What other Scriptures emphasize God's sovereignty in allowing trials for correction? Micah 1:12—Calamity Comes “from the LORD” “For the dwellers of Maroth pined for good, but calamity came down from the LORD—even to the gate of Jerusalem.” Micah makes it plain: the disaster Judah experiences is neither random nor merely the work of enemies; it is sent—or at least allowed—by God Himself for corrective purposes. Old Testament Passages That Say the Same Thing • Deuteronomy 8:5 — “So know in your heart that just as a man disciplines his son, so the LORD your God disciplines you.” • Job 5:17-18 — “Behold, blessed is the man whom God corrects… He wounds, but He also bandages; He strikes, but His hands also heal.” • Psalm 94:12-13 — “Blessed is the man You discipline, O LORD… to grant him relief from days of trouble.” • Proverbs 3:11-12 — “My son, do not reject the discipline of the LORD… for the LORD disciplines those He loves.” • Isaiah 45:7 — “I form the light and create darkness; I bring prosperity and create calamity; I, the LORD, do all these things.” • Lamentations 3:37-38 — “Do not both adversity and good come from the mouth of the Most High?” • Amos 3:6 — “If calamity comes to a city, has not the LORD caused it?” Snapshots from Israel’s Story • Numbers 21:6 — Venomous serpents sent among the people after murmuring. • 2 Samuel 24:15 — A plague falls on Israel following David’s census. • Jonah 2:3 — “You cast me into the deep”: the prophet recognizes God’s hand even in the storm and the fish. New Testament Echoes • Hebrews 12:5-11 — “God is treating you as sons… He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share in His holiness.” • Revelation 3:19 — “Those I love, I rebuke and discipline. Therefore be earnest and repent.” • James 1:2-4 — “Consider it pure joy… because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” • 1 Peter 1:6-7 — “You now rejoice, though for a little while you may have had to suffer grief… so that the proven character of your faith… may result in praise, glory, and honor.” • Romans 5:3-5 — “We also rejoice in our sufferings, because suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” Why the Sovereign Hand Brings Hardship • Correction of sin (Micah 1; Hebrews 12:10). • Refinement of faith, like gold in fire (1 Peter 1:7). • Cultivation of humility and dependence (Deuteronomy 8:2-3). • Preparation for greater service (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). • Display of His glory through endurance and restoration (Job 42:10-17). Takeaway for Today The same Lord who sent calamity to Maroth also sent His Son to the cross. When trials come, Scripture invites us to see a Father’s purposeful discipline, not an arbitrary blow. Yielding to that purpose turns momentary pain into eternal gain. |
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