I don’t think that anyone would argue with me about our reality – we are living in very perilous times. We are experiencing catastrophic events at a very alarming rate, which is causing people to cry out and ask questions: Where is God in all of this? Why is God allowing such disaster to take place in the lives of His people?
Our response to these questions comes from a very familiar passage of scripture located in the book of Chronicles chapter 7, verse 14 where God speaks these words to King Solomon “ If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and heal their land.”
What a redeeming response from the Lord our God, to say to us that in the mist of all that we are going through, the requirement for relief and peace of mind lies in our willingness to submit to Him in prayer, and to turn from the causes of our destruction, which is sin. God promises King Solomon that if we respond to Him in the right way that we can be assured to receive action on his part to forgive us of our sins and to heal our troubled land.
Don’t we want our sins to be forgiven? And, most assuredly don’t we want the land to cease from the tornadoes, hurricanes, and earthquakes that have taken the lives of thousands who were caught in their path?
God is challenging us to humble ourselves and to seek His face. We should be encouraged by the several instances in the Bible where God was about to bring about the destruction of a nation until the people of God prayed and cried out to Him and He forgave them and spared their lives.
Moses And The People
When Moses came down from Mt. Sinai after receiving the Ten Commandments (Exodus 32) he found that the people had fallen into sin. They had made for themselves a golden calf and were worshipping it. God then told Moses that He was ready to destroy the nation. Moses pleaded for the people and the Scripture says,
“And the LORD changed his mind about the disaster that he planned to bring on his people .” (Exodus 32:14).
God Changed His Mind Toward Nineveh
In the Book of Jonah we have a similar situation. God was going to destroy the people of Nineveh. But, after hearing the prophet Jonah’s message, they repented of their sins. Then, God saw that they turned from their evil way, and He relented from the disaster that He had intended to destroy them. (Jonah 3:10). He had mercy on them.
We see in both of these Biblical instances that a prayer of repentance changed the outcome of the situation. When the conduct of humanity changed towards God, it appeared that God’s heart changed toward humankind. The reality is that God’s Word is consistent. He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek them. His Word, when spoken does not return void. He hearkens to those that call out to Him. The bottom line is that the change was not with God, but with humanity.
The Change Is Always God Stopping Punishment
When Scripture tells us about God relenting, or repenting, of what He said He would do, each instance is in regard to punishment. It is never a case of God promising to do something good and then changing His mind. His promises to His people will not be broken, for the gifts and calling of God are irrevocable (Romans 8:29).
We should be encouraged to cry out and seek the face of God so that we too can be forgiven, and experience God’s healing of our land.
Blessings,
Pastors Rod & Angela
