Oh wait. Was I talking about the Israelites or was I talking about America? Or, even worse, was I talking to myself--and maybe you, too? Oh, now, wait a minute. I am sure you do everything just the right way. Not only what God said in the Old Testament but His words through His Son, Jesus, in the New Testament. Or maybe, like me, you often fail.
God has a purpose and a plan for each of our lives. Jeremiah 29:11 says "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." He also has a bigger picture plan. God tells us what we need to know about family such as the relationships we have with our parents. Exodus 20:12 tell us, "Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee." And our spouse. In Colossians 3:18-19 the Bible says, "Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them." He tells us how to raise our children. Proverbs 22:6 says "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." He tells us even how to deal with those people we don't like so much. “But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.” Luke 6:27-28
But more than that--He gives us an order for things. And herein lies what I think is one of our biggest problems. We don't like His order. We don't want to do things the way He tells us to do them. We don't want to wait on His timing. Then we get all in a mess and our first cry out to Him is "Lord, why did YOU let me get into this mess? " Can't you just see Him shaking His head? Can't you just hear Him say, "Child, this mess is not of My making. I gave you free will to make all of your own decisions. You made these choices, not Me. You chose not to follow the directions I gave you. But I love you still because you are My child. And I am still here to help you."
Any toes getting stepped on here besides mine? Why are we so much like the Israelites that we think we know better than God does? Why have we as an individual or a society or a nation decided that God's plans are no longer valid. He tells us plainly the things He hates in Proverbs 6:16-19 "These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren." Yet we do these things--some of them daily.
He tells us exactly what He desires for us to do. He gives us an entire Book on how to live, what choices to make, how to serve. Yet, here we go again all free will and such and decide to just do our own thing. Where we often should have shame, we have a celebration. Where we should be falling on our faces in the presence of the almighty God and begging for forgiveness, we are posting pictures on social media. But this is not a surprise to the Lord either--2 Timothy 3:1-5 "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away." And you must admit that this is where we are in our nation. We have moved away from God's plan and inserted man's plan in its place. We want to forget what He says and do what we want.
So, perhaps I need to take it a little easier on the Israelites. Just like them, I (we) know exactly what God desires for and from each of us. And just like them we want to do it on our way. Think on that.
