How We Treat Others

O. T. #1614  " How We Treat Others"
Jan. 27, 2020
Isaiah 34
Seek ye out of the book of the LORD, and read: no one of these shall fail, none shall want her mate: for My mouth it hath commanded, and His Spirit it hath gathered them. (verse 16)

LET IT GLOW

Thank you friend for continuing with me in the study of this very long book of the Bible. We are told to read the Book of the LORD, which apparently are the inspired books of prophecies, including Isaiah. These are divinely inspired Scriptures of prophecy and it will certainly come to pass as God has predicted it. It applies not only to the times after Isaiah's death, but also the future time mentioned in Revelation. God is warning people to repent and worship only Him.

Although Isaiah predicts destruction of nations, we can be encouraged, as I believe, that believers who are His remnant will be raptured out during the Tribulation. How gracious our God is to warn us. Doesn't that make us to want others to escape such a horrible time on earth?

LET IT GROW

We know that Judah eventually fell captive to the Babylonian Empire and spent 70 years there. That is enough time for a couple of generations Jews to be born in a foreign land. We know a remnant of God's people continued to multiply during that time, also.

Is it important how we treat people, especially God's Christians? Yes, we have a bad example here.

The nation of Edom was an ungodly nation which God would judge and destroy. And to beat all, they were relatives of Judah. Edomites were descendants of Esau, the twin brother of Jacob. Why was Edom's destruction coming? You will recall that whenever Israel left as freed slaves from Egypt, they traveled to the Promised Land. On that journey, Israel came to the land of the Edomites and was not allowed to pass through. The Israelites and their animals promised they would not even eat from the vineyards nor drink their water of Edom, just travel on the King's Highway. Yet, the king of Edom would not allow it. So Israel had to detour around the land. This is found in Numbers 20.

The Prophet Obadiah tells 8 things Edom was not to do whenever Judah fell captive They were
not to gloat, rejoice over, nor boast over his brother's misfortune, destruction, distress, and calamity, nor to enter the gates of Judah and loot their brother's wealth nor imprison the survivors from Judah. The Edomites did not head the warning.
All of that lead up to the foretelling of the destruction of Edom by Isaiah in this chapter. God did not forget how Edom treated their brothers.

The cruelest blow dealt to the Israelites by the Edomites was when the latter assisted the Babylonians in destroying Jerusalem in 587 B.C. (The Broadman Bible Commentary)

Verse 8 says, For it is the day of the LORD's vengeance, and the year of recompenses for the controversy of Zion.

At the end of the Tribulation Period, the Battle of Armageddon will take place as the wrath and vengeance of God on the ungodly and unbelievers. Edom will be destroyed like Sodom and Gomorrah. Today, the land exists as Jordan. The land will unpopulated. Only scavenger-like animals will inhabit the land.

Wow! Let's remain faithful and stand for God's ways and His Word, dear one. He is our hope, our strength, and our way.

Jesus told us to treat our enemies with love, forgiving them, turning the other cheek, praying for them, and be reconciled. Need I say more? Is there anyone who comes to your mind when you read that?

LET IT GO
May I apply what I learn from Your Word today.
Help me to love others as myself and forgive them as You forgive me.
I trust You to take revenge for me.