The Road to Damascus
October 26 Jeremiah 49:23-50:46
Object Lessons That Demand Obedience
The Road to Damascus
Damascus. Destruction. Deliverance.
These are the three word pictures found in today’s text.
“Damascus has become feeble, and all her people turn to flee. Fear, anguish, and pain have gripped her.” (49: 24)
Why are God’s people being devoured and destroyed?
“My people have been lost sheep. Their shepherds have led them astray and turned them loose in the mountains. They have lost their way and can’t remember how to get back to the sheepfold. All who found them DEVOURED them. Their enemies said, ‘We did nothing wrong in attacking them, for they sinned against the Lord…” (50:6-7)
How many times throughout the book of Jeremiah have we heard of the battle of false prophets facing off against the called prophets of God? That has certainly been a repeating theme.
Does this principle alarm us, wake us, and call us to attention?
During the writing of this very study, I started receiving instant messages through Facebook. Now, I don’t normally accept those, and I never pass on instant messages because that is a great way to get hacked!
The instant messages came from a very well-known Christian organization but the words gave me great pause. First of all, the leader of this organization doesn’t speak in broken sentences like these messages and doesn’t write people privately. If I copied their entire message it would take up the entire space of today’s writing. So, I will give you the very short, abridged version.
“You have sin in the lineage of your family and a generational curse is on you. You will continue to have bad things happen to you until you do exactly what I tell you to do. These curses will not stop until…. (You guessed the rest?) Send money!
In the name of prophecy, money, and the ways of God, this person is scamming people.
This won’t be the first nor the last time for that!
Does the name Damascus ring a bell?
“On the road TO DAMASCUS, Saul was STRUCK BY A BRILLIANT LIGHT, fell to the ground, heard a voice from heaven identified as the voice of Jesus asking, “Why are you using violence against me?” (Luke 9)
Note that Damascus was the place where the man who had been falsely persecuting Christians in the name of faith was blinded! It was not where he was converted.
God then spoke to a disciple in Damascus named Ananias and sent him a vision where he was to lay hands on Saul for him to regain his sight. But, Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints in Jerusalem; and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who invoke your name.”
God then tells Ananias, “Go, for he is an instrument whom I have chosen to bring my name before Gentiles and kings and before the people of Israel. I myself will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” (Luke 22:10-19)
When Saul heard the astonishing words, “Brother Saul” from this Jewish man, Ananias, “Something like scales fell from his eyes, and his sight was restored.”
Damascus. Destruction. Deliverance.
Listen to these beautiful words of hope for deliverance, “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the messenger who brings good news, the good news of peace and salvation, the news that the God of Israel reigns! The watchmen shout and sing with joy for before their very eyes they see the Lord returning to Jerusalem. Let the ruins of Jerusalem break into joyful song, for the Lord has comforted his people. He has redeemed Jerusalem. The Lord has demonstrated his holy power before the eyes of all the nations. All the ends of the earth will see the victory of our God.” (Jer. 52:7-10)
God’s words always come true and He always finds a way to rescue HIS children.
The Road to Damascus is now filled with hope because of the message of redemption and restoration for all mankind, both Jew and Gentile.
“Let the ruins break into joyful song!”
