02/10/2022 - PUNISHMENT FOR THE DISOBEDIENT

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And as for those of you who are left, I will send faintness into their hearts in the lands of their enemies; the sound of a shaken leaf shall cause them to flee; they shall flee as though fleeing from a sword, and they shall fall when no one pursues.   Leviticus 26.36

The Israelites fell because they did not fear the Lord, even when they were told what would happen to them if they did not serve God from the heart. Now, no commandment can be disregarded; by keeping them, we have good times and lasting peace: Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5.19).

Israel would not cultivate every seven years for the land to rest (Leviticus 25:1-7). God promised that in the sixth year, they would have a great and blessed harvest, which would last three years. Now, the food of the resting period of the land would be the food of the fifth year, and the food of the sixth year would be for the eighth and ninth years, until the harvest of this one, when they would undo the special harvest. At the harvest of the tenth year, they would throw away the eighth year’s crop and eat the previous year’s crop.

However, the Israelites didn’t pay enough attention to God’s plan and gave themselves over to greed and lack of respect for the Word. For 490 years they showed that they knew better than the Lord, but the warning was fulfilled: they were sent to captivity in Babylon, which lasted 70 years (2 Chronicles 36.21). Why didn’t they believe? Why do many Christians give in to sin, imitating the wicked in their foolishness? God knows!

Those who were left alive in Judah’s defeat had great dread in their hearts, and no one could do anything to ease it. In our days, we have seen all kinds of suffering come to many who call themselves Christians – Christlike. They must return to God with true repentance, confessing their sins, lest they spend their days in affliction while claiming not to understand why God does not heal them (James 5.16). Ask the eternal and loving Father for mercy! 

Living in the land of our enemies is difficult. Even the sound of a leaf brings panic to our hearts, to the point that we faint. The Biblical examples no longer move the faith of the wise in their own eyes, and the worst thing is that every day, they give themselves over to the demonic ways of Babylon. Is there a way back? Of course there is, but it will only occur with true repentance (1 John 1.9), in which confession precedes the first step toward the Land of Promise. Wake up and repent!

Many flee from God’s offerings as one flees from the sword, and that is sad. Now, the warriors of Zion, armed with bow and arrows, ready for battle, make a mess. They don’t see that this is an outrage to the Almighty. On the other hand, you don’t see more saved people engaged in evangelizing the lost throughout the world. Why don’t they obey the Lord’s Go? We must be wise and never let the thorns overwhelm us (Mark 4.19).

No one born again should flee from the roar of the false lions. After all, in him dwells the true Lion, Jesus (John 14.23). He who flees falls; but he who pursues the enemy comes back with victory. What will you do from now on? Live in the triple provision of the Most High!

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares