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Times of Disaster The King James Version uses the word EVIL, but other translations use the word DISASTER. The original Hebrew word for this is RAH meaning "bad or evil: adversity, affliction, bad, calamity, displeasure, distress, evil, exceedingly, great, grievous, harm, heavy, hurtful, ill favoured, mark, mischievous, misery, naughty, noisome, not please, sadly, sore, sorrow, trouble, vex, wickedly, worst, wretchedness, wrong." Some of these words may describe our lives. We tend to think about or remember the disasters that have happened to us in the past. We also keep these on the forefront of our minds so that we don't fall into the same trap, but this is a trick of the Devil. He desires that we be paranoid about our future instead of being at peace. Jeremiah speaks of disaster more than any other book in the Bible. Jeremiah was used to prophesy of disaster that the Lord was to bring. By studying Jeremiah we can see why disaster comes in our lives, how to keep disaster from coming to our lives, and what should happen after a disaster strikes. First, why does disaster come in our lives? Jeremiah 6:19 (NRSV) says, "Hear, O earth; I am going to bring disaster on this people, the fruit of their schemes, because they have not given heed to my words; and as for my teaching, they have rejected it." Jeremiah 19:15 says, "Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: I am now bringing upon this city and upon all its towns all the disaster that I have pronounced against it, because they have stiffened their necks, refusing to hear my words." Jeremiah 35:17 says, "Therefore, thus says the LORD, the God of hosts, the God of Israel: I am going to bring on Judah and on all the inhabitants of Jerusalem every disaster that I have pronounced against them; because I have spoken to them and they have not listened, I have called to them and they have not answered." If we reject the teaching of the Lord, stiffen our necks, refuse to hear His words, do not listen to the voice of the Lord and do not answer Him, disaster is bound to come in our lives. In these days we must be serious with God. God does not want to bring disaster into our lives, but rather He chastens us because He loves us. Jeremiah 42:10 says, "If you will only remain in this land, then I will build you up and not pull you down; I will plant you, and not pluck you up; for I am sorry for the disaster that I have brought upon you." Is God repenting here? No. The original translation means "to console or pity." God is saying here, "It hurts me to see you hurt, I love you." It is the picture of a loving parent and child. Notice the encouragement and promise the Lord gives at the beginning of this verse. Again, this is contingent only upon our choice of obedience. Next, how can we keep disaster from coming to our lives? Jeremiah 18:8 (NRSV) says, "but if that nation, concerning which I have spoken, turns from its evil, I will change my mind about the disaster that I intended to bring on it." Jeremiah 26:3 says, "It may be that they will listen, all of them, and will turn from their evil way, that I may change my mind about the disaster that I intend to bring on them because of their evil doings." Jeremiah 26:13 says, "Now therefore amend your ways and your doings, and obey the voice of the LORD your God, and the LORD will change his mind about the disaster that he has pronounced against you." If we turn from evil, listen to God, change our ways, and obey the voice of God, disaster will not come to us. Again this is all pertaining to our choices. God says that He will not bring any harm to those who are obedient to His words. Finally, if God does allow some disaster to strike because of our disobedience, what is the outcome? Does God say that our lives are over? Does He want us at the altar week after week trying to gain favor in His eyes? Let's remember God is as a parent who chastens His children because He loves them. Jeremiah 32:39-42 (NRSV) says, "I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear me for all time, for their own good and the good of their children after them. 40 I will make an everlasting covenant with them, never to draw back from doing good to them; and I will put the fear of me in their hearts, so that they may not turn from me. 41 I will rejoice in doing good to them, and I will plant them in this land in faithfulness, with all my heart and all my soul. 42 For thus says the LORD: Just as I have brought all this great disaster upon this people, so I will bring upon them all the good fortune that I now promise them." Let us listen and obey. God loves us and gives us hope. He desires that we be princes in His kingdom. May we allow God's glory to shine through us for the world to see. Not a face of despair, but a face of promise!
- CHAD ROSS
July 1996 Newsletter | "I Will Reveal Myself" | Pastor's Journal - July 1995 Snares, Traps and Nets part 1 of 6 | Times of Disaster | Heart Conditions Revised: July 23, 2009. |
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