Tag: root issues

This disaster happened because the people of Israel sinned against the Lord their God… (2 Kings 17:7)

I was listening to a message once, and the pastor asked a very interesting question.

I’m paraphrasing, but he essentially said, “There may be many reasons for the problems we face, but which reason is most fundamental?”

That’s what I thought of when I read the above scripture.

There were many reasons Israel fell.

Assyria was a powerful nation at the time. Israel was much weaker.

King Hoshea had a treaty with the king of Assyria. He broke that treaty.

Both reasonably explain Israel’s fall.

But which reason was most fundamental?

The answer is neither.

We’ll read it in the next two chapters, but King Hezekiah would also break a treaty with Assyria, and Assyria besieged Jerusalem.

But when Hezekiah humbled himself before God, God delivered Jerusalem even though Assyria was much stronger militarily than Judah.

There were also many other times that Israel faced stronger enemies, but because they trusted and served God, they overcame their enemies.

The fundamental reason that Israel fell to Assyria was that the people had sinned against God, turning their backs on him to follow other gods.

Instead of following God and his ways, they followed the ways of the nations around them.

It made me think of the problems I’m facing in life.

There may be many reasons for them. But what is the most fundamental reason?

Is my heart truly right before God?

Am I following him, doing things his way?

Or am I doing things my own?

When God points out my disobedience, am I repenting, or am I making excuses?

Father, search me and know my heart. You know the problems I’m facing. Show me what the fundamental issues are.

And if there’s something I need to do, something I need to repent of, show me what it is.

Help me to trust and obey you. In Jesus’ name, amen.