28/02/2022 - PROVOKED THE LORD TO ANGER

• 
• 
• 
• 

and they forsook the Lord God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt; and they followed other gods from among the gods of the people who were all around them, and they bowed down to them; and they provoked the Lord to anger. Judges 2.12

Everything that exists came from the Lord, including our life. He has every right to do whatever He wants, but being a perfect, loving and balanced God, He would never do anything that was not good for the Universe and for mankind. He created human beings in His image and likeness, domestic and wild animals, fish and the food chain. He left us the Bible – the Service Manual for our sake. 

The generation that succeeded Joshua and the elders did the wrong thing, to the point of abandoning the Lord. How sad! To leave Him is an irremediable evil. Thus said the prophet Azariah: And he went out to meet Asa, and said to him: “Hear me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin. The Lord is with you while you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you (2 Chronicles 15:2). What do you say about yourself? Pray!

Why go after other gods, which are people’s inventions? The true God, who has always worked wonders on behalf of Jacob’s children, should never be forsaken. Moreover, going after the “gods” of the nations would only cause them to be oppressed with the evils of Hell. The children of Israel had to seek the Lord, and not give themselves to the devil. Surely, they would suffer at the hands of the enemy!

To say that they were innocent does not proceed, for they heard the story of their fathers, who had been slaves in Egypt and were taken out of there by the strong hand of the Most High. Yet they paid no attention to this, they looked for trouble, and got it. All that the Lord did on their behalf was disregarded, but seeking the idols of those nations that did not help them resist the Israelites was an evil act that would bring them grave consequences.

It is almost unimaginable to think what Abraham, Isaac and Jacob would do to that generation that opened the door for the devil and his demons to enter. God’s people were supposed to be the enclosed garden of the Almighty (Song of Songs 4:12). In our midst, there are people who do the same, because they stop worshiping the true God to serve Mammon, the mythological and false god of riches (Matthew 6:24). Check whether this or another deceitful deity has been your god, repent and seek the true Lord!

How many people bow down before Eros, the god of eroticism. People who act this way have lost their mind and need to be delivered from the wrath to come. The only way to be delivered from the coming punishment is to repent and humble oneself before the Lord, for those who act in this way will go through the worst trials. In God there is forgiveness, peace, and deliverance. Take advantage of this and cry out to Him!

Everyone should love God, leaving error and seeking His full will. If they despise Him, they will perish forever in the burning lake of fire and brimstone. Why abandon the One who is good and wants your well-being, to follow an impostor?

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares

God of true love! We don’t want to leave You or give ourselves to the enemy, so that he doesn’t possess what belongs to You. We are Your servants and dedicated to Your service. Therefore, we will never abandon You, we will never despise You nor run away from You!

The Israelites didn’t think about what they did, for they were deceived by the devil, just as Eve was in the garden of Eden. Why would anyone do such a thing, if You do not impose any burden or difficulty on us?

Accept our confession and plea for forgiveness for our sins, for nothing will take us out of Your plan. We are connected to You for eternity. Therefore, all temptations that surround us will be destroyed. We pray to You in Jesus’ Name!