“So a message was sent to the king of Assyria: “The people you have sent to live in the towns of Samaria do not know the religious customs of the God of the land. He has sent lions among them to destroy them because they have not worshiped him correctly.” 2 Kings 17:26 NLT
Yeah, God sent lions! I’ve been thinking about how God led His people in the Old Testament and how God warns and corrects His own people as well as every powerful leader of the ancient world.
When we think about God leading it might seem that He does so gently, even subtly. Truth is, God led Israel, coming out of Egypt, with two of the most powerful destructive forces on Earth. Of the basic elements of nature: earth, air, fire, and water. God used wind and fire to lead His people and water to judge the Egyptians. Even in modern times, even if humankind has mastered both sea and sky, we still fear wind, water and fire! Does God still use these elements to judge?
In the Old Testament, I’ve read about giant holes that swallow complainers and dissidents. I’ve read about bears that devour young mockers. I’ve read about the big ten extraordinarily miserable plagues to push Pharaoh into doing right. And, sure there have been amazing stories of other wild beasts mentioned, like whales, leviathans, dogs, lions and bears – even a talking donkey (not played by Eddie Murphy). All the while, I never noticed that God sent lions to eat people because of disobedience! It made me think of the 1996 movie called, “The Ghost and the Darkness,” where Val Kilmer and Michael Douglas were hired to kill a pair of Tsavo man-eaters, during the building of the Uganda-Mombasa Railway in East Africa in 1898.
God sent several lion prides to bring judgment and send a strong message to the Assyrian king – “I’ve let you capture my people and even allowed you to have other nations live among them – but they better not mess with the way I have commanded my people to worship me!” What! God is wild and will not be tamed, and there are things He just will not tolerate. Who’s really in control? This powerful king of Assyria, Shalmaneser V, would find out who is really in charge of all the affairs on this dark third planet from the sun.
With all the forces of the earth at God’s disposal, He doesn’t need men, guns, missiles or drones. One little 6.0 tremor in Afghanistan resulted in a death toll of over 2,205 people, with thousands more injured. I’m not saying it was God’s judgement. I wouldn’t pretend to assume to know the why behind any loss of life. But talk about the raw power God has at his disposal. Any of us, any world leader who thinks they have full authority and power to rule as they please is just delusional! God was merciful enough to warn Shalmaneser and the king responded accordingly. “The king of Assyria then commanded, “Send one of the exiled priests back to Samaria. Let him live there and teach the new residents the religious customs of the God of the land.” So one of the priests who had been exiled from Samaria returned to Bethel and taught the new residents how to worship the Lord.” 2 Kings 17:27-28. Oh how funny Shalmaneser was, “the God of the land…” He is God of ALL lands! The “new” residents brought in the most detestable, wicked behaviors – “the people from Sepharvaim even burned their own children as sacrifices to their gods Adrammelech and Anammelech,” God had warned and set the Assyrian king and His own people straight on who is really in charge!
Prayer
It is still very surprising to me that even a quick summary reading of who you are wouldn’t put some fear or respect in the hearts and mind of folks here on earth. So many have really done well at fooling themselves into believing you don’t even exist, let alone are the just judge of all the earth and all human affairs on the planet. Their biggest error is they think they have gotten away with it – mistaking both mercy and your providential purposes for proof that they are untouchable. I am just thankful that I know you and belong to you. Even in my sin, I would never be so arrogant to pretend you would let me get away anything contrary to Your Word! Thank you for grace. And may those who seek you find mercy and yield to Your will.