The Sin of the People

The Sin of the People

Read 1 Ezekiel 20:5-26

Reflection: Hard Truth  (Ezekiel 22:17-22)

1. How do you think suffering can strengthen your relationship with God?
2. Have you experienced pain that drew you closer to God?
3. What would it be like for you to embrace the difficult things of your life today-physical pain, a strained relationship or a major disappointment-as part of God’s redemptive work in you?

I never really knew what it felt like when God poured out his wrath upon you. I have always considered myself to be saved. I was baptized when I was seven and have always belonged to one church or another. But I have only recently developed a relationship with God. It is only recently that I began to grow and mature by fasting and praying daily. Before, if I was going through something I would worry about how things would turn out, or even try to alter the outcome in my “favor”. I may get angry or even lash out, but it never felt like God was angry at me. I didn’t direct my dissatisfaction towards him, nor did I pray about it. I tried to fix it myself. Now, it just feels different. This situation feels like an attack; a storm that has arisen out of nowhere; without any warning. I have gone to God prayerfully today asking what I should do now. Not just for my own sake but for those around me who are in pain and turmoil. I believe that I have seen the wrath of God. I do not know its cause or place of origin; I just know that it hurts like nothing I have ever experienced before. The thing is, now I know that God is the only one who can fix this. When I looked around and saw the anguish of the people over a situation that was out of their control, I asked God why? How could this happen to a group of people who do so much good for so many people even when they are struggling themselves?  In response to today’s reflection, it is so appropriate for this time, but it must be meant for someone else because I am at a loss for words. I realize that we must go through painful things to get closer to God, but this pain is so new and fresh that I cannot begin to say how I will grow from it. I can only pray that growth is possible for me and those around me and that the devastation of certain events is not so severe that someone who is just beginning their walk with Christ is unable to recover from it.

There was a passage in today’s reflection that read: ”God loves what he created but he will pour out his righteous wrath as a reflection of that love. Sin alters the created order so significantly that it leads to the sickness, disease, sadness, stress and fatigue that we experience. ” But…”suffering can point us to God’s power to console and redeem.” I pray that as we are melting in this fiery furnace of God’s wrath that we are recreated in his image and become newer, stronger creatures who are able to reflect Gods transforming love to the world. God's wrath is one of those hard truths that we must live with, but his Grace is Amazing.

Related Readings

Psalm 103: 1-22

Zechariah 7:8-14

Revelation 20:1-14

Why Do The Wicked Prosper?

Many Kings Fail

Read Jeremiah 1-17

Reflection: Why do the Wicked Prosper?

1.   What situation has caused you to wonder why the wicked prosper?
2. When you’re tempted to question God’s actions, what steps can you take to remember his wisdom?
3. What assurances do you have that God will render his justice one day?

Lately it seems that the prosperity of the wicked is more and more short lived on earth. With today’s twenty-four hour news cycle we very quickly hear about those who swindle the poor out of their hard earned savings, sell drugs to those who are most vulnerable and shoot maim and kill innocent children. I rarely watch the news anymore because it is so disheartening. I saw a story on the news last night about the Taliban hunting down a fourteen year old Pakistani girl on the bus and shooting her in the head because she desires that she and her female peers receive an education. These people will be brought to justice. When I do see these people, flying in their private jets, living an opulent lifestyle on the backs of others, I simply think about my father’s riches in Heaven. When I see the wicked prosper, I know that what they consider prosperity is not why we are here. I don’t become envious, or desirous of what they have because I know that if they are wicked, their wickedness will be revealed and God will deal with deal with them accordingly. I am always amazed by things that I thought would destroy me, and that were meant for my destruction by others were turned into a blessing. And those who sought to prosper from my suffering lost everything. That is why I know God is the only Justice in the world. He’s over every State, Federal, District and Circuit court. When I see the wicked prosper, I just sit back and watch God go to work, in my life and theirs. Just when they think they have reached the pinnacle of success, God reminds them that He is still the giver of all prosperity and if you soul is not alright it doesn't matter how many things you have, how big your house is, how much money you have in the bank, where your kids go to school or what kind of car you drive. THESE THINGS DO NOT EQUAL PROSPERITY.  You see, for me prosperity is in the eye of the beholder. What the world sees as prosperity may be a mask for the strife and turmoil that is going on in that person’s soul. I don’t believe that the wicked can prosper. They may give that appearance, for a while. But eventually, no crime, wicked thought or deed will go unpunished. God said so in Luke 18:7-8 “And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” So I don’t worry about the prosperity of others, nor their justice because I know that God’s got it. 

Related Readings

Job 21: 7-21;

Psalms 73:1-28

Proverbs 11:21-23