One of the constant preoccupations of mankind in general is to obtain a vision of their future. It is human nature to want to know what is going to happen, when it is going to happen, and what we can do to best prepare for any eventuality that the future might hold. To this end, the would gathers groups of scientists to gather asking them to come up with worst case scenarios, to predict storm cycles and the severity of subsequent storms using scientific methods, in the hope that we might somehow get a glimpse, a peak, into what the future holds.
In order to truly peer into the future however, barring divine revelation, one must not only understand the present, but be well acquainted with the past as well. The times may have changed, technology may have advanced, civilization may have reached its zenith, but human nature has remained, throughout the ages, unchanging and oddly predictable.
During the reign of King David, the children of Issachar had understanding of the times, and as such they knew what Israel ought to do. One of the ways in which we too can be as the children of Issachar were is to analyze the past, observe what happened, and why it happened.
There is one universal truth that remains constant, namely that actions have consequences, and if we can discern the consequences of the actions of those who came before us, we can get a glimpse into our own future if we are determined to take the same actions. If we do as those of past generations have done we will suffer the same consequences they suffered, because God is not a respecter of persons, nor does He play favorites. Although we might think ourselves to as someone once said, a new species of humanity which for the first time in history has no fear of consequence, who believes that everything is permissible from blasphemy, to idolatry, to the murder of innocents, to daily denial of God, the day of reckoning is quickly approaching, a day in which the fallacy of what we thought will be utterly crushed under the weight of reality. Due to the knowledge that we serve an unchanging God, a God who remains the same yesterday, today and forever, we can be certain that the consequences of our actions will mirror the consequences of those who were and are no more.
So what can we learn from those that came before us? What lessons can they teach us? Even going as far back as the Garden of Eden, and analyzing the first man and woman, we can learn what not to do, what to avoid, and what our end result will be if we choose to follow the same path they did.
We all know of the paradise God created for Adam and Eve, we all know of the fellowship of which they partook with the heavenly Father, and we also know that due to their doubting and disregarding the word of God, and command of God, they were evicted form Eden, stripped of their immortality, the woman made to bring forth children in pain, the man made to eat his bread in the sweat of his face until he returned to the ground.
Fast forward to the flood, or to the tower of Babel, and once more we see mankind distancing itself from God, all the while doing all that it can to be like God, blinded by their arrogance, until God intervened and in His righteousness judged justly. Lest we forget, there is also Sodom and Gomorrah two cities surrounded by lush, beautiful and fertile lands, but filled with a citizenry given over to perversion and sin. They were allowed to prosper for a season, they were allowed to flourish until the day God had enough, and with a swift finality consumed these two cities with the burning fire of His wrath.
Although there are many more examples to be had, I want to settle on the nation of Israel for a while, and then reveal the purpose this stroll through ancient history. It is an undisputed biblical fact that Israel is a nation born of God, for Him, and for His plans. Even with all the benefits that Israel had, even with all the guidance, revelation and instruction God provided, they still chose to turn their backs on the one true God and follow after idols. As direct consequence of their departure from the ways of God, Israel suffered two wars, which led to the disintegration of the nation, the repercussions of which are still clearly visible after thousands of years. Long after the Assyrians had invaded, long after the king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, Ava and other nations and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel, we are once more witness to Israel’s rejection, this time of the Son of God Himself. Christ came, preached the truth, and was rejected by the people of His time, and once again we see the consequences of their rejection in the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple in 70A.D.
So what is the point of looking at these moments in time? The point is a simple one. Doubt, unbelief, evil, pride, immorality, idolatry and rejection of Christ have always been followed by the most severe of divine judgments known to man. In His righteous judgment "God punished and judged cities and nations for these individual sins, yet we are living in an age when all these sins have converged and are being committed at the same time. If those in Eden doubted the word of God, if those of Sodom were perverted, if the Jews of old were idolaters, and they were judged for their sin, what makes this present generation to think that we will not be judged when we are combining, and committing all the sins of those that came before us and worse?
The hour approaches when God’s righteous judgment will be made manifest throughout the world, and if we are wise, and have understanding of the times, this understanding will inevitably draw us to our knees in humble worship to and omnipotent God. In Him is life, in Him is hope, in Him is peace, in Him is comfort, in Him is safety, and in Him is refuge.
