A question from God

Micah 6:1-5

The prophet Micah is addressing the people of Judah and it is always wise to recall what God said about prophecy in 2 Peter 1:21, “For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”   So we have Micah speaking as God’s spokesman, and this is the message: “Hear what the Lord says: “Arise, plead your case before the mountains, and let the hills hear your voice.  Hear, you mountains, the indictment of the Lord, and you enduring foundations of the earth, for the Lord has an indictment against his people, and he will contend with Israel.  “O my people, what have I done to you? How have I wearied you? Answer me! For I brought you up from the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of slavery,
and I sent before you Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.  O my people, remember what Balak king of Moab devised, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him,
and what happened from Shittim to Gilgal, that you may know the righteous acts of the Lord.”

Micah was, you might say, in the role of God’s attorney and his witnesses are the mountains and hills and the charges being brought are very severe, unfaithfulness, evil acts of social injustice, and violence.  And who was doing such acts; the leaders of the people and one might ask why, for power and material gain?

God is all knowing so He is not looking for understanding when asking this question: “O my people, what have I done to you? How have I wearied you? Answer me!  But His desire is that they awake and repent.  God makes it very clear about His many righteous acts, how he sent Moses and Joshua to lead them and how He stood against the evil schemes of the enemy.

You and I are told in Scripture; “For the word of God is living, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and is able to discern the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)  My prayer is that you believe that to be true, but even if you are foolish and do not believe that does not change the truth.   And because it is living and active it is speaking to you and I, it is speaking to our family, it is speaking to our city, our church, and it is speaking to our nation.

What are the mountains and hills saying about you, not your neighbor, but you and your family, how are you going to answer, for God is asking; “O my people, what have I done to you? How have I wearied you? Answer me!  

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice