Look At What Is Happening To You!

This is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies says: Look at what’s happening to you! [Haggai 1.5] 

What follows this statement is a bunch of curses (as defined in Deuteronomy 28.15-68):

You have planted much but harvest little. You eat but are not satisfied. You drink but are still thirsty. You put on clothes but cannot keep warm. Your wages disappear as though you were putting them in pockets filled with holes! [Haggai 1.6]

But then, God repeats Himself:

“This is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies says: Look at what’s happening to you! [Haggai 1.7]

And, what follows again describes more curses:

You hoped for rich harvests, but they were poor. And when you brought your harvest home, I blew it away. Why? Because my house lies in ruins, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, while all of you are busy building your own fine houses. It’s because of you that the heavens withhold the dew and the earth produces no crops. I have called for a drought on your fields and hills—a drought to wither the grain and grapes and olive trees and all your other crops, a drought to starve you and your livestock and to ruin everything you have worked so hard to get.” [Haggai 1.9-11] 

God was telling His people, through the prophet Haggai, to look at their circumstances because those bad circumstances were telling them they were cursed for a reason. 

What could we learn from Haggai today?

What if God actually still controls every circumstance? Or, let's put it another way... What if man's obedience or disobedience to God still determines man's circumstances as directed by God?

The thing about Deuteronomy 28, where curses for disobedience are defined, is that the first fourteen verses of that chapter describe and define blessings for obedience.

Some, but not all, people today still attribute blessings to the hand of God. Most however do not attribute curses to the hand of God but instead say, "stuff just happens." But then, a curious thing happens when things go badly - people question God, "Why?"

Let's look at this closer... A person lives life convinced they are doing okay when tragedy strikes. Instead of first understanding that the tragedy is clearly defined in Deuteronomy 28 as the result of disobedience and repenting, that person immediately begins remediation (usually resorting to debt, insurance, medicine or technology) often claiming that God provided those remedies, but never giving a moment's introspect. Many, like Job in the Biblical book named after him, accuse God of being unfair, but never consider their own pride in so doing. They, again, like Job, may look great on the outside and may even be acclaimed (albeit sarcastically) for their "righteousness" but only God knows what lies deep in the heart of man. As with Job, most people think they don't deserve curses and will defend their self-righteousness with all fervency - their very defense revealing their pride.

Even with the simplicity of Christ's redemption of man from the curses upon disobedience (Galatians 3.13), man's pride still stands between him and God's blessings of God's free gift. Faith is rendered ineffective in the presence of pride. God's Word through Haggai should haunt us:

“This is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies says: Look at what’s happening to you! [Haggai 1.7]

If Christ redeemed us from the curse, then why do bad things still happen to good people? The phrase, "bad things happen to good people" is inherently incorrect! Jesus refuted it quite readily:

“Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked. “Only God is truly good. [Mark 10.18]

If people would only look at what's happening to them, they would understand their fallen nature and the need for nothing but humble faith before their Holy God. In contrast, Jesus repeatedly scorned His followers for their lack of faith while Himself demonstrating that very faith's power over every curse - even death itself.

It is pathetic "feeling sorry for ourselves" that keeps most people from experiencing Christ's dominion over curses. What's worse, that self-defensive pride not only denies the obvious, "Look at what's happening to you!" refusing to repent, but exerts exhaustless scholarly effort to justify itself with the very Word of God that indicts such action!

The last thing Satan wants is for man to acknowledge his brokenness. That pride not only prevents any good thing from God, but actually calls for the very curses that proclaim that brokenness, "Look at what's happening to you!" And, if this pride problem is not enough, Satan only further complicates the matter with His idols of debt, insurance, medicine and technology that remediate curses with no accountability to repent whatsoever!

It is no wonder then, that Jesus would simplify everything with His timeless command that leaves zero room for selfishness and pride:

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24, Mark 8.34, Luke 9.23]

If we would simply look at what's happening to us in real time, it would point us to our own cross. It is ONLY IN CHRIST that we are redeemed from curses including eternal separation from God. But we HAVE TO look at what's happening to us in complete and thorough humility to enjoy that redemption.

Mmm.

Father, these words are tough and I am certain most will simply discard them as babble. But, if this article only serves to make us, even for a moment, 'look at what is happening to us' and humbly realize our need for Jesus, then, it will have served its purpose. May Your Word prevail! So be it.