Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. Isaiah 55:6-8.

I confess I love disaster movies. Last night we watched Yellowstone Supervolcano about the Caldera that is 34×43 miles and can only be fully appreciated in the air high above; and that if it explodes as it has in the past, the whole world will be affected. After that we watched The Wave about the side of a cliff face in Norway giving way into the water producing a powerful tsunami. That one was only a movie. We watched the protagonist trying and finally succeeding in saving his family. Volcanos are real. Tsunamis are real. Hurricanes are real. Earthquakes are real. They are bigger than we are and in them we have no illusions about our own power. As I watched the disaster movie with all of the latest CGI special effects, I couldn’t help but think about our real Savior. He won’t just save a family in Norway. He will save all of us. The power displayed not just in the movie but in footage of real volcanoes reminded me of His power because He created all of this.

The people of ancient Israel wanted to be just like the nations around them and have their own king and their own way. In 2 Samuel 20 we see just how like the nations then and just how like the nations today are those who need rescuing from the disaster of choosing life apart from God.

The people in the last chapter had just complained that they had a greater share in David being 10 tribes out of 12; and now they are easily swayed to rebel against David. Now a troublemaker named Sheba son of Bikri, a Benjamite, happened to be there. He sounded the trumpet and shouted, “We have no share in David, no part in Jesse’s son! Every man to his tent, Israel!” So all the men of Israel deserted David to follow Sheba son of Bikri. But the men of Judah stayed by their king all the way from the Jordan to Jerusalem. v. 1-3.

How fickle can humans be? My thoughts are not your thoughts; neither are your ways my ways.

There are natural disasters and the disasters made by men. When David returned to Jerusalem he provided for the 10 concubines his son, Absalom, had violated. He put them in a house under guard to protect them and they lived as widows until their death, v. 3.

David sent Joab and all the mighty warriors after Sheba. When they came to Abel Beth Maakah, Joab besieged that town. A wise woman there called down to Joab. She stopped the destruction of the city by promising the head of Sheba. The city was spared, v. 14-22.

Which way do we want has never been more valid a question. Today in America, it feels like Russian Roulette when you go into any school, church, store because there are people who arm themselves and kill innocent men, women and children. Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare. Give ear and come to me; listen, that you may live. Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon. Isaiah 55:1-3, 7. That is His promise given in His love for all of us.

One day we will each one of us be rescued. We will be rescued from a broken world steeped in sins we have committed and clung to. Which way then? The only way forward. Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life.” John 14:6. He gives us a choice. He always has given us a choice and He will respect that. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many good years in the land he swore to give your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Deuteronomy 30:19-20. Never forget the land he swore to give to the forefathers is the land God created and it is His to give to all. No more tribes, no more countries, no more divisions.

Which way do you want?