Lesson from the OT #1

12 To Zedekiah king of Judah I spoke in like manner: "Bring your necks under the yoke of the king of Babylon, and serve him and his people and live. 13 Why will you and your people die by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence, as the Lord has spoken concerning any nation that will not serve the king of Babylon? 14 Do not listen to the words of the prophets who are saying to you, 'You shall not serve the king of Babylon,' for it is a lie that they are prophesying to you. 15 I have not sent them, declares the Lord, but they are prophesying falsely in my name, with the result that I will drive you out and you will perish, you and the prophets who are prophesying to you."
Jer 27:12-15 (ESV)

During the last days of the kingdom of Israel and Judah, God raised up a prophet named Jeremiah. But long before that (just to make things a bit more clearer), God promised Abraham that He would give him 3 things: children (as many as the stars), land (flowing with milk and honey), power (all nations who curse him will be cursed, and who bless him will be blessed).  All these had been fulfilled when David and Solomon came into power - the nations were flourishing and nations bow down to them. But this does not last long - after David died, his son Solomon (though he was wise and great) lead the nation into an apostasy. Instead of worshipping the Lord, the worship other gods that doesn't have any power whatsoevr. The result was, God was angry with them. 

After all that God had done for them, they still rebelled and refused to go back to the Lord! Until one day Jeremiah came into the scene and proclaimed the destruction of the nation. Jeremiah prophesied and calls the Israelites to submit to the Babylonians (despite of God's third promise of them being a nation that brings blessings) and leave the land and follow the Babylonians (despite of God's second promise of the land). 

Funny isn't it? God actually commands His people to be trampled and defeated by the enemy. He did these to test and rebuke the Israelites. You can imagine how "popular" Jeremiah was! Numerous of times, the people of Israelites had tried to kill him for his message. The people refused to listen to a word of warning from the Lord.

Sometimes i can see this too in my daily Christian walk with Christ. He promised His children that He would give us life. That He would comfort us. BUT sometimes, we have to take the hard way out (even death). Many times, the best way offered by God is the way that seems to fully contradicts His promise. Many times, we hate those who tells us that we are wrong and that we need to repent. We persecute those who tells us to turn back to the Gospel - Just like the Israelites. We forget that His promise is GREATER than the things that we see now. We forget that Jesus said "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me"...