GOD'S MEGAPHONE

Throughout the book of Micah, we read these words: Hear! Pay attention! The Lord is trying to say something to the Israelites - they need to listen and obey. It is urgent! 

This is the same Voice who spoke the universe into being, who created order out of chaos, who created light out of darkness - stop everything that you’re doing right now and listen - “it is sound wisdom to fear your (God’s) name” (Micah 6:9).

Unfortunately, listening to God’s Word and obeying it has long not been a priority to the Israelites. They have been worshiping false gods, listening to false prophets, electing corrupt leaders, mistreating the poor and weak - the list goes on. That doesn't sound too foreign now, does it?

Just look at the world and the news of today - people are idolizing money, careers, sport, diets, drugs, alcohol, themselves, health....hand-sanitizer. Almost every week you will find sensational news about one or the other prophet or pastor asking his congregation to drink petrol or eat grass. Or perhaps you have read somewhere recently that you will not be infected by the Corona virus if you simply have faith and pray enough.

The false prophets in Micah’s time similarly preached that they would be spared any disaster - “Is not the Lord in the midst of us? No disaster shall come upon us” (Micah 3:11 ESV).

The Lord can speak in many ways, and when Israel doesn't listen to His Word, the God of the universe causes destruction to make them listen:

“For behold, the Lord is coming out of his place, and will come down and tread upon the high places of the earth. And the mountains will melt under him, and the valleys will split open, like wax before the fire, like waters poured down a steep place.”
Micah 1:3‭-‬4 ESV

First, the Assyrians invade Samaria and take the Israelites into captivity. Jerusalem stands out like a hut in a field of cucumbers (Isaiah 1:8), but judgement is coming to her as well. It is into this time that the prophet, Micah, is born. He warns the Israelites that it won't be long before the Babylonians seize Judah and take the people into exile (Micah 4:10). 

Do you think that God still speaks like this today, through destruction and suffering? C.S. Lewis said the following about suffering in his book, The Problem of Pain: “Pain insists upon being attended to. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our consciences, but shouts in our pains. It is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” Is God perhaps trying to say something to us through this world pandemic, namely COVID-19?

What was God saying to the Israelites in Micah’s time? Because of Israel’s relentless disobedience and sin “the Lord has an indictment against his people, and he will contend with Israel.” (Micah 6:2 ESV). Consequently, the Israelites would become insatiable, empty and despicable in all of their frantic labours. Imagine a family in Spar, frantically hoarding groceries into their trolley, to prepare for a possible quarantine or food shortage. But the more they buy the less satisfied they are; the more they hoard, the less peace they have. 

Is there anything that can save me from this judgment? Shall I pray more? Give more money to the church and the poor? Read the Bible each morning? Get baptized? Even though these things aren't bad in and of themselves, this is not what the Lord requires.

He tells us exactly what He requires and it isn't something new - “do justice, (and to) love kindness, and (to) walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8 ESV). In the New Testament, it would translate to “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel" (Mark 1:15 ESV). Are you trusting in Jesus? Do you believe His gospel? Now is a great time to give your life to Jesus.

Perhaps you are already a believer, but you are feeling drowned and anxious in the midst of this world pandemic. Even while people are suffering, criminals are taking advantage of that. Where is the love? Is there any hope? What can we do?

Let’s say this together with the prophet, Micah:

“But as for me, I will look to the Lord ; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me. Rejoice not over me, O my enemy; when I fall, I shall rise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to me. I will bear the indignation of the Lord because I have sinned against him, until he pleads my cause and executes judgment for me. He will bring me out to the light; I shall look upon his vindication.”

Micah 7:7‭-‬9 ESV