SCRIPTURE: Revelation 16:1-11

OBSERVATION:
At first we might think that God is cruel, inflicting this kind of torture on helpless, innocent victims. But the passage reveals that people were living wild, rebellious and cruel lives, and refused to repent no matter how many times God’s warned them through prophets. God is not inflicting cruelty, He is allowing them to experience the natural consequence of their choices.

We are already experiencing the effects of the scorching sun due to ozone depletion, the result of our choices. Are the sores not likely the same, and the death of sea life, or the darkness, perhaps of smog? Maybe it is better to read this as God no longer restraining the consequences of our sin, and finally letting us see where it leads.

APPLICATION:
God is not cruel, in fact He is the opposite. He protects us from the FULL implications of our sin, allowing us to experience enough to come to our senses. But still people refuse to repent and honour Him. What will it take to get us to wake up and see our folly? What about me? Where in my life am I refusing to repent, am I lingering in sinful behaviour and God is protecting me from the FULL implications of my choices?

PRAYER:
Lord, I hear You calling me to specific repentance. Help me not to gloss over my weaknesses and folly, help me to renew myself in You by genuinely admitting my shame and turning myself and my choices to You. Amen.