2 Kings 17:7-20 excerpts All this took place because Israel had sinned against the LORD their God … The Israelites secretly did things against the LORD their God that were not right. … They did wicked things that aroused the LORD’s anger. They worshiped idols, though the LORD had said, “You shall not do this.” … But they would not listen and were as stiff-necked as their ancestors, who did not trust in the LORD their God. … They imitated the nations around them although the LORD had ordered them, “Do not do as they do.” … Only the tribe of Judah was left, and even Judah did not keep the commands of the LORD their God. They followed the practices Israel had introduced. Therefore the LORD rejected all the people of Israel; he afflicted them and gave them into the hands of plunderers, until he trust them from his presence.
Today’s text isn’t some fluffy, ooey-gooey, feel-good, happy thought. It is a message of caution and warning not only for those living some 2000+ years ago, but for us today. How did all the trouble start? Secretly. Just secretly slipping in a few things here and there, barely noticeable. Things that seemed appealing at the time. The concept was: Oh yes, we will worship the LORD our God, but we don’t want to offend our neighbors, so let’s just add their cultural gods and practices as well. After all, we’re neighbors and we should be tolerant.
God never wanted a robotic people forced to worship him. He wanted a willing people to recognize him as the ONLY one and true Almighty God. He desired a people who would willingly love, honor, and obey him. He desired a people who would remain true and faithful and who would refuse to yield to the idol-worship and the polytheistic practices of others no matter how enticing. He desired a people who would not yield to the temptation for compromise—a people who would stand firm.
Israel’s main problem? Oh, they knew better! They had been repeatedly warned. Yet they just couldn’t resist because as the old cliché goes, The grass is always greener… From the secretive beginnings of slipping in a few things that they fully knew were not right or pleasing in God’s sight, Israel grew to become a nation thrust from God’s presence.
Fast-forward some 2000+ years and here we are in America. Where do we stand in this story line? I fear that we are far beyond the initial “secretly slipping in a few things” stage and fast approaching the “thrust from his presence” end result unless we take heed. Yet there is hope, there is always hope.
Acts 10:34-35 Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.”
Acts 20:21 I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.
Romans 3:22-25 This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith.
1 Peter 2:10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
Dear friends, God is still waiting for a people to willingly choose to love, honor, and obey him. Will we be that steadfast and devoted people for whom he is waiting? The choice is ours.
Gracious Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your written word that teaches us what happens when history repeats itself. You have always desired a willing people. Forgive us in the many ways we fall short, and grant that we might be, first as individuals and collectively as a nation, the people who willingly choose to serve you. Guide our steps and keep us from following the whims of those who deny you.
In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, Amen.
The devotional When History Repeats Itself appeared first on Write From My Heart at writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com
email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com
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