Thoughts for another day

Feb. 6, 2013.

Today's verse: 2 Chron. 26:16. But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction: for he transgressed against the LORD his God, (KJV)

(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

What we see in our Word today is the oft-repeated story of man in his behavior with God.  In the Bible, we see God cautioning His people against this, particularly when Moses makes his final address to the Israelites, ‘When the LORD your God brings you into the land he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you—a land with large, flourishing cities you did not build, houses filled with all kinds of good things you did not provide, wells you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves you did not plant—then when you eat and are satisfied, be careful that you do not forget the LORD, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery, Deut.6:10-12a.  

Why is man so short-sighted and so ungrateful?  Why does he forget the One who gave him birth and sustains him?  Why, why, why?  There isn’t any plain answer to this and I’m the least to answer for I too like many who forget the Lord and His provisioning, have turned against Him at times in my life; and what made it happen were the blessings He poured on me, which I told Him were nothing great for they’re also theirs who don’t believe in Him.  What ingratitude and what a destructive attitude before God, but yet He smiles.  In His mercy, He forgives and in His love, He carries me through. 

What Uzziah did, as in our Word today, is typical of man for when he’s prosperous and firm, he forgets the God who made him so and turns his face from Him.  Haughtiness and pride take hold of him and he refuses to acknowledge that it was God who put him on the path to success; rather he claims it to be his own strength that made it possible.  To be honest, I don’t understand why God tolerates this, but I can envision the tearful countenance of His Majesty and I’m driven to look at the picture of the father of the prodigal son, who, though is heartbroken, yet, strains His eyes onto the lonely road, waiting for his lost son to return.  And when he does, there’s much joy in the father…So it is with our heavenly Father; didn’t Jesus say as much?