To understand other people, you observe and take note of their ways, speech and reactions in varying circumstances. In order words, you study them.
And that we do in relating to fellow humans like us.
Likewise, to know or understand God, you must study his operating mode, words, relationships and reactions. And we have the great benefit of the books of the Torah and Bible to give this insight. Now as with humans, to understand someone, you do not start by imposing preconceptions or expectations of how the person should be or will be... to really understand, you must start with an open mind and a blank slate.
YHWH does not spring surprises on humans. From Genesis, his words (declarations of intent and/or creative utterance) have always preceded his actions and the manifestation of his will. There is nothing he does without pre-warning or informing us ahead of time. That is him. That is how he operates.
In Genesis 2:16-17 his truth was clearly stated to Adam: '' And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”
In Genesis 18:17,20, his plan was plainly revealed: ''Then the Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do?
Then the Lord said, “The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous 21 that I will go down and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has reached me. If not, I will know.”
All these revelations of his will led Amos the prophet to declare: ''Surely the Sovereign Lord does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets.''Amos 3:7
And Paul the Apostle (in the new testament) advice: ''This, then, is how you ought to regard us: as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the mysteries God has revealed.''
Why does he do this? Because it is how he is.
Jesus was no different. He warned us of what is to come and even told us that it will seem like all a 'fuss about nothing' because normal life will still be going on.
Luke17:26-30 “Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man. People were eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all. It was the same in the days of Lot. People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all. It will be just like this on the day the Son of Man is revealed.''
He is pointing out that in past occurrences of divine intervention or judgement, everything was going on as normal not because the people had not been warned, but because the fact that you are warned does not mean life does not go on. The point is to highlight that though life goes on as normal, this does not mean the warning is not real and will not take place. The main thing is to find ourselves positioned rightly so that we are on the right side of the predicted intervention.
Noah warned the people but they ignored him as did those Lot warned.
My point is YHWH always sends advance notices and warnings via people, and he always provides a way for us to be rightly positioned. So that everyone has the choice to take his way of escape. Why again? Because he is a merciful and gracious God.
''For many years you were patient with them. By your Spirit you warned them through your prophets. Yet they paid no attention, so you gave them into the hands of the neighboring peoples. But in your great mercy you did not put an end to them or abandon them, for you are a gracious and merciful God.'' Nehemiah 9:30-31
Now God has warned us that he is coming soon. This is the time of preparation as individuals, a body of Believers and as people given the commission to - ''Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20) - this must be our focus and everyday priority. Because as life goes on, the danger is to forget and become complacent.
Here is a reminder and command from the Lord: Watch!
“Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.
“Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it[is near, right at the door.
Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.'' - Jesus the Saviour in Matthew 24: 30- 35
''And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.'' Matthew 24:14
“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.'' Matthew 25:13
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