Reaping the Whirlwind

It would really be a terrible thing to become so infamous for a negative behaviour that your very name became synonymous with the unrighteous action.

Charles Ponzi certainly holds that honour.  A con-man and swindler, he invented the famous “pyramid scheme”, where a fake investment opportunity is created, and early investors are paid their “dividends” from the moneys provided by new backers, even though there is no real growth happening in the company.  Ponzi was so famous for his scams that these “pyramids” are now simply known as “Ponzi schemes.”  After spending years in prison, he unrepentantly continued his cons upon his release.  He died, broke, disease-ridden, and alone.

Joseph McCarthy was a United States Senator from Wisconsin who was responsible for prompting and presiding over the “Red Scare” of the 1940’s and ‘50’s.  McCarthy claimed, without any real evidence, that Communists had infiltrated the highest levels of the United States Government.  In reality, McCarthy was using the statement as a platform to attack his political enemies.  Given the general fear that Americans had over the Communist threat at the time, they rallied around the Senator, calling for investigations and the prosecution of those who were “un-American.”

What followed was years of accusations, trials, and ruined lives; even though evidence was often scant or non-existent, the stigma attached even to the accusation of “Communist” was often enough to derail a career.  The house of cards fell as the nation realized that McCarthy was a vindictive witch-hunter and nothing more.  Ruined politically, censured by the government, and left friendless by his actions, he turned to heavy drinking, and died from the results of his alcoholism a few years later, refusing to acknowledge any wrongdoing, even to the end.  The term “McCarthyism” remains as his only legacy, referring to baseless accusations against political enemies, and relying on fear-mongering and public panic to aid one’s political purposes.

Were you to ask any American student about who the greatest traitor in American history was, chances are they would answer, “Benedict Arnold.”  Like the previous two examples, this is a man whose very name became synonymous with his crimes.

When the United States colonies rebelled against the British in the Revolutionary War, Benedict Arnold was an officer in the American army.  By all accounts, he acted with bravery and distinction, and rose through the ranks of the leadership within the organization.

He was, however, discontent.  His politicking for his own career had not gone as well as he would have liked.  Although he had been promoted, it had not happened fast enough for his liking.  He made many enemies, and became known as a difficult man to work with.  He began to feel that he was not being shown the proper appreciation for his services.  He attempted to resign several times in protest, and when his resignation was refused due to a lack of capable leaders within the army, he began to rebel and act out against his commanding officers.  Feeling that his skills had not been properly acknowledged, and that he was not being compensated in the way that he felt he deserved, he plotted to defect over to the British.

After a series of secret messages and coded communications, Arnold planned to surrender to the British the military garrison of West Point, which he personally commanded, in exchange for money.  He was hoping to become wealthy, and become a high-ranking British officer.  He went about weakening West Point’s defences so that it could fall more convincingly when the British attacked, and prepared to surrender his troops and arms to the enemy.

Unfortunately for Arnold, the plot was exposed, and he fled for his life from his old army, which was determined to hang him.  Evading the Americans who were hunting him, he made it safely to the British side.  He was given an officer’s commission in the British army, and a small amount of money, but he was not welcomed warmly by his new friends.  Hated by the Americans for his treachery, the British also did not trust him because of his deceitful actions, and so largely ignored him and his ideas for the remainder of the war.

Upon the defeat of British forces, Arnold moved to Canada, where he was hated by his fellow townspeople.  He took his family to England, where he was maligned in the press and insulted on the floor of the House.  Unrepentant, he died a broken man, heavily indebted, and universally despised for his selfish and traitorous actions.  To call someone a “Benedict Arnold” is a grave insult in America, connecting the target of the insult to a man who was considered to be unconscionable and without morals.

Ponzi, McCarthy, and Arnold met tragic ends of their lives, and would potentially be sad stories, except for the fact that their downfalls were all a result of their own actions.  They acted appallingly, and refused to acknowledge as much, and so the ordeals that came about because of that were intense.

Their cautionary lives stand as a warning to all of us that our actions do have very real consequences.

Scriptures speaks very plainly about these things: “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.” (Gal 6:7-8)

So just like our parents taught us, our actions cause results.  Good actions have good consequences, and bad actions have bad consequences.  This is basic theology, but it bears repeating.

Sometimes a trial comes from Satan, as it did with Job (Job 1).  God allows it for a purpose, but it comes from Satan, as he plots against us and creates a plan to take us down.

Sometimes, a trial comes from God.  When Jesus went into His great temptation in the wilderness, the Word tells us that it was the Holy Spirit who led Him into that season of testing (Mt 4:1).  He had done nothing wrong deserving the hardship; it was, however, a test from God to prepare Him for His ministry.

And sometimes, the trial does not come from Satan or from God at all, but from ourselves.  We can blame the enemy for attacking us, or blame God for testing us, when in reality, we are just reaping from what we ourselves have sown.

Israel had this problem.  Over and over again, really.  Their forty year desert-wandering was not God’s initial plan for them; it came as a result of their continual disobedience and stubbornness (Num 14:26-35).  Upon reaching Canaan, a cycle occurred throughout Judges where they would walk with God, then fall into sin, causing consequences to come upon the people (Jg 3:7-8; v.12-14; 4:1-2; 6:1; 10:6-7).

And one of the greatest struggles that Israel would go through would also come as a result of their own actions.

God had promised Abraham a land that would belong to his descendants (Gen 12:7).  Even though He knew that Israel would be enslaved by the Egyptians, the LORD promised Abraham that He would bring His people back into the land that was promised them (Gen 15:16).

When Israel was in captivity in Egypt, the LORD spoke to Moses at the burning bush, telling him, “I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey,” (Ex 3:8).  And the plan was that Moses would go and lead them out, and take them into the very place that God had promised to Abraham (Ex 6:8).

While in transit, the Law came to Moses, in which the LORD promised many good things to Israel when they followed Him (Dt 28:1-14).  However, there were also consequences if they refused to follow Him, one of which centred around the Promised Land.  If Israel continued in their sin against the LORD, eventually His patience would run out, and He told His people that “You will be uprooted from the land you are entering to possess. Then the LORD will scatter you among all nations, from one end of the earth to the other”. (Dt 28:63-64)

Sadly, this is exactly what happened.

After decades of worshipping false gods, ignoring the commands of the LORD, and following the practices of the pagan nations surrounding them, God’s patience had finally run out.  Two great and terrifying empires, Assyria and Babylon, would invade the Promised Land and carry all of God’s people into exile (2Ki 17:7-10; 2Ki 24:20; 25:9-11).  Their actions had caused them to lose the amazing blessing that God had given them, and instead they found themselves in chains in a foreign land, far from home.  It was entirely preventable, and entirely their own fault.

Scripture tells us that, “He who sows wickedness reaps trouble,” (Pr 22:8). It is a common theme throughout Scripture’s best cautionary tales.  A lustful Samson died horribly in chains, betrayed by his lover (Jg 16:15-30).  King Saul’s disregard for the LORD’s command caused him to derail his destiny, losing the throne, falling away from God, and dying painfully on the battlefield (1Sam 15:23; 1Sam 31).  Jonah ran from God’s will and wound up in the belly of a great fish (Jn 1:1-17).  David slept with another man’s wife and murdered her husband; as a result, the baby conceived through the affair would die and bloodshed would come to David’s own family (2Sam 12:7-18).

These are but a few examples.  Their hardships did not come from Satan’s plotting or from God’s heart.  They came straight from their own disobedience and sinful actions.  Most us can probably relate, having gone through an ordeal or two that were our own responsibility.

But there is still good news for us, even in self-inflicted struggle!   Even in Israel’s exile, God’s love and His grace are still who He is.  Even as the people are being shipped out of their homeland, God gives them a promise:  “I will be found by you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.” (Jer 29:14)

We must never forget that, whatever we may have done, the Gospel story that is being lived by us and by all of Creation is an ever-folding plan of redemption.

Even if our current circumstances are the result of our own poor choices or sinful actions, there is nothing in all of creation that God cannot take and restore by His great grace!  There is no sin that He will not forgive, and there is no situation or condition that is beyond His merciful deliverance.

So when we face our trials, it is worth asking the question: “Did I bring this on myself?”  The answer may well be “no”, but it is something to explore.  Scripture tells us that “The sins of some men are obvious,” (1Ti 5:24); sometimes it is very easy to see our trials as a result of our own deeds.  Sometimes, however, it may not be quite so obvious, and so it is good and godly to pray the prayer of the Psalmist:  “Search me, O God, and know my heart,” (Ps 139:23). The trial may absolutely not be our fault, but it is still a good prayer to pray.  We may find that God is wanting to show us some things that we did not realize were there.

Even though Israel’s exile was completely their fault, hear the heart of God as He speaks to them while they are in chains: “Do not be dismayed, O Israel,’ declares the LORD. ‘I will surely save you out of a distant place, your descendants from the land of their exile. Jacob will again have peace and security, and no one will make him afraid.” (Jer 30:10). Even in their sinful rebellion, and as they walked through the consequences thereof, God still loved His people, planned to rescue them, and prepared to bring them back into a place of blessing.  He does not desire us to remain in our hardship forever, even if we did cause it; His heart is to bring us back into His place of peace.

In these types of trials, acknowledgement of wrongdoing and repentance of sin are key (Jer 15:19; Eze 14:6; Hos 14; 2Co 7:10).  If our hardships are occurring because of our rebellious ways, and if we refuse to repent or acknowledge our sins, then we can’t expect the Lord to save us from the consequences of our actions, which is something that He is more than willing to do if we will learn our lesson properly.  Scripture tells us to “Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons.” (Heb 12:7).  The reason that He lets us reap the consequences is because He is desiring us to change through the trial.  Like a good and loving Father, He is wanting us to avoid those sinful behaviours the next time.

The Bible tells us that “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” (Heb 12:11).  If we will allow ourselves to be taught, and allow God to show us our sins, and if we repent and learn to avoid the behaviours that bring these consequences back upon us, then we will truly be moving into maturity, and growing up in righteousness, like good children do.