It seems like we’re constantly under the threat of some new crisis in the world. How should we respond when the world is on fire? We can learn how to find peace in today’s chaos from the prophet Micah, who painted a pretty dire picture of the social climate during his time:
“Woe is me! For I am like those who gather summer fruits, like those who glean vintage grapes; there is no cluster to eat of the first-ripe fruit which my soul desires. The faithful man has perished from the earth, and there is no one upright among men. They all lie in wait for blood; every man hunts his brother with a net. That they may successfully do evil with both hands—the prince asks for gifts, the judge seeks a bribe, and the great man utters his evil desire; so they scheme together. The best of them is like a brier; the most upright is sharper than a thorn hedge; the day of your watchman and your punishment comes; now shall be their perplexity. Do not trust in a friend; do not put your confidence in a companion; guard the doors of your mouth from her who lies in your bosom. For son dishonors father, daughter rises against her mother, daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; a man’s enemies are the men of his own household. Therefore I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me” (Micah 7:1-7).
In verses 1-6, Micah is showing us a picture of what's happening when the world is on fire. In verse 7, he shows us the solution: Look to the Lord. In Micah’s day, society was filled with sin and betrayal. We're in a very similar spiritual climate today. We are in a crisis right now in the world, in America, in our streets, and even in our churches. We're in a crisis in our economy, our national defense, and many other areas.
Jesus revealed in Mark 13 that what Micah saw in his day would emerge again in an even worse way in the last generation at the end of the age, fueled by anger against the gospel. So, what do we do in response? Micah 7:7 tells us what to do: “Therefore I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me.” What does that mean? Look to God and not to other people. How many things do we look to other than God? If you get your eyes on men, men will fail you. If you're looking to the economy or to the business world or to even the right politician to fix things, they cannot give you what you hope for.
When the faithful are gone, what do you do? Look to God, pray, and wait for Him to act to fulfill His promise. In a time of the spiritual crisis, the people of God have to be different from the rest. More than ever before, we have to get our eyes on Jesus Christ, get in the secret place, and wait patiently upon Him until He comes. You have to start believing again that God will hear and answer your prayer, even if you've looked to everything else for hope. God wants to restore your faith.
If you've lost the joy of the Lord, it's because you've stayed out of his presence too much. In His presence, there's fullness of joy. When you are tempted to succumb to discouragement or depression or darkness, look to the Lord. Get your eyes off the news, what's happening on social media, or who's saying what, and get your eyes on God. Micah 7:8 says, “Do not rejoice over me, my enemy; when I fall, I will arise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to me.” Micah asked for help for when he would fall, not if he would. Some people fall, but the Lord helps them rise so they are not the same people as before. When you sit in darkness or despair, God can suddenly break through the darkness with His light. Don't give up.
We as a church can go into a time of prayer and fasting together, but what we need desperately is for the Lord to plead our case. We need the Lord to intervene in power in our nation. What kind of intervention do we need? Well, the Lord answered Micah's prayer by promising him that He would show great miracles to Israel. In Micah 7:15, God says, “As in the days when you came out of the land of Egypt, I will show them wonders.” For them, this meant parting of the Red Sea-level miracles. I'm talking about them being led by the pillar of fire by night and the pillar of cloud by day. The Lord will fight for you daily. God is restoring that promise to show His wonders.
God is looking for a people who will turn to the Lord when the world is on fire—when politics, the justice system, and all the things and people we believe in disappear, and when friends and family turn against us. If we will turn to the Lord, it won't matter how dark it gets. “For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; but the Lord will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you” (Isaiah 60:2).
