16/02/2022 - THE BAD MAN’S CONFESSION

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And Adoni-Bezek said, “Seventy kings with their thumbs and big toes cut off used to gather scraps under my table; as I have done, so God has repaid me.” Then they brought him to Jerusalem, and there he died. Judges 1:7

The revelation of Truth in the days of the occupation of the Holy Land, as well as until the birth of Jesus, was known as the Law of Moses. By it, the authorities and the people were guided in solving their problems. The Israelites removed the thumbs from the hands and feet of Adoni-Bezek, king of Jerusalem. This may sound revolting, but they kept the Mosaic Law (Leviticus 24:20). Pray!

What´s important in life is to fear God, loving Him wholeheartedly, having and keeping all His commandments. Therefore, never agree to participate in anything illegal or that looks like it’s wrong. As Christians, we must flee from every form of evil (1 Thessalonians 5:22). It´s also good to remember this: that which is hidden will be revealed (Mark 4:22), so we should only do what is useful for one’s edification, and stay away from what is indecent (Luke 12:2; Ephesians 4:29).

Adoni-Bezek saw how much each of the monarchs who were mutilated at his behest suffered. Those people would never again safely use a sword or other weapon. If they also had the part connected to their finger torn off, the metatarsal in their hands and the tarsus in their feet, even to pick up the crumbs thrown at them, as if they were dogs, was difficult. But for that king, in his unprecedented ruthlessness, the whole situation was somewhat comical.

This ruler recognized that God made him learn through difficulty. The 70 whom he crippled lost the firmness in their feet to walk; so, the same penalty was applied to him as well. Poor man! He thought he was privileged because of his power, but he couldn’t imagine that he would have to give account for his actions. What was done to him was a little of what he would suffer eternally. Believe in the Lord!

Adolph Hitler, Prime Minister of Nazi Germany, sent more than six million Jews who never returned to their families to the concentration camps. Majority died of starvation and cold in forced labor, and others in cremation ovens. It´s almost unbelievable that this happened to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Because they missed the time of the Lord’s visitation, they could not be saved by the One who had brought them out of slavery (Luke 19:41-44).

Bezek was taken to Jerusalem, where he died. Many centuries later, Jesus made a lament over the city of the great King, saying: “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! (Matthew 23:37). And in it, the Son of God surrendered Himself to be killed in order to save all kinds of wicked people – if only they repent!

There is still time for you to get right with God and be saved. Sooner than you think, the Day will come, and those who have failed to prepare themselves will be sent to the lake of fire and brimstone, from which they will never come out (Revelation 21:8). Talk to the Father now, so that you won’t cry later!

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares