Consider the history, a people called of God would turn their backs upon the very one who had set them apart as His own. It would be a repeating story throughout the history of mankind. From the earliest rivalry between Cain and Abel, the story repeats itself; because deep within the hearts of all, sin crouches at our doorway. Yet, amid all the conflicts, divisions, and battles created by prideful hearts; God has stood faithful to save aside remnant. Those who would worship Him; and it is for their sakes, God would preserve His people. He provided for them and all who believe, a Savior who came and paid the ultimate price for all the sins. He would take upon Himself the sins of all the world; so, as to preserve a remnant on whom He could lavish His love and joy within their hearts.
The minor prophets: Nahum, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah continue this message of warning to all who turn their backs upon God. Beyond their warnings, they tell of hope for all who would worship God. Isaiah, who came before these minor prophets; spoke very clearly the warnings, while foreshadowing all of God’s mercy, grace and love to save all who would follow Him.
DIVISIONS WITHIN THAT WEAKEN
“And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand” (Mark 3:25). Pride, jealously, and anger rang true throughout the history of God’s people. Hearts rebelled; because of sin. This had been the case betwixt Esau and Jacob. Also, Jacob’s sons carried on with jealously, pride and anger. Ten brothers burned with this anger, as they rose up and sold Joseph into slavery; while, tolerating their younger brother Benjamin. Ultimately, they were brought to their knees through famine, leading them to humble themselves before the one brother who truly worshipped God. However, despite God having saved them from the famine, the Jewish nation remained in Egypt long enough to become enslaved by that empire and God would once more save them when they turned their hearts to worship Him.
That same division and rivalry continued down through the ages, ultimately leading to the nation of Israel being divided into two during the reign of Jeroboam I and Rehoboam. As a divided nation, the tribes were open to being destroyed by surrounding nations, who easily invaded. Indeed, there was a time when the tribes would battle each other. Throughout, there were those who would continue to worship God; a remnant, whose hearts called out to God.
ISAIAH 1: 2-4,9
Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the Lord hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me. The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master’s crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider. Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the Lord, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward.
Except the Lord of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah.
The nation would face peril and near extinction; because of their sin. However, a remnant would remain faithful; and threw them, the Messiah would come to offer salvation to all who would accept this gift of Grace offered by Almighty God.
A Call for Divisions to Cease:
In fact, before the nation was sieged by Assyria; one king would call upon the entire nation to return to worship God. That King was Hezekiah. He rebuilt the temple, fortified the walls and
Called upon all the tribes to unite in worshipping God. He pleaded,
Now be ye not stiffnecked, as your fathers were, but yield yourselves unto the Lord, and enter into his sanctuary, which he hath sanctified for ever: and serve the Lord your God, that the fierceness of his wrath may turn away from you. For if ye turn again unto the Lord, your brethren and your children shall find compassion before them that lead them captive, so that they shall come again into this land: for the Lord your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away his face from you, if ye return unto him 2 Chronicles 30:8-9
Alas, only a few came. The remainder stood in their pride. Assyria overtook them all; except, a small band held out in Jerusalem. They would also fall ultimately to the Babylonians; because, of their own rebellions against God, allowing the ideologies of universalism and idol worship to enter their nation. Apart from a brief revival under King Josiah, the nation; as a whole, turned against God.
DIVISIONS WITHIN OUR NATION
No nation can survive, if they allow divisions. We stand in a crossroads as a nation, divisions are rampant throughout our nation. One is the division between universality of ideas versus populism. Will we allow the ideologies of universality to invade and destroy our nation? Or will we stand, as one nation under God? It is a question, we each must consider in our hearts. This wide division breaks down our nation. Furthermore, we have allowed relativism to deny that the existence of truth. We have allowed it into our churches, our schools and our own lives. God’s truth is our only hope. The gift of salvation offered to all, we dare not speak; for fear of being rejected or ostracized. However, unless; we the remnant do not stand firm, holding fast to God: we will fall as well.
We do this first through prayer and Bible study, so that, we many know God. Then with loving, gracious kindness; we reach across the aisles of division to offer to all salvation. Much like King Hezekiah offered to all the tribes of Israel. Then, we continue in prayer and worship of God; pleading for our brothers and sisters to open their eyes and worship God.
OUR GREATEST COMMISSION
Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. (Matthew 22:36-40).
It is not in anger that we shall overcome the divisions in this land. Rather, we must first seek God with all our hearts, minds and souls. Then, filled with His love and the desire to spread the gospel message; we will rise above the noise, to proclaim the truth. Some will come. We must be more concerned with the salvation of their souls, than with merely being right.
CONCLUDING TWEETS
[tweetthis]Because God first loved us, we can love; without compromising truth[/tweetthis]
[tweetthis]We must devote time to prayer and Bible study, to learn of God’s truth[/tweetthis]
[tweetthis]Equipped with God’s love and truth, we can heal the divisions in our land[/tweetthis]
DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR?
If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior: I urge you to go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. Because there is nothing more important than this, I urge you to seek Him today.
OR ARE YOU IN OF NEED PRAYER?
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OTHER RESOURCES AVAILABLE
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©Effie Darlene Barba, 2017
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
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