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What does ‘Ãbad Mean For The Southeast And Israel?

What does ‘Ãbad Mean For The Southeast And Israel?

Last updated on: October 13, 2024 at 9:58 am by Martin Thomas Johnson

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What does ‘Ãbad Mean For The Southeast And Israel? 2024-10-13T09:58:40-04:00 Martin Thomas Johnson

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For the past two weeks, I have been living in aftermath of Hurricane Helene in Georgia. By the time the storm made it to the town I live in near the Georgia and South Carolina state line, it was still a category one hurricane. The eye of the storm passed directly over the city I live in. The hurricane devastated the Southeast in ways we could never have imagined or prepared for.

Flooding rain
Power outages
Loss of life
Major structure damage
Loss of food and water

The community I live in is still recovering from the nightmare storm. I haven’t posted in my column for two weeks because I had no access to the Internet or TV service. There are still people in the community who have no power or water.

Image created by Martin Thomas Johnson using Canva

Augusta Georgia, home of the Masters golf course, looks like a nuclear bomb went off and destroyed entire neighborhoods. I have lived in the Southeast most of my life and have never witnessed such chaos and destruction in Georgia as I have these past few weeks.

During the first few days, everyone also lost cell service. We were all heartbroken when we learned about the devastation throughout the Southeast. But no one should be surprised, because this world has been ruined spiritually and physically since the fall in the garden (Genesis 3:1-24.) And one day God will destroy the earth and all evil.

What Is Destroy?

God alone is the Creator and destroyer of life (Psalm 90:2, Isaiah 40:28.) Destroy is defined as, “To ruin the structure, organic existence, or condition of; annihilate.” Destruction is the end of one state to make room for the next state.

Image By Pixabay

After God saw the wickedness of man, He decided to destroy the creation (Genesis 6:5-9.) Through Noah, God spared a remnant of humanity to give us a second chance. However, mankind soon returned to its evil ways and once again God had to destroy His creation (Genesis 19:24-25.)

Science and history record how climate change events have nearly destroyed the earth. Each year scientists warn us that eventually the earth will be destroyed. Not by climate change or the actions of man, but by God’s divine judgment.

God’s people have known for well over 2000 years that one day this world and everything in it will perish (1 Thessalonians 5:1-5, Ephesians 6:12, 2 Peter 3:12, Revelation 20:11-15.) The Apostles remembered their Jewish education about how God alone destroys.

‘Ãbad

The Torah begins with how God created everything in the universe, including the earth, from nothing (Genesis 1:1-7.) We can see how God directs creation and commands the water, just by speaking.

It doesn’t take long before we see how God used His power to destroy as well as to create (Genesis 6:5-9; 18:20-21.) The Hebrew word for destroy in the Old Testament isʾābad and it can also mean, “Destruction, fail, be undone, be void, perish,” depending on the context it is used in.

Most nature freaks like myself enjoy early fall because we can clearly see God at work as creation changes, thought is the state of death or transition in nature. Spring is a state of new life and new beginnings.

Since the ancient Israelites were nomads and depended on nature and agriculture to live, they understood how God used nature to create or destroy, these divine events are included throughout the Torah to remind God’s people about their Creator’s ways.

Creation account
Great flood
Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah
The plagues and curses in Egypt
The testing of Job

The Old Testament ends with a prophecy about God’s refining fire and God’s people once again being tested (Malachi 3:2-4.) Jesus warned His followers about the trials and hardships that would come in the last days to test the faith of God’s people (Matthew 24:1-35.)

Hard Times

Jesus knew God’s people once again be more focused on temporary happiness than eternal holiness in the heaven to come (2 Timothy 4:3, Revelation 3:15-16.) Jesus even reminded His followers about the Great Flood (Luke 17:27,) because He knew God’s people would once again turn from truth to the evil ways (Isaiah 30:10, 1 Timothy 4:1-3.)

We see that the end of the world isn’t based on the wickedness of the world, but when God’s people turn from the truth and stop being the salt and light of the world (Matthew 5:13-14,) we are called to be light, not walk in darkness.

Israel

During the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, my community experienced a communications blackout. Slowly we began to hear the horrific news about Iran’s massive attack on Israel in response to Israel’s actions against Hezbollah.

Image by Wikipedia Commons

This is why God’s people are not to repay evil for evil or seek revenge, that isn’t walking in the light (Genesis 42:25, Proverbs 20:22, Matthew 5:29, Romans 12:17.) We do not overcome the darkness with darkness, but by being the light to the world.

That is the spiritual truth we must practice in this spiritual fight between good and evil. God’s people should never seek revenge, because only God is just and He does all He pleases (Deuteronomy 32:4, Psalm 11:7.)

Avenges
Creates
Destroys

As I write this post Florida is recovering from a record-breaking monster hurricane that defied physics and everything scientists believed. Milton’s rapid intensification was a testament to the power of God and His creation.

Unfortunately, some claim to belong to God who have politicized these acts of God to deceive people and justify their anti-Christian beliefs. These people are more concerned about winning and losing than building God’s Kingdom.

Bob Brinner warned, “The call for Christians to serve America is not about winning and losing. It is about being obedient to the gospel mission.” You see, God’s people forget only God gives life and only He can ʾābad it!

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