The Steep Learning Curve

Learning from Suffering (Isaiah 26:9)

Paul J. Bucknell

The pangs of the world, known as judgments of God, urge us to rise from our states of self-sufficiency and live uprightly. I hope we learn from the existing problems quickly, before more severe ones arise!

"For when the earth experiences Thy judgments the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness" (Isaiah 26:9)

Understanding Tragedies | Answers for Tragedgy | Finding Peace in Tragic Times | Explanation and Warning of Judgment | Mass murders | Big Learning Curve

No Contest

Have you ever watched two stubborn people argue? As the tension builds, the situation quickly deteriorates. This seems to be the case right now, as the world rejects God’s authority. The fervent secularists, who appear to attribute all our troubles to the changing climate, combat God and anyone who openly rejects their mindset. Who will prevail? God will; there is no genuine challenge to His authority as Psalm 2 openly testifies.
1 Why are the nations restless
, And the peoples plotting in vain? 2 The kings of the earth take their stand
 And the rulers conspire together
Against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying, 3 “Let’s tear their shackles apart
 And throw their ropes away from us!” 4 He who sits in the heavens laughs, 
The Lord scoffs at them. (Psalm 2:1-4)

Man’s hope arises from swiftly learning His lesson before God’s judgment arrives. God will not renege His pursuit on revealing His righteousness. Learn or perish. Repent and live uprightly, or face a fiery judgment. Man remains guilty for ignoring and rebelling against God’s authority over His earth. People could properly repent and plead their guilt, repent, find forgiveness, and revel in God’s righteousness in Jesus Christ. Still, most sadly persist in their stubborn ways.

The Victory

What do we stand to lose? Time will tell, but God has used droughts, fires, floods, tornadoes, volcanoes, earthquakes, terrible storms, plagues, and enemies to counter the wayward, arrogant world.

It is not easy for the haughty to give up their fight and lay down their weapons. In the end, Ancient Egypt stood embarrassingly stripped before the almighty God due to the plagues sent from Him (Exodus 11:6; 14:28). The great world empire literally collapsed before the eyes of the nations (Joshua 2:10). Their mighty army drowned.

Countries might have changed, but God and His ways remain the same. God only wants us to “learn righteousness,” that is, learn our lesson and live uprightly by obeying His commands.

God has been so patient, but times are changing. Secular individuals are becoming more resistant to God’s truth. God’s judgments are undoubtedly at our door because He, who issues these necessary corrective judgments, is standing up against this woefully arrogant crowd.

Summary

Isaiah reminds us that we are to learn His righteousness. I can think of many easier and more enjoyable ways to learn His Word, but the fight persists, albeit for a short time. Like in Egypt, the great will become least: “For this time I will send all My plagues on you and your servants and your people, so that you may know that there is no one like Me in all the earth” (Exodus 9:14). Oh, that we might learn our lessons early on.

Biblical Foundations for Freedom ( BFF )

Rev. Paul J. Bucknell