I feel a growing sense of living in a world that is going in exactly the opposite direction that I know it should actually be going; yet at the same time realizing that unless it continues in the path of destruction, her sins will not be ripe for judgment and the coming of the Son of Man.
Noah lived in times like this, probably worse, because we are still to reach to that point where Yahweh decided that the time was ripe for total annihilation of all that lived on the face of the earth, save those on the ark. The Torah tells us that Noah was a righteous man who walked before Yahweh. I can only imagine what his troubled soul would have been going through when he saw the evil that existed against all righteous standards set — for as Paul wrote: ‘What is revealed is God’s anger from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people who in their wickedness keep suppressing the truth; because what is known about God is plain to them, since God has made it plain to them’ (Rom. 1: 18, 19) — yet conscious that the Creator had purposed to begin all over again and nothing was going to change that.
I can only imagine what it must have been like for Abraham in the days of Sodom and Gomorrah. The twin cities were just a bit South East from where the patriarch lived when Adonai met him by the oaks of Mamre. Abraham was a righteous man who heeded what Adonai said. He did what Yahweh told him to do — he followed His commandments, His regulations and His teachings (Gen. 26:5). The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah was so great and their sin so serious that Adonai said, ‘I will now go down and see whether their deeds warrant the outcry that has reached me; if not, I will know’ (Gen. 18:20, 21). Abraham found himself in a paradox. He lived in a world where its stink had reached the heavens yet He also knew His Master and Friend. He knew that the Judge of all the Earth would never destroy the righteous with the unrighteous (Gen. 18:25). This man’s knowledge of His Creator both inspires and challenges me.
The Eternal One waited 400 years; for it would be only then that the Amorites would be ripe for punishment. This He reveal to Abraham when He made a covenant saying, ‘Know this for certain: your descendants will be foreigners in a land that is not theirs. They will be slaves and held in oppression there four hundred years. But I will also judge that nation, the one that makes them slaves. Afterwards, they will leave with many possessions. As for you, you will join your ancestors in peace and be buried at a good old age. Only in the fourth generation will your descendants come back here, because only then will the Emori be ripe for punishment’ (Gen. 15:13-16).
The righteous who lived at that time, including Moses, knew that Yahweh was to judge and utterly destroy (Ex. 23:23) a people [at least six are named], living in utter depravity and give the land to Israel whom He had made righteous — for all of Israel (the native and the foreigner) were guided by the pillar of cloud, they all passed through the sea. They all ate the same food from the Spirit, and they all drank the same drink from the Spirit — for they drank from a Spirit-sent Rock which followed them, and that Rock was the Messiah (1Cor. 10: 1-4).
And here lies the paradox: the righteous knew and heard of all that was going on around them. They would have been disturbed by all that they saw. With each passing year the sins of the Amorites could only get worse. Evil appeared to have the upper hand over good. Unrighteousness seemed to triumph over righteousness. Yet, as was foretold long ago, they knew that the increase in evil was inevitable and that at the fulness of time, the faithful One who never changes His mind would do what He has determined (Isa. 46:9, 10).
The Messiah has told us that at the coming of the Son of Man, it will be just like the days of Noah (Mt. 24:37; Lk. 17:26, 27). He also compared those days to the time when Lot was living in Sodom and Gomorrah, saying ‘It will be just the same on the day that the Son of Man is revealed’ (Lk. 17:28-30).
The righteous who live in the world today can see how the wrong is being touted as right and are troubled. Established institutions expected to stand for righteousness, justice and truth have come together to support what is evil. Governments, the Judiciary, the Media, the Police — they have all become futile in their thinking; and their undiscerning hearts have become darkened. People of entire nations are cleverly influenced through vitriolic messages and spurred to support and pursue all that is vile and corrupt.
Week after week I read news that I wish could have been different. Each time it appears as though unrighteousness has a clear advantage. All I can do is observe in silence, pained and concerned at our future and the future of my loved ones. I seem to be hopelessly in the minority. Everything in the world — our nation, our surroundings — appears to be hurtling downhill [at break-neck speed, if I may add] to the very abyss of destruction. And all I can do is watch, just as did Noah or Abraham or Jeremiah or even Yeshua and the disciples in the days of Roman injustice.
Then I remind myself that what has been spoken of long ago must be fulfilled. The stage must be set for the coming of the man of lawlessness; the period of tribulation; the days of judgment and then the coming of the Son of Man on the clouds in great glory. The latter cannot happen without the former. So it was spoken, so it will happen.
What I need to do however, as should all who love righteousness, justice and mercy, is to be strong and courageous. This what Yahweh said to Joshua in those days of judgment to the Amorites:
Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the Law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may achieve success wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will achieve success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not be terrified nor dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
Christians use verses like these to preach a prosperity gospel. But those who understand the whole truth of Yahweh’s word know that they need grace to be strong, courageous and stay alert as children of light. For as the Apostle Paul wrote of these times, ‘You, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness, so that the day would overtake you like a thief; for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; so then, let’s not sleep as others do, but let’s be alert and sober’ (1Thes. 5:4-6).
We have need of endurance, brethren, so that when we have done the will of God, we may receive what was promised. ‘For yet in a very little while, He who is coming will come, and will not delay. But My righteous one will live by faith; And if he shrinks back, My soul has no pleasure in him.’ Yes! We have need of endurance. We should be strong and courageous so as not to shrink back to destruction, but have faith that leads to the safekeeping of the soul (Heb. 10:36-39).
