Attention Seeking
I have been thinking alot about God's people and their history of behavior. Actually, not just God's people but all people. I have been wondering just how far God will go to get our attention. Would He perhaps evict us from a safe place and set a celestial being at guard to keep us from returning? Do you think He might have one of His own people work for years on some giant monstrosity, all the while preaching repentance? Might He cause us to live in a temporary state of confusion, unable to understand one another? Could He possibly cause us to suffer war and pestilence and disease? If we suffered at the hands of our brothers, if we were lied about, abused and cheated, would He allow that if it meant getting our attention? Would He?
In the story of the ten plagues, was God trying to get Pharaoh's attention? The attention of the Israelites? The Egyptians? Why did it take the blood, the gnats, the hail, the flies, the frogs, the darkness, the locusts, the death of the livestock, boils, and even the death of the firstborn to make them notice . . .and believe? Why?
Perhaps people in biblical times were more stubborn than modern humans. Surely it wouldn't take such drastic events to make us focus on Him. Or perhaps we believe that God no longer allows or even causes such things. Perhaps we believe that He isn't really working in our lives or that He somehow has decided against making such an effort for our attention. We know and believe, or at least I hope we do, that God the Father, does indeed seek our attention. He wants us to love Him with all our being. He wants us to think about Him, meditate on His word, love His laws, worship Him, right? All of those require attention! But, being human, we often take our attention off Him. So how far will God go to get our attention now? When He sees us praying less, studying less, neglecting worship, filling our lives with worldly things, behaving ungodly, lying, etc. does it bother Him? How much? Do you think He would allow us to have health problems? Or experience financial struggles? Would He allow us to know the pain of grief or the burden of shame? Could He let us feel betrayed and abused? Would He ?
I guess I really have two questions: Does God desire our attention enough that He will allow us to experience drastic events to get it? And . . .
Why isn't one drastic event enough?
Perhaps . . . the sacrifice of an innocent Son for our redemption?
Just wondering . . . . . . . . . . . .
Blessings
Neva
16 Comments:
Neva -
Thank you for another encouraging and conviction post. I appreciate your heart, and your desire to love and serve God.
I'm praying for you...have a great night.
Wow! Do you think He is trying to get our attention? With the economy and the war and crime etc.
I have to think about this more.
Pat
It's funny how, when left to our own devises, we can sometimes creat situations where only God can redeem us. He gave us a choice, and every time we make the wrong choice,it becomes obvious that we need Him to rescue us.
Is He getting our attention? I don't know. Is He trying? Oh yeah!!!
Ahh, the God who ACTS... probably looking for people with enough feeling to REACT.
I think sometimes those "big events" are just punctuation marks at the end of a very long statement.
God working in the lives of His people and the way He does this has been a source of longstanding discussion. For those who don't believe God does this anymore, I have to wonder why He would pull out all the stops for the OT characters and not for me and you? I believe He will do whatever it takes to bring us to Him or as you say, get our attention.
This is a very convicting post.
Carlos
Many times I've lived the "scruff of the neck" - "I want your attention!" experience. It seems I'm not sensitive to His small warnings of the change He's looking for in my life and finally has to push me in the corner, grab me the the scruff of the neck, shake the dust off my sandals, setting me down where He wants me to minister. It's scary sometimes, exhilarating at other times, and down right amazing at all times.
I'm such a dunderhead - He has to absolutely slam shut every avenue of escape to get my attention - to point me in the direction He wants me to take. It's so aggravating. Why don't I learn????
I'm not convinced He causes great disasters, but am convinced He does use each of them for His purpose. We have no idea how many tragedies and disasters He's not allowed to come to fruition, but we surely can tell where He works as a result of those that do occur. He WILL get our attention, one way or another, is my conviction.
Neva! You are amazing. What a wealth of deep thought and well-written blogs!! You are such a blessing!!
In His love, grace and mercy
K
I am not sure I agree that God would not cause great disasters. He has historically caused floods and famines and droughts. I am not sure that he doesn't still do "drastic" things when we communally or individually refuse to listen to the small ones. He did what he needed to to get the attention of his people in the past and we are just as stubborn and stiff necked as they were so like I said, I am not sure. I will think on this some more.
Dean
As scary as it sounds, I really want God to do everything He needs to do to get my attention. After all life is only death without hope of the hereafter. God already showed me He thought I was worth the effort when He nailed His Son to the cross. Praise God for His love.
Corinne
I think He does and we are generally just too pigheaded to listen. I know I am.
Jarrod
This is a very thought provoking post! Thank you for sharing your "deep thoughts" with us.
Rachel
Your post made me think about two things. One, I am ashamed that I don't react to God's attempts to get my attention and two, that I am so amazed that He loves me enough to keep trying to get my attention.
Thank you for this, Neva. Your blog is a breath of fresh air.
Georgia
Oh yes, I do believe things happen in our lives to draw us closer to Him.
I think I'm living proof of that.
Lori
wow, this is a great post! thanks for sharing, you have made me think this morning.
He works on me all the time.
Gina
Neva, This was probably one of your best. It certainly got my attention.
I amen this post and James' comment. Great job!
Jeneane
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