There is a lot of talk about going green and loving the environment. But the Bible says the Lord himself will “make the land a desolation” (Isaiah 13:9). He will do it not because our carbon footprint is too big but because our world is wicked and needs destroying (see Noah’s story). While it is true that God Himself is the one who told us to take good care of the trees and seas He made (Genesis 1:28-30), He is prepared to wreck his own garden because of our filthiness.
We should not imagine that He would do this gleefully. It makes the Lord grieve. We get a peek into His emotions in a little exchange between Him and Jeremiah’s scribe Baruch. Baruch thinks he has troubles, just because his personal ambitions are about to amount to nothing when Israel gets overrun by enemies to the north. The Lord tells him to try this on for size:
“Behold, what I have built, I am breaking down, and what I have planted I am plucking up — that is, the whole land. And do you seek great things for yourself?” (Jeremiah 45)... I have a glimpse of how God must have felt...God has a heart that grieves when He has to execute judgment:
“How can I give you up, O Ephraim? How can I hand you over, O Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I treat you like Zeboiim? My heart recoils within me; my compassion grows warm and tender . . .” (Hosea 11:8)....
But God has sometimes in history delayed His judgment when people have repented. Consider the Ninevites in Jonah’s time, or Israel’s brief reprieve after the revival under King Josiah...So my modest suggestion for global warming is repentance and revival.
Andree Seu
We should not imagine that He would do this gleefully. It makes the Lord grieve. We get a peek into His emotions in a little exchange between Him and Jeremiah’s scribe Baruch. Baruch thinks he has troubles, just because his personal ambitions are about to amount to nothing when Israel gets overrun by enemies to the north. The Lord tells him to try this on for size:
“Behold, what I have built, I am breaking down, and what I have planted I am plucking up — that is, the whole land. And do you seek great things for yourself?” (Jeremiah 45)... I have a glimpse of how God must have felt...God has a heart that grieves when He has to execute judgment:
“How can I give you up, O Ephraim? How can I hand you over, O Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I treat you like Zeboiim? My heart recoils within me; my compassion grows warm and tender . . .” (Hosea 11:8)....
But God has sometimes in history delayed His judgment when people have repented. Consider the Ninevites in Jonah’s time, or Israel’s brief reprieve after the revival under King Josiah...So my modest suggestion for global warming is repentance and revival.
Andree Seu
