Returning In The Middle Of Chaos

JEREMAIH 50 v 1-17

What does it take to return to God? What does it take to return to God in the chaos?
Babylon was used by God to punish Judah and some other nations, they seemed unstoppable. But little did they know that they would be punished for their own sins. Babylon was destroyed in 539 B.C by the Medo-Persians (Daniel 5 v 30-31) and later completely destroyed by Persian Kings. The destruction and description of Babylon being evil is much compared to the judgement of the world in Revelation. There is so much chaos and destruction in the destruction of Babylon but could the Israelites make a way to return to God in this messy situation?

"Our character is built through the pursuit of God."

The key thing that stands out for me in this scripture is the illustration used famously many times throughout the bible, of people being like sheep and God or the leader being the shepherd. The people in this case are lost sheep and God has put different shepherds (Kings) in place but not many of them have done a good job. I think these are the three key points in the bible where the shepherd has too use different methods in comparison to the previous and the next, all because of the way the sheep are living::
- God being the shepherd to the children of Israel.
- David being the shepherd to the teenagers of Israel.
- Jesus being the shepherd to the adults of Israel.

The first stage of shepherding the people was God the Father working with the children of Israel, they were much like children they had a very simple faith in God but still got in a bit of trouble - such as when the leader wasn't there doing things they shouldn't. Also previous to that the key characters - Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses and Joshua. All looked to God for regular guidence and depending on him for most things. Wherever we are on our journey we should always depend on God. Here is a short passage of God being a shepherd to children, Exodus 13 v 21-22 - "²¹ By day the LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. ²² Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people." God was truly leadig them every step of the way and he provided food from heaven. But there was chaos and God did want to destroy them but the returned to him. God modelled a brilliant way to parent through this time when they were the children of Israel showing me that I need to teach principles and make sure there are boundaries set in place for when I have kids. But this also applies to anybody I am parent figure/mentor to. Do I give space and availability for people to access me in the middle of the chaos?

David was in the second phase of the sheep which was teenage years, I named it the teenage years because David was a great king and shepherd of the people but by that point the sheep were starting to do their own thing. He was by far the best King the people had but from David on the people to continue to rebel and think they know it all and try to do it alone without God. I am not saying all teenagers are like this but some carry at least one of these traits. Jeremiah 44 v 7-10 - " ⁷ “Now this is what the LORD God Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Why bring such great disaster on yourselves by cutting off from Judah the men and women, the children and infants, and so leave yourselves without a remnant? ⁸ Why arouse my anger with what your hands have made, burning incense to other gods in Egypt, where you have come to live? You will destroy yourselves and make yourselves a curse and an object of reproach among all the nations on earth. ⁹ Have you forgotten the wickedness committed by your ancestors and by the kings and queens of Judah and the wickedness committed by you and your wives in the land of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem? ¹⁰ To this day they have not humbled themselves or shown reverence, nor have they followed my law and the decrees I set before you and your ancestors." The people needed disciplining and the just punishment was given. A lot of what the Israelites were doing wasn't deliberating rebelling but they investigated different things and ended up stuck in a rut. When I have rebelled against God or been distracted how has this affected my life? I need to regularly come back to God even in the middle of the problem or the chaos.

Jesus was good shepherd he dealt with the Israelites as adults, what I mean by this is that the people liked traditions, especially the Pharisees and didn't want to change. Not all adults are like this but as we all know we all like a certain amount of stability in our lives, habitual living. Sometimes the things we stabilise in are great - commitment to church and God, but can be bad - judging others and bad attitude. A lot of what Jesus was saying wasn't brand new he was applying ancient teachings in the modern times, but the other stuff he was bringing was new such as, him fulfilling prophecies and miracles. Jesus portrayed himself as the shepherd in Matt 9 v 36 - "When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd." This also shows the people were still lost and Jesus was giving them an opportunity in the middle of the chaos of Roman oppression. What habits if not tended to properly can become twisted? What habits am I making mine because I see the people influencing doing?

The key in all this for me is God is available at any time so no matter how bad the chaos He is. But deeper than that, is my choice to return to God when focus is lost or distraction comes. Once I make the choice the hardest but most rewarding thing is to persevere through the chaos. If only I knew this principle all the times I returned to God in the past. Our character is built through the pursuit of God.