sacrificed to these gods even within the very Temple that was to house God’s presence among them.

            If you look at the list of things God is going to allow to happen or do to them we can see it is where they have taken God’s provision and blessing and used it worship the horrific gods around them.

            This passage ends with the amazing statement that the enemies of Israel will be astonished.  Israel had come from slavery and had marched into the land and God had put a fear in the hearts of those Israel would face.  Now these same nations saw these same people degenerate and become helpless prey!

            Someone once said that as Christians we are either prayed for or preyed on.  Which are you?

            I rested most of the day so I could go to Grandmommy’s birthday party.  Thanks to God for I made it through the meal and was able to go to her house for the party.  It was such a good time and it was so good to be there.  But I was so weary and then did not sleep well.  But thanks to God that I was able to be there!