From the River to Eternity!
Reflective Reading: 2 Cor. 1:3-10
Did you know that the first newspaper in America was a mere one page and focused on the evidence of God’s hand in the affairs of America? The second newspaper stated that there was no news to report because there was nothing clearly visible of God’s work on the earth. Can you imagine! I don’t know how they could report such a thing! The hidden hand of God, and not so hidden, is at work all the time. To put it plainly, if God ceased to engage in the affairs of humanity, we would cease to exist!
In Daniel 5:23 we read that even our breath is held in God’s hand. Daniel continues his thought by rebuking the king of Babylon, saying that he has not honored God because he disregarded the goodness of God which had allowed him both to breathe and be king. As a result, God sent catastrophic destruction to dismantle the entire Babylonian kingdom.
Fast forward to today and you will find another event that changed the world. Similar to what we experienced in America on 9/11, the devastating events of October 7th will forever be seared upon the hearts of the Jewish people. Looking back on what this small nation has endured, especially considering the evil of the Holocaust, many of us are asking why God allowed such evil to occur. If all events are governed by God, then why would He allow this unleashing of evil upon His chosen people?
To put things into perspective, let’s take a look at Biblical history. If we trace the lives of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, David, and all of the Apostles, we find that each experienced severe trials. The Apostle Paul, who was near to death on more than one occasion, wrote in 2nd Corinthians 1,
We were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life: But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raises the dead: Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us.
Experiencing his fair share of trials, Paul had a unique understanding of suffering. He concluded that we should not trust in ourselves but in God. Paul also wrote that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us (Romans 8:18). Thus, we can cling to the promise that one of God’s purposes for suffering is to prepare us for unimaginable glory—a glory that cannot be compared with present sufferings!
Let’s talk about the second purpose. If we trace catastrophic events throughout history, especially those recorded in the Bible, we see that they are almost always a call for people to repent and return to God. Nineveh (modern-day Iraq), for example, was faced with impending judgment and repented at the preaching of Jonah; 120,000 people repented in sackcloth and ashes. Often, calamitous events in the Bible were wake-up calls for national repentance.
Now, this doesn’t mean that every time a tragic event occurred it was for judgment. In 2nd Kings 18-19, the king of Assyria attacked King Hezekiah because the Assyrians wanted more land. This time, the attack was not one of judgment, but an opportunity for God to show himself strong on behalf of his children. Hezekiah sought the Lord and God miraculously intervened.
Israel’s current directive of trying to destroy Hamas should not be their primary goal—learning what God is trying to teach us through the trial is always primary. Yes, I believe Hamas is purely evil and must be destroyed. But even after Hamas has been destroyed, another evil regime will inevitably take its place. Israel will never be truly (eternally) safe until they return to God on His terms. God, who could have stopped this tragic event, allowed it for eternal purposes. Why and how? It is always for one of two reasons:
1. Individual and national repentance
2. Learning not to trust in themselves but in the one true God—Jesus Christ their Savior (Isaiah 45:21; 2 Corinthians 1)
Our prayer for Israel is that they would be protected from the evil that is in the world and that they would come to know, love, and enjoy the one true God.
To all our Jewish friends, whom we love, please allow me to share an insight into your future. In the second to the last chapter of the book of Revelation we read,
And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It is done. I, Jesus Christ, am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcomes shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
I can’t imagine a better future description for the Jewish people and all those who trust the one true God. The day is drawing near my friends…the Day of the LORD is drawing near!
Sincerely,
Mark Hamby
M.S., M. Div., Th. M., D. Min.
Recommended Reading:
Jessica's Journey book/audio (Ages 6+)
Buried in the Snow book/audio (Ages 9+)
Out of the Pit (Ages 12+)
