Israel fell for the same reason people and nations fall today: sin. The amazing thing about God was and is that it doesn't have to be that way. In fact it never has to be this way. God ALWAYS provides a way out or a means of escape, and if that isn't enough He warns over, and over, and over before He does something:
13 The Lord warned Israel and Judah through all his prophets and seers: “Turn from your evil ways. Observe my commands and decrees, in accordance with the entire Law that I commanded your fathers to obey and that I delivered to you through my servants the prophets.” (2 Ki 17:13, NIV)
God gave Israel and Judah multiple chances over and over to change their ways. In the same way God warns us over and over, and keeps telling us if we will just turn from evil and turn TO HIM, things would be much different. The unfortunate thing is here is what happened:
14 But they would not listen and were as stiff-necked as their fathers, who did not trust in the Lord their God. 15 They rejected his decrees and the covenant he had made with their fathers and the warnings he had given them. They followed worthless idols and themselves became worthless. They imitated the nations around them although the Lord had ordered them, “Do not do as they do,” and they did the things the Lord had forbidden them to do. 16 They forsook all the commands of the Lord their God and made for themselves two idols cast in the shape of calves, and an Asherah pole. They bowed down to all the starry hosts, and they worshiped Baal. 17 They sacrificed their sons and daughters in the fire. They practiced divination and sorcery and sold themselves to do evil in the eyes of the Lord, provoking him to anger.
Their Sins were stacking up against them, they practiced so many things that God told them, in no uncertain terms, not to do. Guess what, they did it anyway..... they had to do what so many of us have to do, and that is that there is a time that we have to face the consequences.
22 The Israelites persisted in all the sins of Jeroboam and did not turn away from them 23 until the Lord removed them from his presence (2 Ki 17:22-23a, NIV)
It doesn't have to be that way, It never has to be that way.... remember this:
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 Jn 1:9, NIV)
God ALWAYS forgives when we confess, i love that thought. Here is another one, in the NT the word "forgive" means "as if it never happened", I love it "as if it never happened".
I know today was a little long, but God had really spoken to me in my devotion time today, and i wanted to share.
blessings on you and your day, remember to go somewhere and worship this Lord's day :)
chris
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