James 5:10 NKJV
My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience.
The shear magnitude of this statement requires pause and reflection.
The Bible is filled with those who spoke to those around them, sent by God to deliver His message, and found rejection in the bitterest of forms.
Noah is not always thought of as a prophet, but he was.
And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; 2 Peter 2:5
While he was building the Ark, scripture declares he was preaching.
By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith. Heb. 11:7 NKJV
For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, Matt. 24:38 NKJV
God had given Noah a prophecy for what was coming: judgement.
Yet, the only people who listened to Noah and were saved from the coming destruction were his wife, his sons, and their wives.
No one else gave heed to his message.
And all flesh died that moved upon the earth, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of beast, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth, and every man: All in whose nostrils was the breath of life, of all that was in the dry land, died. Gen. 7:21-22 KJV
Moses spoke clearly to Pharaoh, yet the Egyptian king harden his heart so much that it took the death of the first born throughout his entire kingdom before he would relent.
Moses not only endured this time of patient suffering, but spent the rest of his life leading a stiff-necked people in the desert.
Elijah and Elisha, both mighty men of God.
Elijah's life was sought by wicked Queen Jezebel and he lived in the wilderness being fed by ravens and drinking from a brook, until it dried up. Then, God sent him to another country to live with a poor widow and her son until it was time for him to return and face King Ahab again.
In 2 Kings 6-7 the Bible relates a period of severe famine in Samaria, resulting from a long siege, and Elisha is within the city.
The king is so enraged when he hears that people had taken to cannibalism he decides to end Elisha's life, yet when he goes to speak to Elisha, God's message to the king is promise of a quick end to the siege.
But Elisha sat in his house, and the elders sat with him; and the king sent a man from before him: but ere the messenger came to him, he said to the elders, See ye how this son of a murderer hath sent to take away mine head? look, when the messenger cometh, shut the door, and hold him fast at the door: is not the sound of his master's feet behind him? And while he yet talked with them, behold, the messenger came down unto him: and he said, Behold, this evil is of the LORD; what should I wait for the LORD any longer? Then Elisha said, Hear ye the word of the LORD; Thus saith the LORD, To morrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria. 2 Kings 6:32-33, 7:1 KJV
In the books of Kings and Chronicles God is continually sending prophets to His people, yet both the nation or Israel and Judah ultimately reject these prophets and turn away from the Lord till there was nothing more to be done save allow judgement.
But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people, till there was no remedy. 2 Chr. 36:16
Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Hosea, Daniel, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Zechariah, Malachi, and many more prophets of God have been given as examples for those who follow hard after Christ.
Jesus spoke clearly, that those who come after Him might grasp the gravity of such a path.
For those who God has sent His prophets to are still responding in the ways of the ancients.
"Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city: That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar." Matt. 23:34-35 KJV
"Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets." Luke 6:22-23 KJV
Some will listen.
There will be those who believe.
Many will not, and they will not be satisfied with simply ignoring those who share the Word of God.
Dear friends, don't be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world. So be happy when you are insulted for being a Christian, for then the glorious Spirit of God rests upon you. 1 Peter 4:12-14
May all who are called by the name of Christ Jesus keep their eyes upon the Lord's Word and define suffering and patience as He does.
"Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy."
Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank You for Your Word! Thank You for the profound depth of mercy and patience found in scripture. Even now, one can look around and see how long suffering You are, that You hold back the judgement that people might turn to You. Lord Jesus, help me to look at suffering and patience through Your perspective. Help me to understand both persecution as well as endurance through Your example. Lord, let the hearts of those who love You be devoted to the truth of Your Word. Let each one come before You with singing, as we know this time is brief, these struggles are temporary. Your Word promises us a future and a hope far grander than anything this world has to offer and far more lasting than this mortal temporal planet can give. Great is Your name, Lord Jesus and greatly to be praised! For You grant salvation to those who put their trust in You and give peace that surpasses all understanding to them who endure. Thank You, Jesus for being our example in all things, including suffering and patience. May Your name be glorified throughout the Earth! Amen.
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