You don’t have to be a believer to have hit a point in life where you’re suffering because of all the wrong you’ve done.
When tragedy strikes, we think to ourselves:
“Why me?”
“What did I do to deserve this?”
“I must have done something wrong!”
It’s natural to see circumstances and instantly believe that they are the result of something that we have done.
This is how we learn!
We see the condition of a result and attach to it, the process that led to that result.
Because we are so accustomed to explaining results by looking at what led to them, we do this with situations that had nothing to do with us.
Guilt will attack our minds over results that were completely out of our control!
We assume that we control a lot more than we actually do.
For example, it’s common for those who have lost their loved one in a car accident to blame themselves.
They conclude that, because they asked their loved one to pick up groceries that day, they are the cause of their loved one’s death.
Because we accredit ourselves with good results, we can’t escape the double-edged sword that also holds us responsible for terrible results.
This is why most tragedies cause those affected to do something destructive towards themselves.
The guilt eats at them and they turn to destructive measures to numb the pain of that guilt.
Some people find out through counseling, that what they feel guilt for was not within their capacity of control.
Unfortunately, most dive down a deep hole of depression and self-destruction, because they cannot handle the weight of causing such terrible results.
We need to address tragedy.
The goal is to prevent guilt or fear from keeping you from seeing the miracle on the other side of misery.
If you only look at the misfortune, you miss how God could be working everything for your good.
The devil will suggest that you focus on what damaged you and threw your life off track.
This keeps you from seeing what God is building and how He is putting your life on a whole new track, headed towards abundant life!
“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”Romans 8:28 NKJV.
You thought that you would continue to advance in the company that you were in, but corporate slashed the budget and you were laid off.
The medical test results came in and you were diagnosed with a deadly illness.
Your landlord has raised the rent for the third time this year, while your job has not raised your wages.
The business that you started is not as successful as you hoped it would be after a year of operation, so you are stuck juggling the business, your 9 to 5, and caring for your family.
You feel tragically stuck and out of control!
You could focus on what you may have done wrong and on how hopeless your life appears to be… or,
You could consider the possibility that God is still on the throne and you have not left His loving embrace.
Perhaps God truly loves you and knows exactly what He is doing; you just can’t see it right now.
Is it possible that what you thought was a tragedy, is actually a rescue mission?
In this post, I want to show you a story in history, when the people of Moab were heading for captivity.
They experienced their lives being thrown off of the course that they thought it would continue to go in.
Their lifestyles were pleasant and their futures were seemingly bright according to worldly standards.
All of a sudden, their lives turned upside down!
It truly is a tragic story, but I encourage you to look closely and you might find that captivity is NOT what we thought it was!
Go to
Jeremiah 48.
“For because you have trusted in your works and your treasures, You also shall be taken. And Chemosh shall go forth into captivity, His priests and his princes together.”Jeremiah 48:7 NKJV.
““Moab has been at ease from his youth; He has settled on his dregs, And has not been emptied from vessel to vessel, Nor has he gone into captivity. Therefore his taste remained in him, And his scent has not changed.”Jeremiah 48:11 NKJV.
““Therefore behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord, “That I shall send him wine-workers Who will tip him over And empty his vessels And break the bottles.”Jeremiah 48:12 NKJV.
THEREFORE.
That one word helps us understand this text.
I once heard Priscilla Shirer say that, if you are reading the Bible and come across a “therefore”… you better find out what it’s there for.
In this case, we see that it’s explaining the consequences that Moab is facing!
This is so important!
The passage tells us that Moab had a very comfortable existence.
They had many treasures and trusted in them.
The land has not yet faced any consequences from God.
Because they never had repercussions, they continued to walk on their own ways, trusting in their riches and understanding.
They never faced a captivity, so their tastes and smells were never different.
Everyday, they got to enjoy their land and they have become very accustomed to their way of life.
Because they have never left this pleasant land, they have no desire for anything different.
Why would you need to change what you’re consuming if you always have what you like in front of you?
They don’t know what it’s like to be brought under the power of another land, so their lifestyles remain the same.
Therefore, God sends them into captivity to change their perspectives and give them a new understanding.
Changing the flavors of their environment, made Moab able to see something new.
They were now paying attention and found themselves in need.
They were going the wrong direction in life and because they were so comfortable, they had no reason to change.
God sent them to a very uncomfortable place in order to change their mindsets and open their closed hearts!
He had to change the comfortable surroundings in order to get their attention.
Captivity actually set them free!
God wasn’t condemning this land, He was actually saving the land!
We know this because of the very last verse of this chapter…
““Yet I will bring back the captives of Moab In the latter days,” says the Lord. Thus far is the judgment of Moab.”Jeremiah 48:47 NKJV.
God was going to bring them back, but not while their hearts were still dependent on the comforts of Moab and the delicacies that they have trusted in.
Another question stirs in my heart…
Moab wasn’t Israel…
Israel is God’s chosen people.
Why did God go through so much trouble to save Moab from their own destructive behavior?
God could just let them sit in their wickedness and eventually meet their demise…
So, why did God want to save their hearts and bring their attention back to Him?
Let’s look at Moab’s history.
The land Moab, originated from a man named Moab.
Moab was born from Lot’s daughter, who deceptively conceiving a child with her father.
This land was separated from Israel, so why did God care about their decisions?
Because God has always been the same.
Whether Israelite or stranger, God has always had the door open for all to dwell with Him if they diligently seek to.
God has always had a heart for the stranger or those who are far away.
“The stranger who dwells among you shall be to you as one born among you, and you shall love him as yourself; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.”Leviticus 19:34 NKJV.
God loves all of His creation and longs to bring them all into His embrace.
Of course it is each persons choice where they will dwell.
Just know that God may be using the season of captivity in your life, to get your attention and bring you back to Him!
He hasn’t given up on you!
The captivity that you feel that you are in, is actually God’s way of saving you!
Photo by Liza Summer
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
