04/28/2022 -
What happens to us when we stray from God, and we place all manner of gods above Him? What happens when money becomes our god and the focus of our lives, or our sexual desires desecrate our bodies which are the temple of God, and what happens when any number of things turn us away from obeying God’s Word? Well, we are made to see how vile, and ruthless, these carnal gods truly are, and how much our souls suffer under them, until at last we return to prayer, and call out in the name of Jesus for God to place His hand back on us, and deliver us.
“But when the people of Israel cried out to the Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer for the people of Israel, who saved them, Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother.”
Judges 3:9 ESV
We fall quickly into sinfulness, and God’s wrath comes just as suddenly, but the lesson of our transgressions takes time to learn, and God’s wrath is not easily satisfied. Both must run their course before we are saved from the darkness that we find ourselves the prisoners of.
“And the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. They forgot the Lord their God and served the Baals and the Asheroth. Therefore the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia. And the people of Israel served Cushan-rishathaim eight years.”
Judges 3:7-8 ESV
We are constantly facing temptation as Satan places various gods before us and paints them to appeal to us, and look beautiful, but after we have fallen to them, and chosen to worship them, the rain comes, and the colors run from their surface to reveal what lies beneath. Then we are shaken, and suffer, just as the Israelites beneath the hand of Cushan-rishsthaim. God lifts His hand and allows us to give ourselves into the hand of our chosen desire… and it has its way with us.
“And the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. They forgot the Lord their God and served the Baals and the Asheroth.”
Judges 3:7 ESV
But once our faith has been rekindled, when we have suffered enough, and our prayers have called out sufficiently to Him, He will see our adherence to His Word, obedience to His commandments, and hear us calling out in the name of Jesus… He will declare our victory over sin, and He will forgive us, answering our prayers with His rest.
“So the land had rest forty years. Then Othniel the son of Kenaz died.”
Judges 3:11 ESV
Are we being tempted to place something, or someone, above God? If so then we should quickly immerse ourselves in God’s Word, and tell Satan to “Get thee behind me!”, but if we have already slipped into the clutches of some false god, then it is time to return to our knees in prayer, and worship our one true God. We need to weep in repentance, and call out in the name of Jesus until the wrath of God is satisfied, and His grace overcomes in us what we once thought to be more pleasing to us than Him. Our war is spiritual, but often the wounds inflicted are deep, and felt in this world… Pray for the healing of body, and soul, and know that our true God has not abandoned us.
Prayer:
Father, thank you for being with us always, and for loving us, and remaining with us, even when your wrath is upon us. Thank you for your Son Jesus, your Holy Spirit, and your Word, for the power they exert in our bodies, and souls. Thank you for leading us in this way to humble ourselves before you in contrition, and to a new and strengthened faith. Thank you for giving us patience and perseverance in our remorse and heartfelt prayers as we worship you through the ebbing of your anger, and wrath. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our one true God who’s Son intercedes for us, and is the instrument of your love, salvation, and grace in our lives. Praised be your name as you lift us up from before the false gods we find ourselves kneeling before. Merciful are you to extend your hand to us despite the filth of sin we are covered with. Sufficient is your grace that flows through Christ, and washes us sparkling clean with His blood. We pray Heavenly Father, that your anger subside, and your wrath be satisfied by our faith in your Son Jesus, and that we be ushered into an eternal rest in you.
Rich Forbes