A GLOBAL ECO-DISASTER
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Opening Prayer
Father, please continue to use your Word to mold my life into one that is able to serve you in greater measure.
Read ISAIAH 24:1—13
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
Isaiah
Isaiah 24
1 See, the LORD is going to lay waste the earth and devastate it; he will ruin its face and scatter its inhabitants—
2 it will be the same for priest as for people, for the master as for his servant, for the mistress as for her servant, for seller as for buyer, for borrower as for lender, for debtor as for creditor.
3 The earth will be completely laid waste and totally plundered. The LORD has spoken this word.
4 The earth dries up and withers, the world languishes and withers, the heavens languish with the earth.
5 The earth is defiled by its people; they have disobeyed the laws, violated the statutes and broken the everlasting covenant.
6 Therefore a curse consumes the earth; its people must bear their guilt. Therefore earth’s inhabitants are burned up, and very few are left.
7 The new wine dries up and the vine withers; all the merrymakers groan.
8 The joyful timbrels are stilled, the noise of the revelers has stopped, the joyful harp is silent.
9 No longer do they drink wine with a song; the beer is bitter to its drinkers.
10 The ruined city lies desolate; the entrance to every house is barred.
11 In the streets they cry out for wine; all joy turns to gloom, all joyful sounds are banished from the earth.
12 The city is left in ruins, its gate is battered to pieces.
13 So will it be on the earth and among the nations, as when an olive tree is beaten, or as when gleanings are left after the grape harvest.
Reflect
Take a look outside your window. Now turn your gaze to the One who made what you saw—rain, sun, moon, stars, birds, trees … he made them all.There is a lot of bad news in today’s prophecy. And this time it is not a warning to a particular nation, but to the whole world.
We can see much of this devastation unfolding before our eyes as we look around the world—droughts and floods, forest fires and crop failures, natural and human disasters. There is much concern for the environment. We are urged to do our part by reducing our consumption of energy and resources, but this passage lifts the curtain to reveal the rest of the story.
The destruction of the earth is a consequence of humanity’s sin, not just in direct ways like our greed and selfishness, but in general. Verses 5 and 6 make it clear that the earth’s defilement is a result of humanity breaking the covenant we have with God. And this curse is brought about by his hand, under his control (v. 1).
This doesn’t mean that we can treat creation irresponsibly, but our biggest problem will not be solved by recycling more or driving less. Our biggest problem is sin, and passages like this should cause us to recognize that and repent.
Apply
Where do you most clearly see the effects of sin on creation? What might you do for change?
Closing prayer
Lord, I see the effects of the curse of sin all around me. Help me to recognize them for what they are and to respond in the ways you call me to.
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