God's Warning

“Arise and depart! For this is not your rest, because of destroying uncleanness, even a grievous destruction.” (Micah 2:10)

Micah’s prophecy is about the destruction coming on the land. In this chapter, the Lord’s Word tells their sins. “And they covet and seize fields; and houses and take them away. And they oppress a man and his household, even a man and his inheritance.” (Micah 2:2) “You have thrown the wives of My people out from the house of her delight; from their children you have taken away My majesty forever.” (Micah 2:9) And these are the reasons for the destruction coming on the land. In this verse, the Lord tells them to leave the land. They will not find rest because destruction is coming because of their sins.  “...even a grievous destruction...” meaning this is going to be worse than they can imagine.

Moses prophesied before the people crossed the Jordan River to the Promised Land that their idolatry would cause the land to be destroyed. “I call Heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that you shall soon utterly perish from off the land which you are crossing over Jordan to possess. You shall not prolong your days upon it but shall utterly be destroyed.” (Deuteronomy 4:26) Joshua also prophesied about the destruction to come when, he didn’t say if, but when they didn’t keep the covenant God had made with them. “And it shall be, as comes to you every good thing which Jehovah your God has spoken to you has come to you, so shall Jehovah bring on you every evil thing until He has destroyed you from off this good land which Jehovah your God has given you, when you transgress the covenant of Jehovah your God, which He commanded you, and have gone and served other gods, and bowed yourselves to them, then shall the anger of Jehovah be kindled against you, and you shall perish quickly from off the good land which He has given to you.” (Joshua 23:15-16)

There is a rest to the people of God both in the Old Testament and the New Testament. In the Old Testament it depended on them being obedient to God and keeping the Law. The Israelites who came out of Egypt never entered God’s rest because they tempted God. They wandered for forty years without coming to the Promised Land. (Psalms 95:11)

In the New Testament, God’s rest comes to those who enter into the New Covenant of Jesus. “Therefore, a promise being left to enter into His rest, let us fear lest any of you should seem to come short of it. For also we have had the gospel preached, as well as them. But the Word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. For we who have believed do enter into the rest, as He said, "I have sworn in My wrath that they should not enter into My rest;" although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.” (Hebrews 4:1-3) The author of Hebrews writes about those in the Old Testament that failed to enter into the rest of God. The Word of God didn’t do them any good because they didn’t have faith. They failed to believe God’s Word. But those who have entered the New Covenant of Jesus, we entered by faith and have entered into God’s rest.

“For thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will sling out the inhabitants of the land at this once, and will distress them, that they may find it so.” (Jeremiah 10:18) Jeremiah prophesied about the destruction to come saying that then the people will discover that God said what He meant and meant what He said. And destruction did come. He prophesied the Babylonian captivity and their return also.

We live in a time of mercy and grace. Because of God’s mercy and grace, many do not take this time to draw near to God, thinking they will always enjoy His grace. The book of Hebrews has a warning for all of us similar to the warnings of Micah.  “Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called Today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; While it is said, Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.” (Hebrews 3:12-15) The dispensation of grace will come to an end and destruction is coming to the earth. Those who refused to accept God’s rest will perish with the earth. “But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.” (2Peter 3:7) It will come suddenly and unexpectantly, much like the destruction of Israel and God’s grace will no more be available to man on earth. “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,” (2Peter 3:9-11).

Ultimately, we see the same thing happening now that we saw in the Old Testament. God warned His people in the Old Testament of the coming destruction because of their sins. And God warns the world in the New Testament of destruction coming to those who refuse His gift of mercy and love. God said in Jeremiah 10:18, “... that they may find it so.”  In other words, that they may finally understand that God meant what He said and said what He meant.