20/02/2023 - WHEN THE HILLS TREMBLED

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Therefore the anger of the LORD is aroused against His people; He has stretched out His hand against them And stricken them, and the hills trembled. Their carcasses were as refuse in the midst of the streets. For all this His anger is not turned away, but His hand is stretched out still. Isaiah 5.25

Judah’s sin was so heinous that God’s wrath was kindled against the Israelites and did great damage. This should serve as a warning to all the saved. If those who have tasted salvation fall into sin, they will also suffer the harshness that such an attitude requires. The Lord had a lot of trouble for centuries with the children of Israel, but they did not amend. It doesn’t matter how long you have been Jesus’; if you have exchanged Him for sin, you are in danger!

Speaking of the Creator’s work with the Israelites, it is worth remembering: when Abraham heard God’s voice and obeyed, going to a place without knowing where it was, he and his family were supported. The same happened with Isaac and Jacob, and then with their descendants, until the Lord’s patience ran out, even though he warned that he would send them into captivity if they did not forsake sin (Jeremiah 21). The day has come for them to see the punishment!

Isaiah prophesied Judah’s destruction long before the day of trouble came. Jeremiah was crying in the streets of Jerusalem, giving details of what the fall of his people would be like. As they did not listen, Nebuchadnezzar came from distant Babylon and took captive the best of the country, and also destroyed the city with fire (2 Kings 24.10-16). Why did this happen if God had prepared everything for them to live well?

When the unruly leave the Lord to go after false gods, wealth and all kinds of sin, the divine hand is raised to crush them. This is why the Babylonians came and did whatever they wanted with the Israelites. Through King Solomon, God had said that if He does not guard the city, the watchman watches in vain, but from what we read in the Scriptures, these words were like a baseless story for them (Psalm 127.1).

When they saw the enemy’s willingness to act against God’s people, the mountains trembled; after all, there would be much destruction. This will happen at the return of Jesus, when the unsaved will despair when they hear that there is no more time for repentance (Revelation 6:15,16). Today, many ignore the divine warnings, because the time for repentance is not yet over. Be careful with your life! Everything will be hard to bear. What the prophets said will come true!

There were many dead people scattered through the streets where, once, there were shouts of joy, and now only weeping and distress could be heard. At the return of Christ, who will come to take us to Heaven, the cries of anguish will also be heard. The hills will tremble again because of what will happen to the people who chose to save money, buy and sell, marry and give in marriage, instead of seeking to know God’s will (Revelation 16.20; Matthew 24.37-39). 

Even so, seeing all this taking place in the holy city, divine wrath will not be satisfied. Those who persevered to the end will mount up with wings like eagles, to the heights in the Lord (Isaiah 40.31). On that Day, God’s wrath will be against His people once again. Get things right!

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares