Tags
Egypt, gospel, hell, Jesus, lake of fire, Lake Placid, patience, Satan, testing God, wrath of God
Reading: Psalm 78
(Verses 40-49)
How often they rebelled against him in the wilderness
and grieved him in the wasteland!
Again and again they put God to the test;
they vexed the Holy One of Israel.
They did not remember his power—
the day he redeemed them from the oppressor,
the day he displayed his signs in Egypt,
his wonders in the region of Zoan.
He turned their river into blood;
they could not drink from their streams.
He sent swarms of flies that devoured them,
and frogs that devastated them.
He gave their crops to the grasshopper,
their produce to the locust.
He destroyed their vines with hail
and their sycamore-figs with sleet.
He gave over their cattle to the hail,
their livestock to bolts of lightning.
He unleashed against them his hot anger,
his wrath, indignation and hostility—
a band of destroying angels (NIV).
Reflection
There are a number of things I would like to believe. I would like to believe that God never gets angry, that His patience is everlasting, and that there is no such thing as the wrath of God. I would like to believe that Jesus never raised his voice in anger—that he winks at my sins, as though they were no big deal, and then moves on. I would like to believe there is no hell, no burning lake of fire, and no Satan to deceive me.
Lake Placid, NY — photo by David Kitz
I would like to believe these things, but I would be wrong. I would be putting myself above the authority of the word of God, which says such things are so. Today’s reading from Psalm 78 reminds us that God’s wrath is real and I don’t want to find myself on the receiving end of it, as was the case with the Egyptians. He unleashed against them his hot anger, his wrath, indignation and hostility—a band of destroying angels.
I confess I am tempted to believe in a comfortable gospel, because a comfortable gospel doesn’t call me to account and demand that I change. The Jesus of the comfortable gospel doesn’t demand that I sell all and follow him. The Jesus of the comfortable gospel promises me prosperity and self-actualization. I can become what I want, rather than what he wants. The comfortable gospel leaves me as I am—like a pig in his wallow. But somehow, Lord, I believe you want more from me. You want my life—my changed life.
Response: LORD God, I believe in your wrath because you are grieved at the hate and harm we generate in this world. I want to hear you calling and follow you to the place of deep personal change. Amen.
Your Turn: What kind of gospel do you believe in? Does it require personal change?
I love the Psalms 
A person can’t go from no grace to full grace without personal change. Very good reminder, David! Lord’ blessings!
Thanks, G.W. We so need transforming grace.
Well, that WOULD be a fairy tale Gospel for sure. And God would cease to be holy if he excused or overlooked sin and wrong, our own or another’s. One thing for sure the Gospels are very transparent!
Reblogged this on Talmidimblogging.
Thank you for reminding us of the wrath of God.
Yes, I think we all need uncomfortable reminders from time to time.
Agreed!
Unfortunately in many of our churches that is exactly the gospel that is preached. Grace and more grace with no mention of punishment or the wrath of God. I feel for the people who fall for that message and pray that they will find out that sin is wrong
Our prayer needs to be change me Lord. Jesus challenges us and continually calls us higher. Sin is always the easy way out until it drives us into the grave.
Amen – Lord, change me!