GOD FLEXES
For I the LORD do NOT change. Malachi 3:6
For I the LORD do NOT change. Malachi 3:6
First
Word
·
There are three attributes of God
- Omnipotence,
Omniscience and Omnipresence. - He is all Powerful, all Knowing, and
everywhere all at once. - NYOBS 48.02 – THE GOD IDEA
·
He has a few
characteristics;
like He is an Invisable Spirit, full of love, grace and truth and the big ones which
are; He cannot lie and does not change.
·
But God is flexible and can be reasoned
with; this is what we are going to unpack in this Word Study; not God Changing,
but being flexible according to His Word and Character.
Rev 19:6 – HE is all powerful -
OMNIPOTENT
6 And I heard as it were
the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the
voice of mighty thunderings, saying, alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. KJV
Isa 46:10 – He is all
knowing - OMNISICENCE
10 I make known the end
from the beginning, NIV
Jer 23:24 – HE is ever
present- OMNIPRESENT
24 Can anyone hide in
secret places so that I cannot see him?"
declares the LORD. NIV
John 4:24 - He is a SPIRIT
24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in
spirit and in truth." NIV
Col 1:15 – He is INVISIBLE
15 He is the image of the
invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
1 John 4:8 – He is LOVE
8 Whoever does not love
does not know God, because God is love.
John 1:14 – He is full
of GRACE and TRUTH
14 The Word became
flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of
the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. NIV
James 1:17 – He does NOT CHANGE
17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. (NIV2011)
17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. (NIV2011)
Psalm 89:35 – He CANNOT LIE
35 I have sworn an oath to David, and in my holiness I cannot lie (NLT)
35 I have sworn an oath to David, and in my holiness I cannot lie (NLT)
God
Flexes with Noah
·
At some point man had become so
degenerated that God said, “I will blot out man” which sounds pretty final to
me. - And He did; except God flexed and Noah found favor in His eyes and
He saved him and his family; a remnant with which to start over.
·
It seems like there is always at
least one survivor of a war or destruction to bear witness of the story to
others and there is always a remnant of God’s people to continue on.
·
Case in point, just look at the
Jewish nation today and how many times they could have been wiped out;
obliterated and became extinct, but they are still here. – Praise God -
Genesis 6:3-8 – God will blot out man from the
face of the land
3 Then the LORD said, “My Spirit shall not abide in man forever, for he is flesh: his days shall be 120 years.”
5 The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
6 And the LORD regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart.
7 So the LORD said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them.”
8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD. (ESV)
3 Then the LORD said, “My Spirit shall not abide in man forever, for he is flesh: his days shall be 120 years.”
5 The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
6 And the LORD regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart.
7 So the LORD said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them.”
8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD. (ESV)
2 Kings 19:31 – There is always a remnant or a
survivor
31 For out of Jerusalem shall go forth a remnant, and out of mount Zion they that shall escape: the zeal of Jehovah shall perform this. (ASV)
31 For out of Jerusalem shall go forth a remnant, and out of mount Zion they that shall escape: the zeal of Jehovah shall perform this. (ASV)
God
Flexes with Abraham
·
God told Abraham to take his ONLY son
Isaac and sacrifice him as a burnt offering. – Sounds pretty final to me; but
God FLEXED and saved the lad and provided a ram for the offering.
·
I think it’s important here to understand
that God cannot change; He had already forbidden human sacrifices and this
was a test, not for God, but for Abraham to exercise his faith – (I have three children and I would
have failed this test three times.)
Genesis 22:2 – Take Isaac and sacrifice him as a
burnt offering
2 He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”
2 He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”
(ESV)
Genesis 22:12 – Don’t hurt Isaac – I know that you
fear Me
12 He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” (ESV)
12 He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” (ESV)
God Flexes with
Moses
·
God told Moses that because Israel had
worshipped a golden calf that His wrath was burning Hot against them and that
He would consume them. – Sounds pretty Final to me.
·
But… When you see “But” in
the scriptures, a “Therefore” is about to happen.
·
Moses reasons with God concerning His people and
God relented. Did God lie; did He change
or is this an example that God invites us to REASON with Him just to show us
that He is approachable and listens to our heart.
·
God is still angry with Israel and does
not destroy them but redraws and waits to see how Israel will reacts
to their humiliation concerning the Golden Calf incident.
·
He will not go up and lead
the way
among them knowing full well that His presence would CONSUME THEM. – He flexed
-
·
Israel; the children of
God
complained against Him concerning their misfortunes in the wilderness and God’s
anger was kindled against them.
·
The wrath of God’s anger burns and He sent
fire among Israel to consume them.
·
BUT... Moses REASONED with
God in prayer and the Lord RELENTED. – He flexed -
Exodus 32:7-10 – My wrath will consume Israel
7 And the LORD said to Moses, “Go down, for your people, whom you brought up out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves.
8 They have turned aside quickly out of the way that I commanded them. They have made for themselves a golden calf and have worshiped it and sacrificed to it and said, ‘These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!’”
9 And the LORD said to Moses, “I have seen this people, and behold, it is a stiff-necked people.
10 Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may burn hot against them and I may CONSUME them, in order that I may make a great nation of you.”
7 And the LORD said to Moses, “Go down, for your people, whom you brought up out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves.
8 They have turned aside quickly out of the way that I commanded them. They have made for themselves a golden calf and have worshiped it and sacrificed to it and said, ‘These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!’”
9 And the LORD said to Moses, “I have seen this people, and behold, it is a stiff-necked people.
10 Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may burn hot against them and I may CONSUME them, in order that I may make a great nation of you.”
Exodus 32:10-13 – Moses REASONS with God
11 BUT Moses implored the LORD his God and said, “O LORD, why does your wrath burn hot against your people, whom you have brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand?
12 Why should the Egyptians say, ‘With evil intent did he bring them out, to kill them in the mountains and to consume them from the face of the earth’? Turn from your burning anger and RELENT from this disaster against your people.
13 Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants, to whom you swore by your own self, and said ‘I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have promised I will give to your offspring, and they shall inherit it forever.’” (ESV)
11 BUT Moses implored the LORD his God and said, “O LORD, why does your wrath burn hot against your people, whom you have brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand?
12 Why should the Egyptians say, ‘With evil intent did he bring them out, to kill them in the mountains and to consume them from the face of the earth’? Turn from your burning anger and RELENT from this disaster against your people.
13 Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants, to whom you swore by your own self, and said ‘I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have promised I will give to your offspring, and they shall inherit it forever.’” (ESV)
Exodus 32:13 GOD RELENTED from the disaster
14 And the Lord RELENTED from the disaster that he had spoken of bringing on his people. (ESV)
14 And the Lord RELENTED from the disaster that he had spoken of bringing on his people. (ESV)
Isaiah 1:18 – Come and REASON with ME
18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith Jehovah: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. (ASV)
18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith Jehovah: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. (ASV)
Exodus 33:5 – God withdraws to avoid COMSUMING
Israel
5 For the LORD had said to Moses, “Say to the people of Israel, ‘You are a stiff-necked people; if for a single moment I should go up among you, I would CONSUME you. So now take off your ornaments, that I may know what to do with you.’” (ESV)
5 For the LORD had said to Moses, “Say to the people of Israel, ‘You are a stiff-necked people; if for a single moment I should go up among you, I would CONSUME you. So now take off your ornaments, that I may know what to do with you.’” (ESV)
Numbers 11:1-2 - My wrath will consume Israel with
fire
1 And the people complained in the hearing of the LORD about their misfortunes, and when the LORD heard it, his anger was kindled, and the fire of the LORD burned among them and consumed some outlying parts of the camp
1 And the people complained in the hearing of the LORD about their misfortunes, and when the LORD heard it, his anger was kindled, and the fire of the LORD burned among them and consumed some outlying parts of the camp
Numbers 11:2. – Moses prayed and the Lord relented
2 Then the people cried out to Moses, and Moses prayed to the LORD, and the fire died down. (ESV)
2 Then the people cried out to Moses, and Moses prayed to the LORD, and the fire died down. (ESV)
James 5:16 – The prayers of a righteous man does a
lot
16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. (NKJV)
16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. (NKJV)
God’s Flexes
His Course Corrections
·
God changed His Course
Correction method
in dealing with Israel’s hard heartedness.
·
He led them for 40 years in the wilderness as a course
correction to humble them and to test them so that they might
know what was in their own hearts.
·
God decided to NOT drive
out
some of the nations before Israel with a different course correction; He
allowed those nations to become a judgment tool to test Israel’s
faithfulness.
·
The people rejected God’s
reign
over them, so He gave them Saul as their King. – Saul did not perform God’s statues,
so God flexes with a different course correction.
·
He rejected Saul and left him; He SEPARATED
Himself from him till his death. (So Sad)
Deuteronomy 8:2-3 – Wander 40 years to test Israel
2 And you shall remember the whole way that the LORD your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not.
3 And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD. (ESV)
2 And you shall remember the whole way that the LORD your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not.
3 And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD. (ESV)
Judges 2:20-22 – Used the pagan nations to test
Israel
20 Then the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel; and He said, "Because this nation has transgressed My covenant which I commanded their fathers, and has not heeded My voice,
21 I also will no longer drive out before them any of the nations which Joshua left when he died,
22 so that through them I may test Israel, whether they will keep the ways of the LORD, to walk in them as their fathers kept them, or not." (NKJV)
20 Then the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel; and He said, "Because this nation has transgressed My covenant which I commanded their fathers, and has not heeded My voice,
21 I also will no longer drive out before them any of the nations which Joshua left when he died,
22 so that through them I may test Israel, whether they will keep the ways of the LORD, to walk in them as their fathers kept them, or not." (NKJV)
1 Samuel 8:6-7 – Israel rejects God’s reign; they
want a King
6 But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, "Give us a king to judge us." So Samuel prayed to the LORD.
7 And the LORD said to Samuel, "Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them. (NKJV)
6 But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, "Give us a king to judge us." So Samuel prayed to the LORD.
7 And the LORD said to Samuel, "Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them. (NKJV)
1 Samuel 15:23 – Rebellion is as the sin of
witchcraft
23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He also has rejected you from being king." (NKJV)
23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He also has rejected you from being king." (NKJV)
1 Samuel 15:10-35 – God regrets He made Saul King
10 Now the word of the LORD came to Samuel, saying,
11 "I greatly regret that I have set up Saul as king, for he has turned back from following Me, and has not performed My commandments." And it grieved Samuel, and he cried out to the LORD all night. (NKJV)
10 Now the word of the LORD came to Samuel, saying,
11 "I greatly regret that I have set up Saul as king, for he has turned back from following Me, and has not performed My commandments." And it grieved Samuel, and he cried out to the LORD all night. (NKJV)
1 Samuel 15:35 – God rejects Saul – Separates
Himself from him
35 And Samuel went no more to see Saul until the day of his death. Nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul, and the LORD regretted that He had made Saul king over Israel. (NKJV)
35 And Samuel went no more to see Saul until the day of his death. Nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul, and the LORD regretted that He had made Saul king over Israel. (NKJV)
God Flexes with Reasoning
·
King Hezekiah had been told to set his
house in order that he was about to die.
·
BUT he prayed and REASONED with God and God heard his
prayer and added fifteen years to his life.
·
David had sinned and God let David CHOOSE
from three different options of punishment three years of famine,
or three months to be defeated by his foes or three days with the
sword of the LORD.
·
David chose to fall into the hands of
God and God RELENTED of the disaster with only 70,000
men dying.
2 Kings 20:1-7 – King Hezekiah reasoned in prayer
with God
1 In those days Hezekiah was sick and near death. And Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, went to him and said to him, "Thus says the LORD: 'Set your house in order, for you shall die, and not live.
2 Then he turned his face toward the wall, and prayed to the LORD, saying,
3 Remember now, O LORD, I pray, how I have walked before You in truth and with a loyal heart, and have done what was good in Your sight." And Hezekiah wept bitterly.
4 And it happened, before Isaiah had gone out into the middle court, that the word of the LORD came to him, saying,
5 Return and tell Hezekiah the leader of My people, 'Thus says the LORD, the God of David your father: "I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; surely I will heal you. On the third day you shall go up to the house of the LORD.
6 And I will add to your days fifteen years. I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for My own sake, and for the sake of My servant David.
7 Then Isaiah said, "Take a lump of figs." So they took and laid it on the boil, and he recovered.
1 In those days Hezekiah was sick and near death. And Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, went to him and said to him, "Thus says the LORD: 'Set your house in order, for you shall die, and not live.
2 Then he turned his face toward the wall, and prayed to the LORD, saying,
3 Remember now, O LORD, I pray, how I have walked before You in truth and with a loyal heart, and have done what was good in Your sight." And Hezekiah wept bitterly.
4 And it happened, before Isaiah had gone out into the middle court, that the word of the LORD came to him, saying,
5 Return and tell Hezekiah the leader of My people, 'Thus says the LORD, the God of David your father: "I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; surely I will heal you. On the third day you shall go up to the house of the LORD.
6 And I will add to your days fifteen years. I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for My own sake, and for the sake of My servant David.
7 Then Isaiah said, "Take a lump of figs." So they took and laid it on the boil, and he recovered.
(NKJV)
1 Chronicles 21:11-15 – God lets David choose his
punishment
11 So Gad came to David and said to him, "Thus says the LORD: 'CHOOSE for yourself,
12 either three years of famine, or three months to be defeated by your foes with the sword of your enemies overtaking you, or else for three days the sword of the LORD--the plague in the land, with the angel of the LORD destroying throughout all the territory of Israel.' Now consider what answer I should take back to Him who sent me."
13 And David said to Gad, "I am in great distress. Please let me fall into the hand of the LORD, for His mercies are very great; but do not let me fall into the hand of man."
14 So the LORD sent a plague upon Israel, and seventy thousand men of Israel fell.
15 And God sent an angel to Jerusalem to destroy it. As he was destroying, the LORD looked and RELENTED of the disaster, and said to the angel who was destroying, "It is enough; now restrain your hand." And the angel of the LORD stood by the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. (NKJV)
11 So Gad came to David and said to him, "Thus says the LORD: 'CHOOSE for yourself,
12 either three years of famine, or three months to be defeated by your foes with the sword of your enemies overtaking you, or else for three days the sword of the LORD--the plague in the land, with the angel of the LORD destroying throughout all the territory of Israel.' Now consider what answer I should take back to Him who sent me."
13 And David said to Gad, "I am in great distress. Please let me fall into the hand of the LORD, for His mercies are very great; but do not let me fall into the hand of man."
14 So the LORD sent a plague upon Israel, and seventy thousand men of Israel fell.
15 And God sent an angel to Jerusalem to destroy it. As he was destroying, the LORD looked and RELENTED of the disaster, and said to the angel who was destroying, "It is enough; now restrain your hand." And the angel of the LORD stood by the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. (NKJV)
God Flexes with Humbling
·
Rehoboam
had abandoned God and therefore God abandoned his kingdom;
to be destroyed.
·
BUT, Rehoboam
humbled himself and God FLEXED
and just made them servants to their enemy and did not completely destroy them.
·
The one who humbles
himself will be exalted. – Jesus set the example and humbled Himself and died a
criminals’ death on the cross.
2 Chronicles 12:5-8 – Rehoboam HUMBLED himself –
God Flexed
5 Then Shemaiah the prophet came to Rehoboam and to the princes of Judah, who had gathered at Jerusalem because of Shishak, and said to them, “Thus says the LORD, ‘You abandoned me, so I have abandoned you to the hand of Shishak.’”
6 Then the princes of Israel and the king HUMBLED themselves and said, “The LORD is righteous.”
7 When the LORD saw that they humbled themselves, the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah: “They have HUMBLED themselves. I will not destroy them, but I will grant them some deliverance, and my wrath shall not be poured out on Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak.
8 NEVERTHELESS, they shall be servants to him, that they may know my service and the service of the kingdoms of the countries.” (ESV)
5 Then Shemaiah the prophet came to Rehoboam and to the princes of Judah, who had gathered at Jerusalem because of Shishak, and said to them, “Thus says the LORD, ‘You abandoned me, so I have abandoned you to the hand of Shishak.’”
6 Then the princes of Israel and the king HUMBLED themselves and said, “The LORD is righteous.”
7 When the LORD saw that they humbled themselves, the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah: “They have HUMBLED themselves. I will not destroy them, but I will grant them some deliverance, and my wrath shall not be poured out on Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak.
8 NEVERTHELESS, they shall be servants to him, that they may know my service and the service of the kingdoms of the countries.” (ESV)
Luke 14:11 - The one who
HUMBLES himself will be exalted
11 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” (HCSB)
11 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” (HCSB)
Philippians 2:8 – Jesus humbled Himself in
obedience to God
8 He humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. (NLT)
8 He humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. (NLT)
God flexes with Obedience
·
The people of Nineveh were a great EVIL city
and God proclaimed through His prophet that He would destroy them in forty
days.
·
BUT, the people repented;
returned to Him with fasting, weeping and mourning wearing sackcloth and sitting
in ashes; praying that God MIGHT RELENT and He did.
·
Return to God; who knows whether he
will not turn and Relent and leave a blessing behind instead of a disaster.
·
God has placed His Word
before us
and we have a choice to listen or not listen, the choice is ours and so are the
consequences.
·
But even if we have not
listened and we mend our ways, He will relent of the disaster He intends
toward us.
Jonah 3:1-10 – Nineveh returned to God and He FLEXED
1 Then the word of the LORD came to Jonah the second time, saying,
2 Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it the message that I tell you.”
3 So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, three days’ journey in breadth.
4 Jonah began to go into the city, going a day’s journey. And he called out, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!”
5 And the people of Nineveh believed God. They called for a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them.
6 The word reached the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, removed his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.
7 And he issued a proclamation and published through Nineveh, “By the decree of the king and his nobles: Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything. Let them not feed or drink water,
8 but let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and let them call out mightily to God. Let everyone turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands.
9 WHO KNOWS? God may turn and RELENT and turn from his fierce anger, so that we may not perish.”
10 When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, GOD RELENTED of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it. (ESV)
1 Then the word of the LORD came to Jonah the second time, saying,
2 Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it the message that I tell you.”
3 So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, three days’ journey in breadth.
4 Jonah began to go into the city, going a day’s journey. And he called out, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!”
5 And the people of Nineveh believed God. They called for a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them.
6 The word reached the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, removed his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.
7 And he issued a proclamation and published through Nineveh, “By the decree of the king and his nobles: Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything. Let them not feed or drink water,
8 but let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and let them call out mightily to God. Let everyone turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands.
9 WHO KNOWS? God may turn and RELENT and turn from his fierce anger, so that we may not perish.”
10 When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, GOD RELENTED of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it. (ESV)
Joel 2:12-14 – Return to God – He may FLEX his
judgment
12 Yet even now,” declares the LORD, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;
13 and rend your hearts and not your garments.” Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and He RELENTS over disaster.
14 WHO KNOWS whether he will not turn and RELENT, and leave a blessing behind him, a grain offering and a drink offering for the LORD your God?
12 Yet even now,” declares the LORD, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;
13 and rend your hearts and not your garments.” Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and He RELENTS over disaster.
14 WHO KNOWS whether he will not turn and RELENT, and leave a blessing behind him, a grain offering and a drink offering for the LORD your God?
(ESV)
Jeremiah 26:2-7 – CHOICE – Listen or Don’t Listen
2 Thus says the LORD: Stand in the court of the LORD’s house, and speak to all the cities of Judah that come to worship in the house of the LORD all the words that I command you to speak to them; do not hold back a word.
3 It may be they WILL listen, and every one turn from his evil way, that I may RELENT of the disaster that I intend to do to them because of their evil deeds.
4 You shall say to them, ‘Thus says the LORD: If you will NOT LISTEN to me, to walk in my law that I have set before you,
5 and to listen to the words of my servants the prophets whom I send to you urgently, though you have not listened,
6 then I will make this house like Shiloh, and I will make this city a CURSE for all the nations of the earth.’”
7 The priests and the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the house of the LORD.
2 Thus says the LORD: Stand in the court of the LORD’s house, and speak to all the cities of Judah that come to worship in the house of the LORD all the words that I command you to speak to them; do not hold back a word.
3 It may be they WILL listen, and every one turn from his evil way, that I may RELENT of the disaster that I intend to do to them because of their evil deeds.
4 You shall say to them, ‘Thus says the LORD: If you will NOT LISTEN to me, to walk in my law that I have set before you,
5 and to listen to the words of my servants the prophets whom I send to you urgently, though you have not listened,
6 then I will make this house like Shiloh, and I will make this city a CURSE for all the nations of the earth.’”
7 The priests and the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the house of the LORD.
(ESV)
Jeremiah 26:12-13 – Mend your ways – Obey – He
will FLEX
12 Then Jeremiah spoke to all the officials and all the people, saying, “The LORD sent me to prophesy against this house and this city all the words you have heard.
13 Now therefore mend your ways and your deeds, and obey the voice of the LORD your God, and the LORD will RELENT of the disaster that he has pronounced against you. (ESV)
12 Then Jeremiah spoke to all the officials and all the people, saying, “The LORD sent me to prophesy against this house and this city all the words you have heard.
13 Now therefore mend your ways and your deeds, and obey the voice of the LORD your God, and the LORD will RELENT of the disaster that he has pronounced against you. (ESV)
Last
Thoughts – FLEXING
·
R.C. Sproul; “God sets forth
principles in the Bible where He gives threats of judgment to motivate His
people to repentance. Sometimes He
spells it out specifically, but if you repent,
I will not carry out the treat. – He doesn’t always add that qualifier, but it’s there”.
·
If God declares concerning a nation, that
He will destroy it, and IF that
nation, turns from its evil, THEN
God will FLEX and relent of the disaster that He intended to do to it. And if He declares concerning a nation that He
will build and plant it, and IF the nation does evil in His sight, not listening to His
voice, THEN He will FLEX and relent of the good that
He had intended to do to it
·
IF we as Christians and
followers of Christ humble ourselves, and pray and seek God’s face
and turn from our wicked ways, THEN
He will hear from heaven and will FLEX
and forgive our sins and heal our land.
·
God is not changing; He is just doing what He
said He would do; He will respond accordingly to His Word and to our actions. –
He cannot Lie.
·
He invites us to REASON
with Him; though our sins be red as scarlet that can become
white as wool.
·
Your name is already in
the Book of Life;
it’s up to you whether it is blotted out or not.
LIFE IS CHOICE
DRIVEN
Jeremiah 18:5-10 – God will FLEX based on man’s
reactions
5 Then the word of the LORD came to me:
6 O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter has done? declares the LORD. Behold, like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.
7 If at any time I declare concerning a nation or a kingdom, that I will pluck up and break down and destroy it,
8 and if that nation, concerning which I have spoken, turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I intended to do to it.
9 And if at any time I declare concerning a nation or a kingdom that I will build and plant it,
10 and if it does evil in my sight, not listening to my voice, then I will relent of the good that I had intended to do to it.
5 Then the word of the LORD came to me:
6 O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter has done? declares the LORD. Behold, like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.
7 If at any time I declare concerning a nation or a kingdom, that I will pluck up and break down and destroy it,
8 and if that nation, concerning which I have spoken, turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I intended to do to it.
9 And if at any time I declare concerning a nation or a kingdom that I will build and plant it,
10 and if it does evil in my sight, not listening to my voice, then I will relent of the good that I had intended to do to it.
(ESV)
2 Chronicles 7:14 – God will FLEX when we humble
ourselves
14 if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
14 if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
(ESV)
Isaiah 1:18 – Come and lets REASON together
18 Come now, and let us REASON together, saith Jehovah: though your SINS be (Red) as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be (white) as wool.
18 Come now, and let us REASON together, saith Jehovah: though your SINS be (Red) as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be (white) as wool.
(ASV)
Revelation 3:5 – Name in the Book of Life will not
be blotted out
5 The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the BOOK OF LIFE. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels.
5 The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the BOOK OF LIFE. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels.
(ESV)
In
the multitude of counselors,
there is wisdom.
Proverbs 11:14
I
am grateful to those that went before me providing concepts, ideas, historical
information, and scripture verses.
Because of them I can stand on their shoulders and see further that I
otherwise ever could have.
Bible Almanac; The – Packer-Tenney-White
Bible Dictionary – Harper and Row
Book of Bible Lists – Meredith’s
English Standard Version
Bible – ESV
Expositor’s Bible
Commentary – Frank E. Gaebelein
Illustrated Bible
Dictionary – Nelson’s
Invisible War; The – Donald Grey Barnhouse
King James Version Bible –
KJV
Mysteries of the Bible – Readers Digest
New International
Dictionary of the Bible; The – Douglas -
Tenney
New International Version
Bible - NIV
Thru the Bible – J. Vernon McGee
Wikipedia -
Zondervan Pictorial
Encyclopedia of the Bible; The - Tenney
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