The United States just suffered through the hottest July on record. The result has been huge crop losses in numerous states with resulting financial devastation for many. The twelve million people of Manila have just suffered terrible flooding from torrential rains with thousands of people trapped without drinking water or food.
God taught his people in the OT to see what we call "natural disasters" as part of God's permissive will. He knew and knows how prone we are to exert our independence; to assert our self reliance; to plan and act without consulting God. When God allows "natural disasters" to strike, He expects wayward believers to be humbled and repentant before Him.
Through the prophet Joel, God rebuked His people for failing to respond when disaster came upon them. In Joel chapter 4, one condemning phrase tolls like a warning bell five times: "yet you have not returned to me, declares the Lord." God had allowed Israel, at different times to suffer and experience food shortages, drought, locust infestations, etc. These disasters should have made their need of God so obvious and resulted in humility and prayers of repentance and commitment. Yet even in times of pain and need, they had failed to turn to God.
God finally says through Joel: Since you would not voluntarily respond when I tried to get your attention, "Prepare to meet your God, O Israel." Joel 4:12 Now it is too late. This is not a plea for repentance. This is now a warning: get ready for God's judgment; the calamity that He is about to bring on the nation.
Not too many decades ago, (OK, quite a few decades ago), if the USA was going through serious drought, their would have been public appeals for national prayer. The vast majority of the nation believed they were "one nation under God." But when hearts grow hard it seems no disaster can bring repentance and humility. No matter what God may do or allow, nothing works.
I have witnessed people with Christian heritage endure one, two, or more very painful life experiences. Yet apparently it does not occur to them to turn back to God. When hearts become spiritually hard, it seems nothing works; nothing can cause a return to the waiting Father.
"Oh God, we pray for responsive, humble, soft hearts - for ourselves, our loved ones and for others."
God taught his people in the OT to see what we call "natural disasters" as part of God's permissive will. He knew and knows how prone we are to exert our independence; to assert our self reliance; to plan and act without consulting God. When God allows "natural disasters" to strike, He expects wayward believers to be humbled and repentant before Him.
Through the prophet Joel, God rebuked His people for failing to respond when disaster came upon them. In Joel chapter 4, one condemning phrase tolls like a warning bell five times: "yet you have not returned to me, declares the Lord." God had allowed Israel, at different times to suffer and experience food shortages, drought, locust infestations, etc. These disasters should have made their need of God so obvious and resulted in humility and prayers of repentance and commitment. Yet even in times of pain and need, they had failed to turn to God.
God finally says through Joel: Since you would not voluntarily respond when I tried to get your attention, "Prepare to meet your God, O Israel." Joel 4:12 Now it is too late. This is not a plea for repentance. This is now a warning: get ready for God's judgment; the calamity that He is about to bring on the nation.
Not too many decades ago, (OK, quite a few decades ago), if the USA was going through serious drought, their would have been public appeals for national prayer. The vast majority of the nation believed they were "one nation under God." But when hearts grow hard it seems no disaster can bring repentance and humility. No matter what God may do or allow, nothing works.
I have witnessed people with Christian heritage endure one, two, or more very painful life experiences. Yet apparently it does not occur to them to turn back to God. When hearts become spiritually hard, it seems nothing works; nothing can cause a return to the waiting Father.
"Oh God, we pray for responsive, humble, soft hearts - for ourselves, our loved ones and for others."
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