Micah 5:7-15 Scattered
God has just finished speaking of His Messiah bringing the remnant together. That is because they WOULD BE scattered among the nations.
There was no escaping this scattering of Israel and later Judah. Their sins in turning to other gods had made this a MUST in bring them back in line. If God could have done it a different way, He most likely would have. But He had already tried everything else.
Those that were scattered WOULD BE brought back together again. In verses 7 and 8 we see them brought back together in a process that waits for NO man. God would pull His people out from among the nations, regardless of what lay in their way.
The rain God is referencing, I’m wondering if it is a shower, a gentle rain, a regular rain, a down pour, or a driving rain. We are told it is “showers” at here. Showers can be refreshing or discouraging. Especially if those showers intensify.
We had our annual family gathering, Camp NaPa, yesterday. As part of the fun, we have blow up activities; water slide, bounce house and obstacle course. It started to sprinkle this morning and the company we rent from scrambled to get things picked up before it go too wet. They didn’t quite make it before the sprinkles turned into a shower, but at least it wasn’t raining hard by the time they were done.
God’s hand in bring His people out doesn’t stay a gentle refreshing rain. He likens their departure to a lion prowling among the sheep. They will ‘fight’ their way to freedom when the time comes. None will be able to hold them captive.
The MOST IMPORTANT part of God bringing out His people is that they will be free from ALL their idols. NONE of the idols that they worshiped before will be brought into their midst again. God will ‘hunt them out’ if necessary.
I am not 100% certain, but when the remnant returned from captivity, they did NOT bring back the idol worship of their fathers. During Jesus’ time there wasn’t rampant idol worship but there also wasn’t an adherence to the word of the Lord. The leaders had corrupted God’s word for their own benefit. They laid heavy burdens on the people that they weren’t willing to live by themselves. I don’t know how it is in Israel today, but the fact that, as a nation, they still reject Jesus says there is a SERIOUS problem with their ways. God STILL has work to do before they are ready for Jesus to rule and reign from Jerusalem.
It WILL happen! The ‘remnant’ WILL bow down and serve the Lord, including accepting the work Jesus did on the cross for ALL men. Without accepting Jesus’ work, there is NO salvation. The ‘remnant’ MUST accept this truth. And we are told that 144,000 of them will!
God has the right and responsibility to judge the nations. This is not simply judging Israel and Judah but ALL the nations. And not just in the time of the Old Testament, but ALL THE WAY to the end of time. The nations who follow Him will be saved. Those who don’t won’t. It is that plain.
MORE than just judging the nations, God is judging individual hearts. No longer will there be the excuse of “That’s not the way it is in my country.” EACH person is responsible for their own actions, regardless of ANY groups they associate with or are born into. This is also part of Jesus’ gifts on the cross. EACH person can choose to follow Him, no matter what those around him/her do. And each person is responsible for their own actions.
I live in a nation where once, the majority of the people were ‘Christians’. It has changed significantly over the years but there is STILL a great many people who follow the Lord. Who believe in His principles and follow Him as Lord and Savior. We are not the numbers we once were in days past but we are a far cry from the nations that literally hunt down those professing faith in Christ.
Father God, thank You again for the time I live in. I’m part of Your ‘global remnant’. Those who follow You no matter what their nation is doing. I’m looking forward to the day when You will rule on earth and ALL nations will see Jesus as King. When we see Him face to face.
There will still be those who refuse to follow him. They will eventually be judged for their choices
