I can remember my mom telling me not to touch a hot stove, and in turn, warned my kids in the same way. As a parent, you want to protect your children because life is full of dangers. And life’s perils continue as an adult. You may be driving down a road and see the sign “bridge out.” The sign points out potential danger if not obeyed. You may hear a weather siren telling you to take cover because a dangerous storm is approaching.
As you think of these warnings and others, they all have the same purpose. They warn you of potential danger so that you can seek protection. The Lord also warns us of danger through the work of the Holy Spirit and His Word. He does this because He is the Good Shepherd and wants the very best for us.
Through the prophet Jeremiah the Lord gave divine warnings to the people in exile. Jeremiah 29:8 This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says: “Do not let your prophets and fortune-tellers who are with you in the land of Babylon trick you. Do not listen to their dreams, 9 because they are telling you lies in my name. I have not sent them,” says the Lord. [1]
Satan wanted to destroy God’s people in exile by using false prophets and fortune tellers. These people would say what the people wanted to hear, but their message would destroy the people. John 10:10 tells us, “The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.” [2] Our enemy wants to kill, steal and destroy, while Jesus wants to give us life abundantly. Our enemy will use false prophets, fortune tellers and many other things to lead people astray with the goal of destroying them. Divine discernment is needed because the false prophet’s message may sound good.
God knows the plans of the enemy and sends a divine warning to tell the exiles. Today the enemy is no different. He wants to kill, steal and destroy just like he was trying to do to the exiles in Babylon. Our loving God still sends us warnings just like he did when the exiles were in Babylon.
What should I do if God is warning me? If the Lord is warning you:
Take it seriously. Sometimes we don’t always understand the urgency of the situation.
He has your best interest at heart. God does not warn us just to play games.
Count yourself as blessed. Keeping us out of danger is a real blessing.
Take time to thank God for His mercy.
As you listen and obey you are building on a Solid Foundation. Matthew 7:24 “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. 25 Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. 26 But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. 27 When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.” [3]
To hear more about hope for refugees, listen here: https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/hope-for-refuges
[1-3] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation . Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.