The Steep Learning Curve

Learning from Suffering (Isaiah 26:9)

Paul J. Bucknell

The pangs of the world, judgments of God, call us to step from our states of self-sufficiency to live uprightly. I just hope we quickly learn from the existing problems before more severe judgments come!

"For when the earth experiences Thy judgments the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness" (Isaiah 26:9)

Understanding Tragedies | Answers for Tragedgy | Finding Peace in Tragic Times | Explanation and Warning of Judgment | Mass murders | Big Learning Curve

The Match

Have you ever watched two stubborn people argue? As the tension builds, the situation quickly deteriorates. This seems the way it is right now between the heady secularists, who seem to allege all our woes upon the changing climate, and God, who openly states that He is behind all the threatening changes coming upon the earth. Who will win? There is no question about that (Psalm 2).

Man's hope comes from speedily learning His lesson. God is not going to renege on revealing His righteousness. Learn or die. Man remains guilty for ignoring and rebelling against God's authority over His earth. People could properly plea guilty, repent and acknowledge God’s righteousness, and yet, they sadly persist in their stubborn ways.

The Victory

What do we stand further to lose before gaining a reprieve? Time will tell, but droughts, fires, floods, tornadoes, extreme weather, terrible storms, enemies from within and without all have been past tools of the Lord. Our immoral revolution begs for yet severer judgments.

It is not easy for the haughty to give up his fight and throw down his weapons. Ancient Egypt, in the end, embarrassingly stood stripped naked before the almighty God due to the plagues sent from God (Exodus 11:6; 14:28). The great world empire literally collapsed before the eyes of the nations (Joshua 2:10). Their mighty army drowned.

Countries might have changed, but God and His ways remain the same. God only wants us to “learn righteousness,” that is, learn our lesson and live uprightly by obeying His commands.

God has been so patient, but times are changing. Secular man is becoming more resistive to God’s truth. God’s judgments are undoubtedly at our door; they are here – not because of global warming but because God who issues these needed corrective judgments is standing up against this woefully silly but arrogant crowd.

Summary

Isaiah reminds us that we are to learn His righteousness. I can think of many easier and more enjoyable ways to learn His Word, but the fight persists - but only for a short period. Like in Egypt, the great will become least, “For this time I will send all My plagues on you and your servants and your people, so that you may know that there is no one like Me in all the earth” (Exodus 9:14). Oh, that we might early on learn our lessons.

Biblical Foundations for Freedom ( BFF )

Rev. Paul J. Bucknell