Our Rescuer In the Chaos
Since ancient times, no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him. Isaiah 64:4 (NIV)
The world we live in is, to a greater or lesser extent, in chaos – our families, work, relationships, social circles, cities, nations and the world. Globally, there are wars, rumours of wars, and sabre-rattling. World leaders are unable to trust each other. This causes instability that affects everyone on the planet. This can cause us to fear for our future, and we wonder where God is in all of this.
This is the kind of world the prophet Micah found himself in nearly three thousand years ago. A world where chaos and moral depravity were prevalent. God sent Micah to the people of Israel and Judah to draw their attention to their sinful deeds. To warn them that their sins would lead to their defeat by the Assyrian kingdom.
In Micah 7:2-6, he highlights some of their sinful deeds. He says they had sunk into such moral decay that they couldn’t trust one another. Friends and neighbours no longer looked out for each other but had only their own interests at heart. The fabric of the family was falling apart. Leaders were corrupt. No one was deemed trustworthy. They found themselves in a desperate situation and didn’t know how to deal with their struggles in a dog-eat-dog world. Micah, however, walked closely with God. He knew that only God could save them. He says in Micah 7:7:
“But me, I’m not giving up. I’m sticking around to see what God will do. I’m waiting for God to make things right. I’m counting on God to listen to me” (Message Bible).
God Listens and Saves
The moral decay around us, even in our own circle- family, friends, work colleagues, business associates- can cause us to become despondent. We feel we can’t rely on them or trust them. We feel that those who should be there for us aren’t or don’t have the capacity to do so. But just as God showed Micah that He was there with Him in the midst of the chaos, He wants us to know that He is there with us in our struggles. He wants us to know that we shouldn’t give up, but trust Him. To stick around and wait to see what He will do. He wants us to know He is El Roi, the God who sees. He sees our tears and is listening to our desperate cries for help.
God is longing for us to trust Him. Not people. Yes, God uses people, but we need to trust Him to use the people He has in mind. Not whom we think or hope should rescue us. God is our loving Saviour, our Rescuer and knows what’s best for us. Let us look with confidence to the One who will work all things out on our behalf. He will hear our cry and will rescue us.
Save me and rescue me, for you do what is right. Turn your ear to listen to me, and set me free. Psalm 71:2 (NLT)
Reflection:
Have there been times when you’ve put your trust in people and not in God?
Prayer:
Lord, You see the chaos around me. You see my disappointment in others. Help me put my trust in You alone. Not in people. Help me to wait on You and not give up. I look to You, Lord, to intervene and act on my behalf. In Jesus’ name, amen.
