In Favor Today, Out Tomorrow…
One of the strange things about life is you can be riding high one day, and the next day you can be looking up at those you were treading on the day before. It never pays to ge too comfortable in success:
9 But a prophet of the Lord named Oded was there in Samaria when the army of Israel returned home. He went out to meet them and said, "The Lord, the God of your ancestors, was angry with Judah and let you defeat them. But you have gone too far, killing them without mercy, and all heaven is disturbed. 10 And now you are planning to make slaves of these people from Judah and Jerusalem. What about your own sins against the Lord your God? 11 Listen to me and return these prisoners you have taken, for they are your own relatives. Watch out, because now the Lord‘s fierce anger has been turned against you!" 2 Chronicles 28: 9-11 (NLT)
In the above passage of scripture the prophet Obed was giving a message to the children of Israel upon their return from devouring Judah and taking captive over 200,000 women and children taking them to Samaria. They had utterly ravaged the land and now had intent to make the children of Judah slaves. In this message Obed is reminding them that they too are sinners, and that Judah is their brother. How could they impose such destruction upon their brother and further humiliate them by making them slaves? Obed instructed them to return the captives back to their land, considering themselves as those in need of mercy.
This reminds me of Galatians the 6:1 (NLT)
Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself.
While we are basking in our accomplishments and not only looking down on someone who has not achieved our level of accomplishment, but also treading upon them to ensure our success – there is someone else waiting in the wings to take our place. The children of Israel thought that because King Ahaz of Judah won disfavor with God that they were justified in treating Judah as being less them their kin. They did this, not considering themselves. There are people right now in this nation who are doing the same thing; looking at those who are in poverty, or other forms of second class citizenship and feel justified in keeping their feet on their neck. In the book of Isaiah, one thing we learned about those who act as oppressors is that they have a time when their sins will find them out.
It was true in Isaiah’s day and it is true today. Hebrews 13:2 (AMP) says:
Do not neglect to extend hospitality to strangers [especially among the family of believers—being friendly, cordial, and gracious, sharing the comforts of your home and doing your part generously], for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.
Enough said,
Maria