This week, the big news has been more extreme weather events across America. The Northeast and New Jersey have been drenched with a record-breaking flooding. The weather and Mother Nature are on a rampage, and it is only getting worse.
Both coasts of America are experiencing some form of extreme weather events, and the Grand Canyon is currently burning up. The Bible warns us about these intense displays of God’s power in the last days (Luke 2:11, 2 Timothy 3:1):
- Earthquakes
- Floods
- Wildfires
- Volcanoes
The Bible tells us that because of man’s sin, the world became cursed (Genesis 3:17-19). Just like our flesh, the ground is corrupt and broken. We see this brokenness reflected in creation through weather and natural disasters. That is why Scripture tells us even creation longs for and needs to be repaired (Jeremiah 12:4, Romans 8:22).
What Is Repaired
The Bible tells us because of sin, this world is broken and needs to be repaired to its original state (Isaiah 24:5-6, Romans 5:12). Repair is defined as “To restore by replacing a part or putting together what is torn or broken; fix or renew.”
Although we live in an advanced technology society, mankind cannot help or actually fix this broken world; only its Creator can. Fortunately, God’s ways and power are higher and better than man’s (Isaiah 55:8-9, 1 John 2:16-17). God has had a plan to repair this broken world since before the fall.
God normally works through the divine to do His will, but God can use His people if we submit to His will and ways (Deuteronomy 13:4, Matthew 7:21). The Bible has a lot to say about God’s people and repairing things (Isaiah 53:5, Jeremiah 29:11, Mark 1:19-20, Romans 8:38-39).
God’s plan has never been about His people dominating this fallen kingdom; we are here to help repair it. We are the salt and light placed here to help repair what the first Adam broke in the garden (Genesis 3:1-27).
We are God’s image bearers as Christians and do the works of Jesus, not Judas (Romans 8:29, 1 Corinthians 11:7, 2 Corinthians 3:18; 4:4, Ephesians 4:24). The Apostle Paul remembered his Jewish education about God’s purpose for His people and His plan to repair this broken world.
Bāḏaq
The Torah begins with God’s plan of creation. Moses tells us everything God created was good (Genesis 1:1-31). He tells us how God created man in God’s own image to be good and to do good. God tells man to create and fill the earth just like God (Genesis 1:26-30).
Everything was good, until man disobeyed God and wanted more. After the fall of man, all of God’s creation became broken and corrupt (Genesis 3:17). The fall left man and creation needing to be repaired.
The Hebrew word in the Old Testament for repair is bāḏaq, and it can also mean, “mend,” depending on the context it is used in. The Torah continues the creation story by God creating a nation dedicated to Himself and His plan to repair this broken world (Genesis 12:1-4; 15:5-6; 17:1-8, Leviticus 19:2). That is why Judaism emphasizes the need for God’s people to repair the world, not rule it:
- Charity
- Fighting for social justice
- Caring for the planet
- Kindness and compassion
- Promoting peace
- ethical business
- Tikkun Olam
When the Messiah arrived, He focused His earthly ministry on repairing this broken world, not conquering it like our Jewish forefathers wanted (John 3:16). Jesus charged His followers with the basic teachings of continuing God’s work in this fallen world by being the salt and light ( Matthew 5:13-16).
He confronted the religious leaders for doing the works of their father instead of having people return to God and heaven (Matthew 23:13, John 8:39-44). Jesus taught His followers to seek justice for the least of these and the people who were hurting (Matthew 25:40).
Jesus taught His followers about true greatness (Matthew 23:11-12). He reminded His followers God and His Kingdom aren’t like this fallen earthly kingdom (John 18:36)
Israel
In other big news this week, Israel launched attacks against Syria. Israel is hell-bent on its quest to conquer the Middle East. It continues to ruthlessly attack Gaza in its hunt for Hamas.
Israeli forces have also attacked Lebanon this week. Once again, God’s people have become assessed with an earthly kingdom and earthly greatness instead of God’s kingdom and His ways and will (Judges 2:11-15, Isaiah 1:2-4):
- Power
- Revenge
- Greed
God’s people have forgotten God’s purpose for setting us apart from this corrupt and fallen world (Deuteronomy 7:6, 1 Peter 2:9). Like the first Adam, many have bought Satan’s lie of earthly greatness with no consequences.
Some of the saints have ignored the warnings of the second Adam and the New Testament writers and have placed their hopes into an earthly kingdom (Matthew 24:10-11, Acts 20:29-30, 1 Timothy 4:3-4, Titus 1:10-11). The 21st-century church has become more focused on ruling than on God’s bāḏaq!
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