November 22, 2012
-
Godly fear-Asking God for mercy and not to be set up.
God has always dealt with nations in the way that he deals with people. That is he sets them up and tears them down if they do not acknowledge Him. Before Israel was formed there were obviouslyboth Godly kings and priests as the examples of Jethro, Melchizedek and in a twisted way Balaam shows.
God did not punish the people of Canaan until the full measure of their sin was accomplished. When Ballaak zonof summoned the prophet to curse Israel we see further evidence of God’sspecific covenant with a nation. In modern times he has blessed the Unitedstates for two reasons the first is that we were for many years a true bastion of the gospel sending forth missionaries all over the world and the second of course was our support for His nation of Israel after it was formed.
God has been merciful to those in darkness and has always revealed himself to those who truly seek him this isfound in Paul’s address to a people and their altar to an unknown god Acts17:23. It is also shown in Jesus conversation with the woman at the well(John4:19-24).
In spite of God’s long suffering heis a just God and that means yes he does send people to hell. Proverbs 16:4 says that the The LORD works outeverything for his own ends— even the wicked for a day of disaster. Furthermoreas this verse shows once men have passed the point of His tolerance He will usethem as examples to future or in the case of Antichrist past generations.
When any society or person turns their back on the knowledge oftruth one of the first things that it seems God hands them over to is perversion and sexual immorality. Just one of many verses for this is Proverbs22:13-15.Once pagans, apostates, or even rebellioussons cross the line God’s judgment goes even to the area of our free will as hehands over men to the power of satan. God does not tempt and this is true but Hesets us up for failure. David counting his fighting men is a perfect example ofthis. It is also why in the Lord’s prayer we ask Him not to lead us intotemptation.
Destruction is not always a cursebut can be a blessing, a chastisement, or mercy as well this is illustrated inthe life of one of Israels tragic figures the figure of King Ahab;.in hiswickedness Ahab had stirred up false witness committed murder and desecratedGod’s inheritance. Yet because he repented he did not see the destruction ofhis family because he was killed at Ramoth Gilead.
AntiChrist set aside for destructionwith his end already foretold. This is also true of the great serpent known asthe devil. Yhese beings have already crossed the line of volition and trampledon the grace given to them. We know this is true about the devil and as for theformer chance of the Antichrist we know that he once was now is not and yetwill com.
Finally God has not given us aspirit of Fear but of power love and a sound mind(2 Timothy 1:7). It is also true we are to approach the throne boldly. We do approach boldly and we dotrust absolutely. Fear like the law guides the lawbreakers and those tempted.Even or perhaps especially Christians must remember who they serve and has thepower to destroy body and soul. May wecontinue in love so that fear has no place in us.
Comments (2)
“In modern times he has blessed the Unitedstates for two reasons the first is that we were for many years a true bastionof the gospel sending forth missionaries all over the world and the second ofcourse was our support for His nation of Israel after it was formed.”
And you know this how exactly?
Another explanation is that glacial activity, aside from producing the great lakes also ground down sand and stone into fine sediments which hold onto and filter water which makes the soil extremely fertile (which is good for an economy based on agriculture which is the cornerstone of any great economy) and that this continents’ non-renewable natural resources hadn’t been exploited at all in the entire history of the human race.
If muslims had claimed america for themselves it would’ve been just as fertile and rich with resources. Or did god bless saudi arabia too? America has the 8th highest GDP in the world, the nation with the third highest is norway where 70% of the population doesn’t believe in a personal god.
@agnophilo - Resources we do have but we have faced down one of the most powerful nations of the time, Britain and have prospered in technology and riches like very few other nations. Those below the powerty line in America have had it much better than the same class in other nations. we have been spared wars, revolutions, and dictators to this very day. Our blessings are also seen in the historical strenght of the family and the American ideology.
Now as for the reason this is partially associated with Israel goes back to God’s pronouncement that those who curse you will be cursed and those who bless you will be blessed. Israels very survival is a miracle considering all the attacks and hatred for the Jewish pople around the world.