A Love So Hard It Hurts- Hosea 12

I have been reading all of Hosea and focusing in on chapter 12. This is the next to the last post from all the chapter 12's in the Old Testament. I have made a goal this year of blogging on all the chapter 12's in the Bible in 2012- and is always true of God's Word- it has been amazing....supernatural.

You most likely know the basic premise of this 'minor prophet'. He prophesies to the Northern Kingdom- rebuking the sin of a broken covenant promise, promising God's punishment, and reminding of God's love and promise to restore as well.

What strikes me in this Book is that I feel God's pain and hurt in these chapters. Sometimes I read OT passages out of Jeremiah or Isaiah and I feel/fear God's anger and judgement. His holy fury and wrath that pours out against all sin.

This Book makes me feel God's tears and His heartbreaks over the deep love He has for His people. It is a love that surges throughout the history of His dealings with His children. When God reflects back to previous story lines like Jacob or Moses, I perceive the passion of a Parent.

And when He comments on Israel's adultery, it is done with a broken heart. Why do you desert your only true love and the ONLY one who will protect you and sacrifice for you?


And when He promises to punish them, to break them because of their pride and harlotry- I feel His pain. He has to... He doesn't want to.

And when He promises to restore them in the future, I feel His great yearning for it to happen.

The opening of chapter 12 is so poetic:

Hosea 12:1 Ephraim (meaning Israel, the Northern Kingdom) feeds on the wind and pursues the east wind all day long; 

You have to read all of the chapters leading up to this one to experience the starkness of this line.

It was first played out by Hosea, following the Lord's instructions,  marrying the prostitute and experiencing what God feels like to be betrothed to a whore as a symbol of what God's people had continually done in forsaking the Lord and turning to idolatry.

Israel, thinking the were strong and prosperous, had manipulated and manufactured treaties with Assyria and Egypt. A move to pick peace and prosperity over being the 'set apart' nation who had the covenant keeping God as their source of protection and provision.

God says (I believe in a frustrated and broken way) that my people are not only feeding on wind... but an EAST wind- coming out of the desert- offering NOTHING.

John Calvin said it all much better:

For when one gulps the wind, he seems indeed to fill his mouth, and his throat, and his chest, and his whole stomach; but there is nothing but air, no nourishment. So he says that Israel entertained indeed much confidence in their crafty ways, but it was to feed only on the wind. They dreamt that they were happy, when they secured confederacies, when they had both the Assyrians and the Egyptians as their associates. They are only blasts, says the Prophet; nay, he says, they are noxious blasts; for by the East he understands the east wind, which blows from the rising of the sun; and this, as they say, is in Judea a dry and often a stormy wind. Other winds either bring rain or some other advantage: but this wind brings nothing but drought and storms. 
...For unbelieving men, as we see, fabricate for themselves many excuses; and though they be impostures, they yet think themselves safe against all the threatening of God, provided they set up, I know not what, something which they think will be sufficiently available. 
God wished the people to be under his protection; and when God promised to be the defender of their safety, they ought to have been satisfied with his protection alone: but when they retook themselves to Egypt and to Assyria, it was a clear evidence of unbelief; for it was the same as to deny the power of God to be sufficient for them.  Whenever then we attempt to provide for ourselves by unlawful means, it is the same thing as if we denied God; for he calls and invites us to come under his protection: but when we run in our thoughts here and there, and seek some vain helps, we grievously dishonour God: it is, as it were, to fly into Egypt or into Assyria. 

Now, I want to do something rather different for the rest of this passage.

The poetry left in chapter 12 is rich in allusions and history. It is easy to read it as a warning to the NATION. Indeed, it would be quite easy to even compare this to a declining American culture and lifestyle.

But the more I read chapter 12, the more I get a picture also of an individual gospel narrative. The cycle of rescue, reward, rising pride, resounding fall, repentance, and restoration is true of nations, churches, families....but it is also a cycle of personal experience as well.

Look at the next few verses and notice WHO is being used as a story line.

12:2cThe Lord has an indictment against Judah and will punish Jacob according to his ways;
he will repay him according to his deeds.3 dIn the womb he took his brother by the heel,
and in his manhood he strove with God.4 He strove with the angel and prevailed;
he wept and sought his favor.
eHe met God1 at Bethel,
and there God spoke with us—5 the Lord, the God of hosts,
fthe Lord is his memorial name:6 “So you, gby the help of your God, return,
hhold fast to love and justice,and wait continually for your God.” 

Wow... It always comes back to Jacob as far as God dealing with me.

In just a few verses of poetry God gives us reminder snapshots of this amazing story of how God chose and changed this 'manipulator and deceiver' into a man who was renamed 'persevere with God'.

But it was NOT without pain.

AND this is a point I need to continually drive home.

I keep a prayer journal.... and for the last 5 years it has been over the top full of godly men ( and are at the same time  sinful men) who are experiencing trials and pain. Lost jobs, health issues, strained marriages, depression, wayward children, addictions, persecution.

No way around it- live long enough and life knocks you to the ground.

And Christians sometimes seem to be suffering more than their fair share.

Why?

God loves them.

WHAT!?

God loves them SO passionately and jealously that He hurts them BECAUSE He loves them.
Yes, sometimes it is whoopin' they brought on themselves- but God pours out the wrath on them to break them. And He loves them so much that, even then, He rescues them and cares for their restoration.

I need to stop here. What I have just written is not easy for new believers and it doesn't sit well in an era of easy believism.

But Jacob walked with a limp His whole life after He wrestled with the ANGEL of the LORD.
Without pain (and we find out here for the 1st time TEARS) Jacob could NOT be changed.

He had to be conned out of Rachel only to get Leah because God needed Jacob to feel the pain of what deceit can do.

He had to fear his brother Esau to understand the problem of manipulation and betrayal.

To move forward in faith sometimes requires us crawling on the ground, doubled over, in pain and regret, and have grace rain down on us like we never knew it could.

We are Ephraim.. I blogged on this earlier from Judges.

Ephraim's Evil and Our Wicked Ways- Judges 12

Step one in coming to God is to allow Him to lead us through hurt in this sin sick world and experience the consequences of our own idolatry/sin.

I like these Bible study notes from Dr. Thomas L. Constable on the web:

"The major truths of the book of Hosea are: (1) God suffers when His people are unfaithful to Him; (2) God cannot  condone sin; and (3) God will never cease to love His own and, consequently, He seeks to win back those who have forsaken Him."

The Lord proceeded to teach His people the  need to repent by reminding them of the experience of their forefather Jacob. 
 One important instance of Jacob contending with God was when he wrestled with the angel at Peniel and prevailed over him by weeping and pleading with him to bless him (Gen. 32:22-32). This event was a turning point in Jacob's life because he finally realized that he could not succeed simply by manipulation and trickery. He recognized His need for God's help and turned to Him in desperation. It was the occasion of Jacob's repentance. God had prepared Jacob for this event by allowing him to experience several years of conflict with his uncle Laban (cf. Gen. 31:42). Another significant event in Jacob's life was when he returned to Bethel, where God had appeared to him in a dream years earlier (Gen. 28:10-22). This return to Bethel, and the act of worship Jacob performed there, were in obedience to God's word to him to go there and fulfill his former vow (Gen. 35:1-14). This too was an act of submissive obedience and resulted in God changing Jacob's name to Israel (prince with God) again, blessing him, and renewing the Abrahamic Covenant with him. It is ironic that the place where Jacob got right with God was Bethel since Bethel was the place where the Israelites had gotten wrong with Him by worshipping idols. Jacob's return  to God at Bethel provided a good example for the Israelites to get right with Him there too. 

Here, hidden the poetry of Hosea 12, is the gospel story of my life so far.

I grew up feeding on the east wind. My pride was so puffed up in areas of athletic, academic, and social success. One of the worst things that ever happened to me was to see my picture and name in the newspaper in a Saturday morning newspaper after a big win on a Friday night.

I learned early how to coerce and manipulate circumstances. Everything was built for my success. Selfishness and pride ruled in my heart.

Then it all came crashing down in my senior year of high school. God was not going to allow me to use Him and His creation as an expedient for my vain glory.

The MOST gracious thing He did was give me eyes early to see clearly that my demise was of my own doing. And also to KNOW that He was my only true hope and foundation. And He also granted me enough faith to believe that the cross was enough. I could find my way back to Him through the cleansing fountain of His beautiful sacrifice.

But the story STILL gets replayed over and over. Mostly now in smaller ways.

Blessing, pride, apathy, drifting, fall, repentance, and restoration.

But there is something else that has been consistent- OH HOW HE LOVES ME.

I was reminded this anew in a praise song our students sing in chapel.
(click on the top line to watch video of song)

He is jealous for me 
Love's like a hurricane, I am a tree 
Bending beneath the weight of His wind and mercy 
When all of a sudden, I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory 
and I realize just how beautiful You are and how great your affections are for me. 
Oh, how He loves us so 
Oh, how He loves us 
How He loves us so. 

So we are His portion and He is our prize, 
Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes 
If grace is an ocean we're all sinking 
So heaven meets earth like a sloppy wet kiss and my heart turns violently inside of my chest 
I don't have time to maintain these regrets when I think about the way 

That he loves us, 
Woah, how He loves us 
Woah, how He loves us 
Woah, how He loves 

[Whispered]: Well, I thought about You the day Stephen died and You met me between my breaking 
I know that I still love You, God, despite the agony 
...they want to tell me You're cruel 
But if Stephen could sing, he'd say it's not true, cause...[voice breaks]... 

Cause He loves us, 
Woah, how He loves us 
Woah, how He loves us 
Woah, how He loves 

Over a lot of time and pain, joy and sorrow- Jacob was shown and delivered from his manipulation and selfishness. He saw salvation and he worshipped God. His faith impacted the world for generations. Jesus lounged at Jacob's well 2000 years after Jacob dug it and gave out the living water of good news to the woman who was an outcast and suffering from sin. That well is still there today.

When man sinned- God allowed the curse of sin. Pain, sweat, thorns, blood, and death.

When Jesus went to the cross, he experienced ALL of that same curse and yet He was innocent.

The well of living water is the gospel of mercy that is perpetually filled by GOD'S PASSIONATE LOVE.

Years ago... we read ads that said- "GOT MILK?"

What we really need to ask is "GOT LIVING WATER?"

And proof of that flow is the realization of an overwhelming love that the Father has for you. Let Him pull you into His nail scarred arms today......

Hold On, It's Worth It!- Pondering Daniel 12

Daniel 12 “At that time shall arise aMichael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And bthere shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered, ceveryone whose name shall be found written in the book. 2 And many of those who dsleep in ethe dust of the earth shall eawake, fsome to everlasting life, and fsome to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 gAnd those who are wise hshall shine like the brightness of the sky above;1 and ithose who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. 4 But you, Daniel, jshut up the words and kseal the book, until lthe time of the end. mMany shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.”
5 Then I, Daniel, looked, and behold, two others stood, one on nthis bank of the stream and one on that bank of the stream. 6 And someone said to othe man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream,2 p“How long shall it be till the end of these wonders?” 7 And I heard othe man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream; qhe raised his right hand and his left hand toward heaven and rswore by him who lives forever that it would be for a stime, times, and half a time, and that when the shattering of tthe power of tthe holy people comes to an end all these things would be finished. 8 I heard, ubut I did not understand. Then I said, “O my lord, what shall be the outcome of these things?” 9 He said, v“Go your way, Daniel, wfor the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end. 10 xMany shall purify themselves and make themselves white and be refined, but ythe wicked shall act wickedly. And none of the wicked shall understand, gbut those who are wise shall understand. 11 And from the time that zthe regular burnt offering is taken away and athe abomination that makes desolate is set up, there shall be 1,290 days. 12 bBlessed is he who waits and arrives at the 1,335 days. 13 cBut go your way till the end. dAnd you shall rest and shall stand in your allotted place at ethe end of the days.”

Here we are back in a passage of prophecy with all the power of apocalyptic numbers and symbolic language.

When you read these passages in Daniel, the other OT books with this type of imagery , the Book of Revelation, and the 'Olivet Discourse' (Matt24/Mark13/Luke 21)- you come away knowing there are some deep mysteries and heavy pronouncements.

I spent close to 2 years studying all I could on the Book of Revelation, developed and taught a Sunday School series, and a 9 week Bible class on the book and I am still amazed in that, the more I glance at it- the less I know.

I wish I could get the confidence of the many big name Bible teachers who dig into the various schools of thought- but there is too much that is pure conjecture.

Bottom line: the greatest Bible scholars in the history of the world did not get right the first coming of Jesus, I am confident we are going to miss the timeline and narrative of the 2nd coming as well.

I have written and blogged on this quite often:

One example is here:

 Saturday, February 12, 2011 Forests and Trees- What We Tend to Miss in Biblical Prophecy

What I would like to do in this post is to comment on a few highlighted points that really stuck with me during this long period where I have thought about this particular chapter.

I: A Coming Time of Trouble

Even if I lean toward a preterist view of Bible prophecy, there seems to be a refulgent wave of turmoil and recovery that seems to grow in intensity and global implications.

If I am honest, I don't like reading this portion of the Bible a lot. No one likes to meditate on the type of promises made in the Bible about the calamity that falls of people, lands, and nations who forever slide into deeper and deeper sin and idolatry.

To make matters worse, my online news source (The Drudge Report) has a unique style of lumping news events in a rather apocalyptic style. Read any prophetic passage and read the Drudge Report  and it will just leap off the page.

It makes me quiet and sober. It makes me prayerful. Living in light of Christ's return has an impact on your life in largely positive ways. We are to be ready for the Master's return, and we do want to be found faithful.

But again, if I am honest- I feel 'troubled' when I see the godlessness growing and pray for revival to delay this great day of trouble. But there are individuals who live in extreme situations even now.

II: Many running to and fro and knowledge increasing.

After the Book is sealed, there is this fun phrase mentioned.

Daniel was told to seal up the Book 12:9 "words are sealed and shut up to the end" but John is told in Revelation 22:10 "Do NOT seal up the book of prophecy because the time is near".

So verse 4 has multiple applications:

• Those who will increase in knowledge of this Book
• The world increasing in knowledge- leading to rise of the Enlightenment,industrial age, technology
• Knowledge does not equal wisdom or understanding
• People will still act according to their nature regardless. (vs 10)

III: Time, Times, and Half a Time.

We find this same language in the Book of Revelation and shows a key to Biblical Prophecy- BOTH a literal and figurative application. One of my big premises in Biblical prophecy is that there a multiple layers of fulfillment. As history marches on there is a cycle that repairs and groans until the final climax. 

So there is literal meaning to this apocalyptic number:

7  years = 84 months

3 1/2 years= 42 months=1260 days= times, times, and half a time

3 1/2 is a 'cut short' 7.

But there is also a figurative application as well. A long pattern that ends abruptly, but still in a planned cycle.

When we get to the end, we will be able to look back and see that this amazing multiple application measuring tool has been mapped out precisely. We can't see it because A) we are in it, too close to see it from beginning to end and B) Omega will have to happen to understand the Alpha.

The Bottom line- judgement day can happen any day. If someone dies today, they are at their judgement day. We just need to be ready.

IV: Go Your Way- and you shall rest and stand in your allotted place at the end of days

This is where ALL prophecy comes together. The base message is - NO MATTER WHAT, CLING TO YOUR FAITH and even if the storms crush you to the ground, you will find rest and standing.

So YES- reading Revelation and OT prophecy or the 'little apocalypse' in the gospels is sobering- BUT IT HAS A PROMISE OF HOPE!

It keeps us going even in tough times.

Do you ever feel like giving up? Chucking it all away?

Living for Christ in a dark world is hard (but we are blessed) but it is WORTH IT!

Let's help one another HANG IN THERE!

But at that time your people shall be delivered, ceveryone whose name shall be found written in the book. 

AMEN! Give yourself anew to Jesus today!

The Time Will Come- Observations of Ezekiel 12

Ezekiel 12"21 Again a message came to me from the LORD: 22 "Son of man, what is that proverb they quote in Israel: 'Time passes, making a liar of every prophet'? 23 Give the people this message from the Sovereign LORD: I will put an end to this proverb, and you will soon stop quoting it. Now give them this new proverb to replace the old one: 'The time has come for every prophecy to be fulfilled!' 24 "Then you will see what becomes of all the false visions and misleading predictions about peace in Israel. 25 For I am the LORD! What I threaten always happens. There will be no more delays, you rebels of Israel! I will fulfill my threat of destruction in your own lifetime, says the Sovereign LORD." 26 Then this message came to me from the LORD: 27 "Son of man, the people of Israel are saying, 'His visions won't come true for a long, long time.' 28 Therefore, give them this message from the Sovereign LORD: No more delay! I will now do everything I have threatened! I, the Sovereign LORD, have spoken!"

I finally got around to viewing "Religulous', Bill Mahr's scathing attack on all things religious which was produced in 2008. Not a whole lot to it, though I think for a documentary it was very well done and did make a good attempt to entertain and persuade.


All men collect information and use information based on powerful internal intuitions called 'presuppositions' which are developed continuously throughout our formative years and beyond. The most interesting aspect of Mahr's movie is that we get a glimpse of his presuppositional view toward the church that is a combination of a mixed family (Judaism/Catholicism) and his study of the tenants of religion, including a lot of intellectual issues stemming from his understanding of the epistemology of religious truth in a culture that is heavily influenced by science and the enlightenment.


This movie puts more of a human touch in terms of my understanding of Mahr, and I feel a sense of empathy for anyone heavily entrenched in skeptical viewpoints. They are well trained and well supported in their peer group. I have to equally acknowledge presuppositional views and peer group support as well.


It would take a long time to go back through some of my core foundational philosophy in terms of apologetics. But the documentary has some inherent flaws.


The first one is that it is a mistake to lump all religious views together to broad brush all as 'ridiculous'. I have written before:

I do want to make it clear that to treat all faiths as equal is the most improper presupposition of our post-modern carnage. All religions are not the same. They have different systems and practices. I do believe that jihadist Islam poses a violent danger to our world today. All religions have the possibility of perpetrating great oppression and harm. One has to look no farther than the Crusades to see the destruction that misguided human beings can cause in the name of religious belief.But even in the case of the Crusades, there are fundamental differences in belief.The Crusades demonstrate followers of Islam doing what their faith requires them to do and followers of Christ ignoring what their Savior requires them to do. The Crusades represent Islam at its best and Christianity at its worst.

Thursday, January 11, 2007, jayopsis.blogspot.comI Am the Most Dangerous Man in the World? 

I don't think this means my particular worldview is 'right' or 'true'- but to find one flake in a movement does not undo the potential truth found in the content or founder of any movement. Just as pointing to hypocrisy in Christianity, does not undo the potential truth of who Jesus was or what He did. 

The low blow in the movie by Mahr was to attack the truck drivers' chapel. He hit these men with questions that they had never been trained in. I agree that it is good for all Christians to pursue answers to questions. But not knowing all the information does NOT limit these men to experience God by means of the gospel. Jesus Himself described the kingdom of God as a humble, child like acceptance. No one can know all the ways of God.These men could experience God and humbly enter into a relationship with God through repentance and faith without knowing all the debate points. We all turn a car key and the engine starts- some know every detail about the car and some just drive. Some know the engineering and some just steer and brake. But all use the vehicle in the same way.

So I can't answer any of Mahr's challenges when it comes to Judaism, Mormonism, and even some doctrinal differences of Catholicism- but he can find answers to the questions he has about Biblical concerns, if he would look to those who have committed their time and life discovering those things without abandoning their faith.

Some of the biggest issues about evangelical Christianity were raised in the film by Mahr's visit with Dr. Ken Hamm and the Answers in Genesis ministry.

I understand that the skeptics so easily discount young earth theories based on their understanding of science. But here I would be most careful if I were a skeptic. The understanding of time and theories about the formation of the cosmos are the most speculative of all the scientific theories. Mainly because we are limited in our ability to observe change over time.

One geologist looks at the grand canyon and says, 'Of course, this had to take millions of years".


I was on the beach last week and had a fun time in the surf and sand. One evening a storm surge came in and I walked out on the beach the next morning. I was looking at a 'miniature grand canyon'. What was a flat landing the afternoon before, was now a 6 foot 'cliff' with beautiful patterns in the sand. It looked like the grand canyon.


I looked at that and said- WOW- a big enough surge of water and you could have the grand canyon in a very short time.


I have written a lot on young earth vs old earth Christianity- both camps have men of great faith and ministry. Even if you could PROVE the timing of the creation account, it would not change the crux of the Christian message which is all about the life, claims, actions, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.


I am NOT a scientist- I do know there are MANY intellectuals/scientists/philosophers who accept the credibility of Christianity. There are more intellectuals who have stood firm on the reliability of the faith than those who have rejected it. And my basic premise has always been that these are not matters of the brain- they are matters of a stubborn, resistant, unyielding, prideful, and sinful heart.


There are brilliant, highly educated people who still accept the miraculous claims of Scripture. The ONLY miracle Christians really believe in is "In the beginning, God". Once you have a great Uncaused Cause, the narrative that follows is plausible. Biblical faith is not incredulous.


The bottom line: this passage in Ezekiel makes a shuddering promise. Though the men of an age mock God and say, 'Where is He? He is not real!' , there will be a day where the door of mercy is closed and God will have to judge.


I see this in my job. I will have a student who comes to me and no matter how I reason, or 'threaten' to finally bring consequences- they do not change. And that day comes where time has run out, I have tried educating and reasoning- but now all I have left is a detention, a saturday school, suspension, or expulsion.


These students usually are the most explosive when I finally land on them (and even sometimes the parent is equally angry). They truly do not understand that when I said I would do something, I meant it. Now my integrity is on the line.


Some students never turn even as the consequences become more painful. They are the ones that hurt my heart, because I worry about what they are heading into when the penalties are real and lasting.


So I cry out for men like Bill Mahr. Even with all the mocking and all the rebellious sin- Jesus Christ's death can satisfy God's holy and righteous wrath. All he has to do is humbly bow his knee and yield.


Most likely, Mahr will shake his fist to the grave. For anyone to change takes a great miracle, but I will keep praying for that miracle.


But then- after life or time has ended- we will know. Eternity is too big a gamble for me to trust in my presuppositional loaded logic. I am trusting God to take care of that.


What about you?

Dark Thoughts and Questions- Finishing Jer. 12

When we are most in the dark concerning God's dispensations, we must keep up right thoughts of God, believing that he never did the least wrong to any of his creatures. When we find it hard to understand any of his dealings with us, or others, we must look to general truths as our first principles, and abide by them: the Lord is righteous.  Matthew Henry

Reading the Book of Jeremiah, encapsulated very well here in chapter 12, we get a reality check of the Christian life that is easily missed in the American church.

I was brought to conversion by a little yellow book called the '4 Spiritual Laws'- a brilliant tract written by Dr. Bill Bright in 1952. It has been reported that 2.5 billion of those little books were printed.

Law 1 is "God loves you and offers a wonderful plan for your life" and uses John 3:16 and John 10:10 as Scripture proofs for that.

I am not debating the truth of the quote. But it must be understood in the context of eternity.

Jeremiah's earthly life does NOT reflect that reality. In some ways Law 1 for Jeremiah is "God loves you and offers a horrible plan for your life on earth". If we base the success of his ministry on earthly indicators, we might label him a failure.

We often refer to this major prophet as the 'weeping prophet'. He prophesies to Israel during a time of their slide into deeper idolatry and violation of the covenant promises. Jeremiah's story is often told as one who had an early life of bliss but had to deliver the harsh messages from God which resulted in vicious attacks, even from his own family.

Jeremiah experienced being beaten, threatened, put into stocks and deep wells, and accused at all times. He was told to not take a wife and avoiding social activities that seemed celebratory. He was told to do these strange activities which symbolized the nation's sins. The sins were taking a toll on God's people, including famine and the fear of invading foreigners.

But intertwined with all the darkness are wonderful words of hope. God will give a new administration of the Covenant of Grace which will be a new heart and new life.

So as we read this major prophet, we are often faced with uncomfortable questions and some of the same attacks that Jeremiah heard on a daily basis.


THE GOD WHO PUNISHES AND AVENGES: 

The idea of the punitive God is frequently attacked. I am often thoughtful of Richard Dawkins' blistering description of God.

 The God of the Old Testament is arguably the most unpleasant character in all fiction: jealous and proud of it; a petty, unjust, unforgiving control-freak; a vindictive, bloodthirsty ethnic cleanser; a misogynistic, homophobic, racist, infanticidal, genocidal, filicidal, pestilential, megalomaniacal, sadomasochistic, capriciously malevolent bully.   

What do we do when we hear of this charge? I think there are a few important principles to keep in mind when facing this attack.

A God without justice, is not worthy of worship. This is a VERY crucial point. In Jeremiah 12, we are reminded what a hurtful world we live in. Human beings can be cruel. The history of man leaves a wake of brokenness and destruction. The reason we are repelled by the charges by Dawkins - because we see that evil on display by the acts of men.

I was helped greatly years ago by the argument made by Croatian Theologian Miroslav Volf (introduced by Tim Keller) who understands that only the certainty/hope of cosmic justice stops the cycle of violence created by human vigilantism and the blood lust of revenge.

My thesis is that the practice of non-violence requires a belief in divine vengeance…My thesis will be unpopular with man in the West…But imagine speaking to people (as I have) whose cities and villages have been first plundered, then burned, and leveled to the ground, whose daughters and sisters have been raped, whose fathers and brothers have had their throats slit…Your point to them–we should not retaliate? Why not? I say–the only means of prohibiting violence by us is to insist that violence is only legitimate when it comes from God…Violence thrives today, secretly nourished by the belief that God refuses to take the sword…It takes the quiet of a suburb for the birth of the thesis that human nonviolence is a result of a God who refuses to judge. In a scorched land–soaked in the blood of the innocent, the idea will invariably die, like other pleasant captivities of the liberal mind…if God were NOT angry at injustice and deception and did NOT make a final end of violence, that God would not be worthy of our worship. 

As Christians, we believe there will be a throne of justice and a day of judgement where right will win and evil will be destroyed. This is a starting point of the gospel. An honest accounting of our lives helps us to understand that we too have participated in deeds of darkness and, without mercy, are in danger of the fires of Holy Fury at all the suffering and pain we have caused.

To criticize God at this point is to make a judgement that is TOO EARLY and a huge misunderstanding of HIS MERCY shown in HIS PATIENCE.

It is perfectly understandable for a man like Jeremiah to cry out to God as he has been injured by wicked men. And it is just as understandable for us to cry out for justice and mercy at the same time.

The cross of Christ is a picture of cruelty, love, justice, and mercy all mingled together in blood, sweat, and pain.

THE WHINEY LIFE:

This point is going to be easily misunderstood.

There is a sense in which God hears us, understands us, loves us.... but also chastises us for being a whiner.

This doesn't mean that life is not hard. Remember Ecclesiastes 12?

Remember also your Creator in vthe days of your youth, before wthe evil days come and the years draw near of which xyou will say, “I have no pleasure in them”;

Life gets hard. I find myself lamenting more the world and my aging body. I find myself nostalgically longing for earlier days when my girls were young and more of my loved ones were still on the earth.

But it is a reality that doesn't deserve depression. I know this and God knows this.

Why?

Because a day without regret is coming. All of the tinge of longing- the small sadness that comes- on the 18th hole when you realize a special time is ending- when you have just made the last cast- coming home after a vacation- AND the big sadness- the loss of a friend on news of cancer- all will have AN END!

But a day has been promised when the joy will be perpetual.... a paradise without mosquitoes- youth and vitality that does not fade- discovery and creation that never backs up... do we really believe this?

If so- why long to look back- why not take the next step to that reality? Why not just enjoy all the good you can squeeze out TODAY?

But a bigger point is that ALL I COMPLAIN ABOUT TODAY is nothing. Is any day I have harder than what Jeremiah experienced daily?

I read about great men in the 19th century and realize they had no air conditioning. The death of children from fever and illness was quite common. I live in more luxury that the Kings of ages past.

I have linked a funny video that expounds on this idea that life is amazing and no one is happy:
LIFE IS AMAZING AND NO ONE IS HAPPY

So yes, God knows my hurts are real. My fears and doubts are dark. But His truth is there to keep me walking with Him on the journey.

Craig Morgan's song, This Ain't Nothn' is a better attitude to display: THIS AIN'T NOTHIN'

So to close:

• Begin everyday with a message to God- THANK-YOU for all I have. If salvation were the only gift you have given me, I'd still be able to praise You forever.

• Begin everyday with a prayer: I need You God, this world is too much for me. Only You can give me the right perspective to live today in peace and joy.

• Begin everyday with His WORD, throw in some music based on His truth.

• TRUST THAT HE IS GREAT AND HE IS GOOD

• BE PATIENT- HIS TIMING IS GOOD

• CLING TO THE CROSS WHEN THE STORMS BLOW

• LOVE OTHERS AND CRUCIFY SELF

• LONG NOT FOR THE PAST, BUT FOR HIS RETURN IN THE FUTURE

• LIVE UNTIL IT IS TIME TO GO HOME, NO MATTER WHAT
• 
  

That is the medicine of Jeremiah 12.

14 Thus says the Lord concerning all jmy evil neighbors kwho touch the heritage that lI have given my people Israel to inherit: “Behold, I will pluck them up from their land, and I will pluck up the house of Judah from among them. 15 And after I have plucked them up, I will again have compassion on them, mand I will bring them again each to his heritage and each to his land. 16 And it shall come to pass, if they will diligently learn the ways of my people,nto swear by my name, ‘As the Lord lives,’ even as they taught my people to swear by Baal,othen they shall be built up in the midst of my people. 17 pBut if any nation will not listen, then I will utterly pluck it up and destroy it, declares the Lord.”

Have you come to know God through the gospel?

Here is my version of  Law 1:

The most amazing truth is this- The Creator has demonstrated love while we have shown hate. He offers us a way to be united with Him as adopted sons through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ. It is a gift we receive by submission and trust.

How can we turn that down?
How can we stay down if that is true?

Have a blessed day!