These ancient civilizations mentioned in today's Scriptures are difficult to pronounce and unknown to the great majority of those reading. As a result, it is easy to brush through these prophetical proclamations of the downfall of these various civilizations with little emotion. We also mistakenly deem these civilizations worse than our own. But these nations were indeed godless as are all the nations which surround us now. If you want to make this section more personal, change the names to something that you can identify with. Make the nations: England, Italy or the United States. Make the cities: London, Rome, and New York City. Then we must ask ourselves do these places deserve God's blessings or justice. Each nation in its own strength pushes for world prominence, power, recognition. But they do this not under God's strength. Something else we must pay attention to is our emotions and heart as we read these judgments. Do we care? Would we care if they were happening today? These are called oracles, prophecies, or burdens. When we see individuals and nations who seem hopelessly on the path to destruction and hell, do we delight on justice being served or do we feel a burden for their eternal souls. Are their limits to these burdens that we feel? Perhaps to that godless neighbor who otherwise seems pretty good, but, how about that nation that seems focused on evil? Do we weep over George Tiller, the abortionist who was assassinated or Kermit Gosnell, the Pennsylvania abortionist guilty of many atrocities surrounding his abortion practice? Do we weep over the many terrorists guilty of carrying out their heinous acts? Is there a limit to the burden we feel? In reality, we must force ourselves to ask whether we desire to face these questions as the world would or as Jesus would?

There is no shortage of evil represented by these nations that are so much like those now. We read in Isaiah 14:6, "He who struck the people in wrath with a continual stroke, He who ruled the nations in anger, Is persecuted and no one hinders." We read concerning Moab, "We have heard of the pride of Moab- He is very proud - Of his haughtiness and his pride and his wrath; But his lies shall not be so." Concerning Israel, we read in 17:10, "Because you have forgotten the God of your salvation, And have not been mindful of the Rock of your stronghold,...". These were the power players in those days. Each justifying their own actions based on what they deemed right vs wrong, all seeking power and wealth.

We have a tremendous desire to be seen as right. But what is right with the world is not what is right with God. These are two completely separate worldviews. The question comes down not to what nation is right or wrong, but whether we choose to face the world emulating the world or emulating Jesus. Jesus is the sinless, Lamb of God. He hurt no one, and lovingly gave to everyone, eventually paying the ultimate price for our salvation. Those who deemed themselves right during those days launched their continuous attacks at Him, eventually convincing those within the leadership to crucify Him. But how did Jesus respond? After being continually attacked by the leaders in Jerusalem, we read in Matthew 23:37, "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!" When the false accusations were being launched at our Savior, we read in Matthew 27:12, "And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He answered nothing." Hanging on the cross, surrounded by His accusers and mockers, we hear Jesus say in Luke 23:24, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do." Does that mean that Christians should never defend themselves? Of course not. But where is our heart? Do we seek revenge or retaliation? Do we seek to be right at all expense? When persecuted and misrepresented do we seek validation or do we feel the burden as Isaiah did, and more importantly as our Savior did. May we continue to grow in our walk with God, and may our desires, actions, and thoughts become more and more like Jesus.