His Hand Is Stretched Out Still

Isaiah 9:10 - "The bricks have fallen down, but we will rebuild with hewn stones; the sycamores are cut down, but we will replace them with cedars." 

Our pastor has decided to show two DVDs on Wednesday nights. They revolve around Isaiah 9:10 which shows what happened to Israel before the time of Christ. The words spoken in the scripture were the heart of Israel which had been attacked and badly beaten down by their enemy. As Isaiah 9:9 states, the words came out of pride and arrogance. They would show their enemy just how strong a nation they were and that they would rebuild, bigger and better.

As Pastor stated, he is dismayed by how government will quote scripture, often without truly understanding what it means, out of context, just because it sounds good.

I'm writing about a subject I posted a blog on previously. You might read it before finishing this post. At the beginning of Isaiah 9 are words we so often hear at Christmas:

For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. (Isaiah 9:6-7)

You see, what Israel missed, we also as a nation, have missed. Isaiah prophesied that there would come a King, described above. We know that King to be Jesus Christ. If you notice the names He is ascribed, they fit all our needs. He is wonderful, can be our counselor if we learn His statutes. He is our mighty God and everlasting Father. He is also our Prince of Peace. His kingdom, His judgment and justice is just a heartbeat away. And once it comes it is eternal. What He says He will do, He will accomplish, as I mentioned yesterday (Isaiah 55:11).

Oh, how this is all so interconnected. God's Word is so powerful. Nothing was written that has no meaning. Nothing was written idly. Everything was written that we might KNOW. Know Him, know His truth, know His Word. So why are so many not getting it? Is the Church not preaching it? Are we not talking it up? Might it have to do with the same pride and arrogance Isaiah spoke about? That man often believes they are stronger and wiser than God, the Creator of this world, and can live without Him?

So let's see if I can put this into words! Isaiah prophesied about a soon coming King. He would be Israel's all in all. He would lead with His government and there would be peace. But Israel missed the point even though it was right there in those words that they heard in their temples. They missed it because they were looking for that political figure, a mere man, as I mentioned yesterday.

Why did Israel's enemy defeat them? They had turned their backs on God and He allowed their enemy to strike, hoping upon hope they would turn once again turn to Him. Verse 13 shows us this: For the people do not turn to Him who strikes them, nor do they seek the LORD of hosts. When Israel's enemy not only destroyed their buildings but also their land, they became proud and arrogant and decided to rebuild on their own, again, bigger and better. They chose not to seek God in their time of disaster. They did not look to Him for their strength and refuge. They looked only to themselves.

September 11, 2001 was a bit like Israel being destroyed, bricks falling and trees cut down (yes, there was A tree, one of significance). And our nation chose Isaiah 9:10 as their mantra, if you will, to show the people of the world that we would come out of this bigger and better; we would build a new building, maybe make it taller than before. These words were spoken by John Edwards, Tom Daschle, Rudy Guiliani, George Pataki, even President Obama. It was embedded into the very pages of American history. I remember hearing these words eleven years ago and thinking, that's pretty arrogant of us to say. I kept those words pretty much to myself at the time because I thought I would be looked upon as being unpatriotic, as anti-America.

Look at this: …We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense. And for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken -- you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you…  Who might have said these words? Words of defiance, pride and arrogance. Might you be surprised to know it was our President? Not apologize for our way of life?

Like Israel, we have shunned God. We are pushing Him out of schools, removing prayer in public, wanting to remove the name of God from government institutions, and crosses, Christmas trees and Merry Christmas from just about everything. And that doesn't include the societal issues we "embrace." So, was God trying to show us something on September 11, 2001? Was it a warning? Did we hear?

I really don't care anymore who thinks I'm nuts. God is able to do whatever He desires to get our attention. And He has promised judgment upon those who do not seek Him. This is not just a nation but all people.

Are we ready to turn back to God? Are we ready to make Jesus as our only hope? Are we ready to look to Him as Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Are we ready to let Him rule and reign as the King over our lives, to be our Peace?

God loves us so much…He sent His Son to be born, which birth we will celebrate (hopefully not so much with Santa Claus and endless presents) soon. When are we going to fully understand just exactly what Christ's birth was all about? When are we going to really get it? When are we going to seek God for these answers and seek Him for what He also gave His live for…that we might have eternal life.

God tells us that His anger will not be turned away, but His hand will be stretched out still (Isaiah 9:17c). Do you hear that? His anger will continue, but God…still loves us so much and will relent if we, as people and a nation, will turn our hearts to Him for the first time or return to Him. He loves us that much that He will forgive if we repent of our sins as individuals and as a nation.

Those words are repeated for extra measure. Can we get this?

For all this His anger is not turned away, but His hand is stretched out still. (Isaiah 9:21, 10:4)

For Our Learning

Romans 15:4 - For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.

I have been prompted to read other prophets of the Bible. Many words of warning were declared. And when we hear words of warning from God, we should heed them. It requires us to do these things: humble ourselves before God, pray, seek His face and turn from our wicked ways. The result of this is His hearing us, forgiving us of our sins and healing.

I began to read Habakkuk and was struck with some of the wording that sounded familiar. I had highlighted some of it in the past and even had notations. Listen to these words from God to Habakkuk after he had complained to God about the state of his nation's wickedness and when was He going to do something about it:

The LORD replied, "Look at the nations and be amazed! Watch and be astounded at what I will do! For I am doing something in your own day, something you wouldn't believe even if someone told you about it. I am raising up the Babylonians to be a new power on the world scene. They are a cruel and violent nation who will march across the world and conquer it. They are notorious for their cruelty. They do as they like, and no one can stop them. Their horses are swifter than leopards. They are a fierce people, more fierce than wolves at dusk. Their horsemen race forward from distant places. Like eagles they swoop down to pounce on their prey. On they come, all of them bent on violence. (Habakkuk 1:5-9 NLT)

Babylon's location today is Iraq! Need I say more? Think about the words of Isaiah 9:10 and the comparison between Israel and the United States by Jonathan Cahn written in The Harbinger. And remember, what has been written is for our learning. 

We should be crying out to the Lord as Habakkuk and other prophets: How long, O God, shall we cry and you will not hear? How many of us are really crying out for His mercy? How many of us want His judgment?

Later Habakkuk pleads more with God, worshiping Him as the God everlasting and holy. Habakkuk knows that despite all that happens, God's people will not be totally destroyed. But...He has chosen to appoint an enemy for our judgment and correction (Habakkuk 1:12). He allows these things in order that we might once again return...to...Him.

This country has started to allow one enemy to infiltrate our society and allowed evil to look good and good to look evil. If you don't see it, you are living in a fantasy world. The only way is to return to God, turn from the evil ways, seek God through prayer. This is the narrow way; Jesus is the narrow Way. No political figure can do this, no matter how "right" he might seem. No strength of our own in our military. Both are mere men. 

If God wants to cast judgment on us, He can. And I believe He will. He will use a physical enemy.

Here's another tidbit from God in Habakkuk:

Then the LORD replied: "Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it. For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay. (Habakkuk 2:2-3).

A commentary on these verses said that this prophecy is for a future time also. Could that future be now? When are we going to learn what we are called to do? Will we as a nation wait until the next attack against us? All things are written for our learning. The tablets could be the Bible, the herald, all who share the words of God. 

If each one of us would trust in God, seek Him first for our salvation that we might understand all these things through the power of His Holy Spirit, gain the discernment necessary for these days, we might be able to effect some change in the world. We cannot, as people, be the change, as many suggest. If the change does not take place through the power of God, it is meaningless.

All things are written for our learning. Although God is patient with us, hoping we will get it, His patience with us will wear out. A judgment will come. Are we ready? Are we truly ready...in heart, soul, spirit and body? As Romans 13:11 says, we are to understand the present time; we are to awaken from our slumber. Remember we have a means of salvation. Turn to God, humble yourself, seek His face, and give your life to Jesus that you will be safe from future judgment. 

1Corinthians 10:11 - Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. 

Subject to Judgment

Isaiah 9:10  - "The bricks have fallen down, but we will rebuild with hewn stones; the sycamores are cut down, but we will replace them with cedars." 

I have said many times the Bible is meant to show us how to live. It gives us examples from which we are to learn. It has stories from love to miracles to judgment. It presents to us signs we are to look for. I’ve mentioned we’re in the last days. I’ve shown scriptures explaining what we will see. All God’s warnings. But not warnings to harm but to turn us back to God, to trust in Him, get right with Him. I’m certainly not the only one who sees last days right before us. You can choose to believe me or not. It’s your choice. 

I finished reading The Harbinger by Jonathan Cahn. A harbinger is a warning from God. I wished I’d been a faster reader. Let me first say that there have been times when I thought I was being unnecessarily critical of our country. I have felt bad that I was criticizing our own nation, and yet...  

The Harbinger is prophesy couched in fiction...with numerous factual footnotes. I have felt for a long time that there are things happening today that happened in years past in the accounts of the Bible. I’ve mentioned some of them. This author has specifically taken one ancient scripture and numerous accounts that have happened in the United States and shown how they parallel each other; how these ancient events transpired and are playing out today. It’s phenomenal. And it’s happening, actually happening, in our country! You can call it coincidence. If only one thing happened I might consider that, but there are many incidences which cannot make it coincidence.

Read the scripture again above. Read it slowly and let me explain... I won’t be able to get in to the nitty gritty of some of the details...too time consuming. I will only explain a couple issues, briefly. You will have to read the book if you have any desire to understand more deeply. Don’t be skeptical, be wise...if for no other reason than to try to prove me wrong!

The scripture above refers to Israel during a time of war against her enemies. God was trying to send a message to them because they turned away from Him and put their trust not in His strength and power to battle their enemies, but their own. In a Bible commentary by Finis Jennings Dake, this explanation of this scripture reads: In this scripture we have the defiance of the people against the judgments of God, the people saying that the bricks are thrown down, but we will build with stronger material--large hewn stones and cedars that are stronger than sycamores. In an NIV study Bible commentary this is what was written: These verses (9:10-10:4) describe Israel’s arrogance and persistent impenitence, and God’s anger and judgment against them; even in great trouble they would not humble themselves and turn to God with a contrite and broken heart.

[What’s amazing is the verses before 9:10 speak prophetically of Jesus. These verses are read yearly at Christmas. He who would be the coming Deliverer who would bring joy, peace, righteousness and justice to anyone who claimed Him as their Savior. If we believed and put our trust in Him... This all came true; we know that. So why not believe the next prophetic event in Isaiah 9:10? An understanding of Jesus, a true knowing of Him spiritually, is necessary for anyone’s future. Take heart, heed the warnings. Consider your future. Do you know Jesus? Have you received Him? Ignoring this is turning from Him, rejecting Him... This is not just about a nation, but about people.]

So, you get the picture above. Turn from God, be warned by Him, be subject to judgment if the warnings are not heeded. No Jesus, No Peace; Know Jesus, Know Peace, as a bumper sticker states.

Here’s a list of nine harbingers Cahn uncovered:

       First - The Breach (separation from on God)

       Second - The Terrorist (9/11)

       Third - The Fallen Bricks (towers came down)

       Fourth - The Tower (the proposed building of the Freedom Tower)

       Fifth - The Gazit Stone (bricks replaced by stronger stone)

       Sixth - The Sycamore (uprooted at Ground Zero)

       Seventh - The Erez Tree (replaced the sycamore, stronger)

       Eighth - The Utterance (vows made: Isaiah 9:10)

       Ninth - The Prophecy (pronouncing judgment)

Cahn specifically shows us proof, that the attacks on 9/11 play out the scripture above. Our walls were destroyed. We opted, like Israel, to rebuild, not with materials we first built with, but with stronger ones. What awaits is the judgment. (This is documented in detail in the book.) I remember hearing someone say they wanted to rebuild the WTC, but they wanted to make it even taller. Why? Why is bigger better?

There was also a tree, a sycamore to be specific, that was growing nearby at the time of the attack. A piece of the last building that came down struck that tree cutting the trunk and leaving it uprooted. It was cut down. In time another tree, as a symbol of hope (also documented by Cahn), was planted. A cedar tree was planted, one stronger than the sycamore! All of this is documented...

I remember thinking during the time after 9/11 how arrogant we sounded, that we would rebuild bigger and stronger. But then I heard many, even in the church, say otherwise, that we should be proud as a nation and I thought I was wrong. I now know differently.

Our nation, during that time of disaster, set about to manifest the very same prophetic word to Israel upon ourselves. 1Corinthians 13:1 says ...By the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established. Established as in bring into existence. In three specific instances after 9/11 (defiant) vows were made by Tom Daschle, John Edwards and Barak Obama in his first speech to Congress after his election. They all quoted, unknowingly, Isaiah 9:10 in the hearing of a nation and God, that we would rebuild our walls, we will recover and we will be stronger than before...to show the world who we (think we) are. Daschle and Edwards fell into disgrace shortly after the words were spoken. Just saying....

All are acts of defiance, arrogance and pride. We are placing ourselves in a greater position than God. And we are being warned today. Why would God harm innocent lives? Only He can answer that question. Why is He doing this? For our own good because He loves us. We have for too long removed Him from our nation and relied on our own strengths.

There are so many events in the book. Let me just give you one other nugget of information: The consecration of Israel took place on the Temple Mount by its leaders and later God's judgment came at the same location; consecration of America in 1789 was done in a little chapel that owned the land where Ground Zero now stands and that’s where His judgment took place on 9/11. Surprisingly, the chapel still stands. It was protected by that sycamore tree I mentioned! Is this enough of a temptation to cause you to want to read the book? Cahn describes how Wall Street was started, where, and the intricate details of it all. One amazing instance after another.

Although we might see ups and downs in this country, we cannot think for a second we are totally secure on our own. God is growing angry, but He also loves us. His Word tells us that He wishes none would perish. That is why He warns us; that is why we need to wake up and heed the warnings. If we heed the warnings we will receive blessings instead of curses. Judgment will not take place.

Our churches are guilty, we as Christians are guilty, of not putting an end to the removal of God and all He stands for. We have become complacent. We have become tolerant so as not to offend. We are allowing the removal of God by our silence. This is a sin. We will receive God’s judgment. It puts an even stronger meaning and emphasis, and which is a plea across the nation by those who understand, to the closing scripture below. What do you say? Will you take any of this to heart?

2Chronicles 7:14 - ...if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.