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Nothing New Under the Sun
Shortly before Moses’ death, God spoke these words to him: “Behold, you are about to lie down with your fathers; and this people will arise and play the harlot with the strange gods of the land, into the midst of which they are going, and will forsake me and break my covenant which I have made with them. Then my anger will be kindled against them in that day, and I will forsake them and hide my face from them, and they will be consumed, and many evils and troubles will come upon them; so that they will say in that day, ‘Is it not because our God is not among us that these evils have come upon us?’ But I will surely hide my face in that day because of all the evil which they will do, for they will turn to other gods” (Deuteronomy 31.16-18).
Notice carefully the reference to these troubles which were to come upon Israel. They would say it was because of God. God said it was because of them. Which was true? Is this how it is with us? Is there nothing new under the sun?
After the evils and troubles came, Israel acknowledged, “Thus he has confirmed his words which he had spoken against us and against our rulers who ruled us, to bring on us great calamity. As it is written in the law of Moses, all this calamity has come on us; yet we have not sought the favor of the Lord our God by turning from our iniquity and giving attention to your truth” (Daniel 9.12-13). Jesus was sent for this very reason: “Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away everyone of you from his iniquities” (Acts 3.26).
Are there calamities in our lives? Which behavior of Israel shall we repeat: Blaming God or seeking his favor by turning from our iniquity and giving attention to his truth? The same blessing awaits.
