Un-natural disaster.

SCRIPTURE:  Justice is turned back, and righteousness stands far away; for truth has stumbled in the public squares, and uprightness cannot enter. Truth is lacking, and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey. Isaiah 59:14-15 ESV

THOUGHT: For a culture that has removed religion from the public square, there is sardonic humor in the fact that we call natural disasters “acts of God.” Of course! Attribute to God whatever is horrible and leaves destruction in its wake, but for the un-natural disasters of our day, take no responsibility, or worse, attribute those to God too.

Isaiah 59 is not for the faint of heart, but it’s the Biblical prophets that taught me a prophet is as much about truth-telling as predicting the future. The future is only a consequence of the truth all around us.

The upside is, in the biggest way possible, we have the power – as an “act of God!” no less – to choose our future. And if you’re reading this devotional, chances are you’ve chosen The God way. Like me, you’re not perfect at it, or hopefully even pretending to be perfect at it. The downside is, like Isaiah, you may be starting to see a picture of a public square where justice is literally repelled backwards, and righteousness (think virtue, morality, justice, decency) must stand at a distance because truth has stumbled and uprightness (think decency, honorableness, respectability) can no longer be a part of the conversation. If you won’t take part in the circus (if you “depart from evil”), you make yourself prey.

Conclusion: let those who have become prey, pray.

PRAYER: Oh God, help us buy the truth and not sell it at any cost; help us buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding (Proverbs 23:23) and hold on tight through the un-natural disasters around us.