05/12/20 WHAT’S IT GONNA TAKE?— Isaiah 9 starts with future GOOD NEWS: Someday God will send the Messiah—Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace (9:6). But starting in 9:8 is the BAD NEWS! God is incensed at the “pride and arrogance” (9:9-10); the Jews are even saying they can rebuild and restore anything God has damaged in His discipline on them. Isaiah 9:12, 17, 21 each say “In all this, His anger has not turned away, and His hand is still raised to strike” (also 5:25 and 10:4). God has “turned up the heat” at least three times, determined to get their attention. But, sadly, it was to no avail. Almighty God announced His decision to destroy the land of Judah and send His people into exile, the MAJORITY NEVER TO RETURN, EVEN TO THIS DAY! Isaiah 9:13-14 (CSB) says “The people did not turn to Him who struck them; they did not seek the Lord of Armies. 14 So the Lord cut off Israel’s head and tail, palm branch and reed in a single day.”

          In America, many proudly parade their disdain for law and order, life itself, and Judeo-Christian principles; and there’s political graft and corruption and sexual immorality every day, all day and night long, on TV, the Internet, signs and T-shirts and in books, newspapers, etc. Surely God’s patience is wearing thin.

Whether or not God actually inflicted this plague on us, I do NOT know. But He chooses NOT to STOP it. WHY? WHAT’S IT GONNA TAKE for Us to Turn Back to God, to Jesus, to the Bible? How long will we continue to ignore and defy God in our over-confident arrogance and suffer His discipline? WHAT ELSE does He need to do to GET OUR ATTENTION? PLEASE, LET’S ALL FALL ON OUR KNEES, CONFESS OUR SINS AND ASK HIM TO FORGIVE US, BEFORE IT GETS ANY WORSE!