"The disaster, the bullfrog, and the restoration"

[This topic came to mind during my morning devotion, today]

Once upon a time, thousands of years ago in the area that we now call the middle east, there was a country that was so blessed by God that it was called, "A land flowing with milk and honey". This country, known as Israel, started out pretty well. It's people were known as the chosen generation. Man, it couldn't be going any better for them. They had some great leaders, such as a man named David and his son, Solomon (who's name means peace). Israel had great leadership, great resources, and a thriving economy. They were admired by the world over (except for some countries who were jealous of their success). Yet, several centuries later, this country lay in ruins. They had been decimated by a neighboring civilization. [the disaster].

So, what happened to cause this disaster? The answer to that question is quite complex, but for the sake of brevity, we can take a look at a few noticeable changes in their cultural and religious behavior that can give us some dramatic insight into what went wrong. This country started out being founded on Godly principles as found in their holy book called the Torah (otherwise known to us as the first five books of the Old Testament). The people learned to include God into their lives and culture. The people taught their children these Godly principles. But, over the centuries, the people got distracted by the pagan influences around them and began idolizing other gods and even themselves. They began sacrificing their children to foreign gods in hope that these foreign gods would bless them. Finally, the people and their leaders utterly purged the one true God, Jehovah, from nearly all aspects of their society.

God had obviously noticed the decline of this once "shining star" of a nation. So, he sent many spokesmen (people we refer to as prophets) to it's people to tell them to change their ways and return to worshiping him, and following his laws. The people responded by ignoring and/or beating and killing many of God's prophets. One such prophet was known as Jeremiah [the bullfrog].

Jeremiah had a "ring-side" seat to what was taking place in his country. He loved his country. God spoke to him and told him to deliver an ominous message of destruction to his people. "The bullfrog" was reluctant, since he knew it was hazardous duty to deliver that kind of message. Nevertheless, Jeremiah complied. He told his people and it's leaders many times that if they did not return to God and forsake their pagan ways and practices, then God would destroy them using a foreign nation. Was God being unkind, you ask? Well, remember in the days of their founding, the country had loved God. God told them many times in the early days that if they obeyed, loved, and served Him only, that He would protect them and bless them far greater than they could imagine; which He did. But, if they didn't serve God only, He told them He would forsake them, which would ultimately lead to their destruction.

So, the people continued on their path to destruction. When the destruction was complete, the cities lay in ruins. Most of the people were hauled off into captivity. Jeremiah lamented that his beloved country lay in ruins. Yet, even as he was full of sorrow over these events, he knew God had promised to be compassionate and one day restore this civilization. [the restoration].

After a period of exile, the people returned home and rebuilt their country. They found old copies of their holy scriptures and relearned the principles of God. They rebuilt their place to worship God (the Temple). They destroyed the pagan elements of their society. God blessed their efforts with a new civilization.

In closing, there are obvious parallels between Israel's saga and the present condition and trajectory of our beloved country. So, what can we do? Perhaps we should listen to God and his true prophets, to avoid the same fate as Israel encountered. Individually, It all starts on our knees, praying for our country and ourselves. It then continues, in learning to be dependent on and obedient to God and His principles. That's something that has to happen anew and afresh daily. Because, refreshing and restoring daily is what God does. As Jeremiah, the bullfrog said:

"It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness." - Lamentations 3:22-23.

Blessings,
George