Delayed Judgement

This year 2017 has been volatile for Americans especially. There have been three major hurricanes that have devastated parts of the U.S.A. Fires have ravaged parts of California, and there has been violence in the form of protests and mass shootings. Gun sales have soared. Also, the media, whether left or right leaning, has been in an uproar at what has been happening in the political realm. Some people have declared that the things that have been happening are the result of God’s anger toward Americans for electing Donald Trump. If those people would read their Bibles they would realize that God does not work that way.

In scripture there are records of God bringing judgement on his people for the sins of their leaders, but this judgement did not occur until after the leaders were gone. This is the principle of delayed judgement. There were two very wicked kings in Israel: Omri, followed by his son Ahab. “But Omri wrought evil in the eyes of the Lord, and did worse than all that were before him.” 1 Kings 16:25. Then Ahab was even worse than his father. “And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the Lord above all that were before him.” 1 Kings 16:30. He worshipped Baal and murdered the prophets of the Lord. However, God’s judgement upon Israel was delayed until after Ahab. It was two hundred years later that the prophet Micah pronounced doom upon Samaria, the ruling city in Israel. “Therefore also will I make thee sick in smiting thee, in making thee desolate because of thy sins. Thou shalt eat, but not be satisfied; and thy casting down shall be in the midst of thee; and thou shalt take hold, but shalt not deliver; and that which thou deliverest will I give up to the sword. Thou shalt sow, but thou shalt not reap; thou shalt tread the olives, but thou shalt not anoint thee with oil; and sweet wine, but shalt not drink wine. For the statutes of Omri are kept, and all the works of the house of Ahab, and ye walk in their counsels; that I should make thee a desolation, and the inhabitants thereof an hissing: therefore ye shall bear the reproach of my people.” Micah 6:13-16.

The kingdom of Judah also had a very evil king named Manasseh. “And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, after the abominations of the heathen, whom the Lord cast out before the children of Israel.” 2 Kings 21:2. His sins are too extensive to list in this short article, but they are recorded in 2 Kings, chapter 21. Some of his sins were: worshipping heathen gods, idolatry, witchcraft, séances, murdering large numbers of people, and burning one of his sons alive as a sacrifice to a heathen god. It was about 70 years later that the prophet Jeremiah pronounced doom on the kingdom of Judah. “And I will appoint over them four kinds, saith the Lord: the sword to slay, and the dogs to tear, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the earth, to devour and destroy. And I will cause them to be removed into all kingdoms of the earth, because of Manasseh the son of Hezekiah king of Judah, for that which he did in Jerusalem.” Jeremiah 15:3-4.

Therefore, by this principle of delayed judgement in the Bible, if God has brought judgement on America because of a wicked president, it has not been because of Donald Trump, but rather because of some president before him. However, this would have to be declared by a prophet of God, and I have not been aware of any such prophet. Along with America, Canada has suffered devastating fires and floods in the past few years, and there have been similar disasters throughout the world. After disasters strike there is always great praise for people who helped save lives and brought relief. I am not against praising people, but where is the seeking of God in humility after such a disaster? Instead, there are statements such as, “We will overcome. We will not be defeated by this. People are coming together in this. This is proving that there is a lot of good in people.” However, Jesus Christ said that we are not good! We are only acceptable to God if we trust in the sacrifice he made for us on the cross to cleanse us from our sins.

Without trusting in Jesus Christ, we cannot approach a Holy God, no matter how heroic our efforts are in helping others.