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Russell sanders
10-16-2021
II Chronicles 7:13-14
One of the most frequently quoted scriptures these days is II Chronicles 7:14 where God gives to Solomon a promise for His people. It says, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” People forget the context of it. They seem not to understand the (underlined) portion for which this promise is made.
When a nation who knows about God Almighty, who hears about His salvation, Yeshuah, becomes immersed deeply in sin, the result is judgment.
God uses natural disasters to judge a nation in sin. When Solomon was dedicating the new Temple, His prayer spoke of this in II Chronicles 6:26-30 saying, (excerpts), “When the heaven is shut up, and there is no rain (a drought), because they have sinned against thee… If there be dearth…pestilence…blasting…mildew (disease on crops), locusts or caterpillars (they eat crops) …then what prayer or (whatever) supplication shall be made… (please) hear Thou from heaven…and forgive…”
God then appeared to Solomon in the night and spoke to him. God said in II Chronicles 7:13, “If I shut up (the heavens) that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence (disease, pandemic) among (the) people…” God clearly states that He causes such things to occur due to gross national sin.
We see this happening today, but the majority of the people do not see it as God’s judgment. They see it all as “natural” occurrences. Yet over the last 20 years we have seen about a thousand percent increase in earthquakes. We are seeing extreme drought in the southwest causing crop failures. Floods in the Midwest caused crop failure. Covid-19 restrictions have disrupted supply. Store chains are seeing shortages in many products. Civil unrest is at an all-time high. Hurricanes have become both more frequent and more intense. I could go on and on, but you get the point.
The promise in II Chronicles 7:14 says my people must “turn from their wicked ways.” This is not speaking of the remnant that follows God with their whole heart. It means those of the nation of Israel and all that have turned their backs through sin against God and prefer sin over righteousness. These sinners must recognize it and “pray and seek my face and turn from their (sinful) ways.” Only then “will I hear from heaven…forgive…and heal (restore) their land (and society).”
This is not speaking to true believers but to backsliders and unbelievers that know of God but have turned to wicked ways. These are the ones that must come to repentance and must come to or back to God. Extremely hard times or heavy persecution can be a catalyst to bring them to God, but their understanding is blinded.
We, as true believers, need to pray that the blinders be lifted off their eyes of understanding. We must pray Holy Spirit convicts them of their views which are contrary God’s word on their way of life and their sinful ways.
We pray, then we find a way to make our voices be heard delivering testimony to God and to His word. They need to hear from us. Holy Spirit can use our “voice” to draw them. Yes, even the internet can become our voice. We cannot remain silent any longer.
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