Cause and Effect

Every curse written against us in the Law of Moses has come true. Yet we have refused to seek mercy from the LORD our God by turning from our sins and recognizing his truth. [Daniel 9.13]

Four years ago today, I wrote "Quit Spiritualizing Curses!" What I wrote that day remains my conviction today.

As my thoughts about Daniel 9.13 continue to mature, it occurs to me that Christianity today has done much to educate its proponents, but little to help them understand. In other words, we have greater command than ever of historical facts and ancient languages, but avoid the obvious truth of verses like Daniel 9.13.

Daniel not only states a fact of Israel's condition, but also a principle of spiritual discernment. Daniel's statement here clearly associates the curses found in Deuteronomy 28 with the people's refusal to repent.

Curses require repentance. And yet today, people seek all the "help" at their disposal instead of seeking God. That "help" includes financial help, medical help, psychological help, technological help, and the list goes on. The help of man will never substitute for the help of God. The healing of man will never substitute for the healing of God. The provision of man will never substitute for the provision of God. See where this is going?

Instead of seeking "mercy from the LORD our God by turning from our sins and recognizing His truth," people today idolatrously turn to the solutions of man. No attempt to spiritualize our adulterous affair with the idols of man's advancement will change the fact. As long as the curses come, the need for repentance remains.

To be very clear, Daniel recognized this truth and repented for himself and for his people.

I went on praying and confessing my sin and the sin of my people, pleading with the LORD my God for Jerusalem, his holy mountain. [Daniel 4.20]

With all the curses around us today, God's people should repent. Instead, we go to the doctor, work harder for more money, and acquire more technology just like everyone else.

I want to point out something here that is certainly open to challenge. Luke, who authored the Gospel record named for him and was associated with the Apostle Paul, is clearly identified as a doctor. Armed with this information, many argue that "God uses doctors." However, and here is the challenge, I have no knowledge of the bible indicating anywhere that Luke ever practiced medicine subsequent to his introduction as a "doctor."

In following this idea further, the "father of medicine," Hippocrates, is said to have broken from traditional prevailing thought that sickness and disease were spiritual by nature and instead treated them as purely physical (see Wikipedia). So if this is true, at its very core belief, medicine contradicts the Bible's claims regarding the cause and effect of illness.

What else then of man's invention and knowledge contradicts God's truth? A good starting place to understand this condition is Deuteronomy 28 where God explains what are blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience. And then, Daniel's prayer reveals much! 

The inventions and knowledge of man are not the answer. God is the answer and repentance is how we get to Him and enjoy His mercy!

Father, I want to be devoted to You alone. Forgive me for failing to associate my weaknesses with sin and therefore failing to repent. Forgive me for failing to see the cause and effect of sin and illness in my life and the world around me.