The Meaning of Calamities
In describing the conditions that brought disaster and ultimate ruin upon Judah and Jerusalem anciently, the prophet Isaiah said: “The show of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe unto their soul! for they have rewarded evil unto themselves.” Isa. 3: 9. This scripture is striking, and is worthy of special study in this time. The people in that day “rewarded evil unto themselves.” In other words, they were the direct cause themselves of their own deceptions and calamities. They were proud of their sinning, for they declared their sin as Sodom; and they were so far removed from shame, that they did not attempt to hide the evil deeds they were performing. The history of the iniquity of ancient Israel was written for the express purpose of admonishing us at this time. “Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.” 1 Cor. 10: 6-11. Study this language of the apostle as he comments on the experiences of the Israel of old. Note what he says: “These things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.” And again, “Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.” Those lessons and experiences of ancient Israel were recorded that they might admonish us in this time, else they will be repeated in the history of each individual. And in the aggregate, the sins of the individual will produce both national and international calamities. Moral principle is the same through all the ages. That which would produce the overthrow of Israel in the time of Moses and of Isaiah, would produce the overthrow of any nation at any time. Let us heed these admonitions. Let us recognize the great fact, that it is sin that is ever the destroyer of men and of nations. When sin reaches the point that it is open rebellion against God, His protection must be withdrawn. He cannot protect such a course. Open, flagrant, rebellious sin, as was the sin of Sodom, lays the individual open to the direct attacks of Satan, without any protection from on high. It is because of the conditions of sin so prevalent in these times, that the judgments are falling from God in many parts of the world. On every hand we see storms, earthquakes, floods, fires, and other calamities and disasters. We should be admonished, and should see to it that the atoning blood of Christ cleanses and keeps us free from all iniquity.