Habakkuk 3:7-8 I saw the tents of Cushan in affliction: and the curtains of the land of Midian did tremble. Was the Lord displeased against the rivers? Was our Anger against the rivers? Was Your Wrath against the sea, that You did ride upon Your Horses and Your Chariots of Salvation?
The Lord allowed Habakkuk to see in his Prophetic Vision a picture of the past so he could prophesy the future. When he saw the tents of Cushan in affliction and how the curtains of the land of Midian trembled, he recalled the Power of God to bring judgment and then save His People.
This is a recurring theme throughout the history of mankind. God's people sin against Him. The Lord strengthens their enemy and allows them to come under attack. Through attack and persecution, God's people become stronger. Not until they are in dire straits do they turn back to God.
God's Heart is for His People. It always has been, and it always will be. In the year 1491 B.C., the Lord God parted the Red Sea to allow His People to escape. He was not displeased with the Red Sea. The Red Sea had not been disobedient. God's displeasure was with His own people who had been disobedient. Likewise, when He caused the Nile River to turn to blood in that same year (1491 B.C.) God's judgment was not against the Nile River. The river had been obedient to Him. The judgment was against His People, who had again been disobedient.
This is a pattern repeated over and over again. God wants to bless His People, but we continue to act in disobedience to Him. God does not permit or tolerate disobedience to Him. He will allow and cause the enemy to rise up against His own people, and eventually He will bring judgment.
The writer of Hebrews calls this chastisement. My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; for whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives. (Hebrews 12:5-6)
Persecution and discipline are God's way of bringing His People into obedience. However, unfortunately, as we see throughout the history of God's People, it doesn't last long.
When Islam attacked America on September 11, 2001, with nowhere else to turn, Americans immediately sought the Lord. The Sunday following the attack, every church in America was filled to capacity. People became afraid and looked to God for help. But how long did it last? In most cases, about three weeks.
Like little children who test their parents time and time again, it doesn't matter the consequences for their actions; they keep misbehaving. A good parent continues with discipline out of love for their child. Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him. (Proverbs 13:24)
And so it is with the Lord toward us, His children. He ALWAYS brings chastisement and correction, but He also ALWAYS offers mercy, forgiveness, and a way out. His way out is His Redemption Plan.
God's ways are in place for everyone, including the individual believer, a fellowship of believers, a community, a state, a nation, and the entire world. God will do what He needs to do to bring us into obedience to Him. At times, He uses sickness, tragedy, attack, war, unbelievers, and the weather to get our attention. Once He has our attention, He will show us His great Power to change the situation.
God is allowing the current attack on America. As a nation, America is a Christian nation. I believe most Americans would agree with that. However, most Americans are not living for Christ today. As a nation, we have made some very evil choices and decisions.
Currently, our country is not respectful of God or His Word. We are everything but that. God has allowed us to go deeper and deeper into sin. He has a plan for His People, and it is a Plan of hope for the future. However, He will allow the enemy to come against us. He is using them to bring punishment upon us, and I must say, America deserves it.
We are each accountable for our own actions. Let us strive to make Jesus King in our own lives, the lives of our family, our church, our community, our state, our nation, and the world. One by one, we make up the fellowship of believers; the Kingdom of God. Together we can make a difference. God knows our hearts and our motives. Let us live our individual lives in obedience to our Heavenly Father and His Word as we lift up the Name of His Son, Jesus Christ, across America today.
One day soon God will............turn the tide
Lifting up the Name of Jesus, Doreen
www.bettsministries.org
