Daily Devotional for Thursday, August 13

Israel’s Sins and God’s Judgment

“Even of late my people is risen up as an enemy: ye pull off the robe with the garment from them that pass by securely as men averse from war. The women of my people have ye cast out from their pleasant houses; from their children have ye taken away my glory for ever,” Micah 2:8, 9.
Nobody likes a traitor. Benedict Arnold is perhaps the most famous traitor in American history. While there may be many reasons that led up to his decision to betray his people, he nevertheless turned on his own countrymen for personal gain. In his mind, he thought this decision to join the British army would be the answer to his problems, it, however, did not solve his problems. Because of his betrayal to the Continental Army, he was never truly trusted by the British and was never accepted into British society.
In Israel, people had a problem of turning on their own people, especially those that were vulnerable. Along with strangers that were in their land, they began to oppress them and take advantage of them. God had warned them against this type of betrayal; “Thus saith the Lord; Execute ye judgment and righteousness, and deliver the spoiled out of the hand of the oppressor: and do no wrong, do no violence to the stranger, the fatherless, nor the widow, neither shed innocent blood in this place” (Jeremiah 22:3). Because of their betrayal of their own people, and others, and would not execute true judgment and righteousness, then the Lord would step in and defend the defenseless and oppressed. God told them, “Arise ye, and depart; for this is not your rest: because it is polluted, it shall destroy you, even with a sore destruction” (Micah 2:10).

JUST A THOUGHT
Treat people the way God teaches you and do not take advantage of them and it will always be great gain. “Wise men lay up knowledge: but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction” (Proverbs 10:14).
Tim Chambers