Then they will cry out to the Lord. (Mic. 3:4)
The rulers and leaders of the Israelites had fallen into a spiritual cycle that was repeated numerous times in the Old Testament. God had blessed the Israelites mightily. However, when things were going well for them, their zeal for following God often waxed cold. They did not totally exclude God from their lives, but he was no longer their top priority. Because of this, they fell into sin. God attempted to recapture their attention—in hopes that the Israelites would repent and return to him—by sending enemy nations to chastise them. The people then cried out to God for deliverance.
Even today, this cycle continues to be repeated countless times. Many people are totally uninterested in God, and therefore have no desire to follow him, until hard times cross their paths. They then cry out to God for his help! The sad part is that some of them cry out only because they want to escape the hardship, not because they sincerely wish to repent and follow God’s way.
Even people who claim to be followers of Christ sometimes approach God this way. They keep him at a distance and only draw near to him when challenging times come their way. Then they cry out to him for help. Someone once told me, “God desires constant, consistent faithfulness from us!”
Follow God consistently, whether circumstances are pleasant or difficult.
Jim “Umfundisi” Lo is a professor at Indiana Wesleyan University, cross-cultural leader, intercessor, and author of several books published by Wesleyan Publishing House.
© 2023 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
