Progression of Systemic Sin

Scripture: For all this His anger is not turned away,
    and His hand is stretched out still.
Isaiah 9:12b/17b/21b/10:4b

Observation: This recurring statement is at the end of four passages spoken against Israel. In the first, God speaks out against the arrogant independence of Israel who believe they have built themselves up by their own hands. In the second, God speaks out against the false leaders of Israel, both elders and false prophets, who have led the people in error. In the third, God speaks out against the nation itself, and how the people will be driven to despair. In the fourth, God speaks out against those to deprive the poor and the widows of justice and care.

In these four categories of woes to be brought on Israel, the progression is that the wrongdoings began with leaders, but filtered down to all people. National leaders and regional leaders created a false doctrine outside of God's law, which the nation as a people-group adopted in general, ultimately resulting in people who failed to care for their own brothers, for the poor and needy, and for the widows and orphans.

Application: Welcome to the progression of the United States. We are a land where government is driving an agenda outside of the law of God and the love of Jesus, which is passed through leaders to large groups of people who accept it as enlightened progress, and which then manifests in ... anger, hatred, rhetoric, and violence against and between people groups across all walks of life.

Our nation seeks to address issues like race relations, homelessness, and political dysfunction. However, we never call out the cause of all of this ... our total rejection at the leadership level of our nation of God's love and direction. In Isaiah 10, the next section is God's punishment of Assyria for being arrogant when God will use it to destroy Israel.

I fear God's anger will not be turned away. Will a future chapter of our story be God's wrath against North Korea or ISIS for their arrogance in destroying the U.S.?

I fear God's hand will be stretched out still. When it starts, will China or Russia finish the job until our nation becomes a simply a large land mass?

Prayer: Dear Lord, thy will be done! We are a nation in decline, and it is a decline predicated on our decisions to turn away from your teachings and love. May your salvation and mercy reign in the dark places of our country, and in your message of hope may renewal be found. However, if our nation, in it's current form or in totality, is to pass, may you be with your faithful remnant. I love you and seek to obey your will. Please give us strength to do your will. Amen.