Day 188, Chronological Bible Study Timeline. Map. Go to today’s Bible reading (use your browser arrow to return): Micah 1:9–2:13
How to Stop a Spreading Cancer
“Bad news… I’m afraid it’s a spreading cancer, an incurable disease,” says the doctor. “Unless we do an immediate surgery, you will be dead in six weeks. Even then, there is no guarantee the cancer won’t come back. Do you want the surgery?”
This is woeful news. The woman weeps and wails; she wants to live longer. “What will happen to my husband and children?” she asks herself. If we were in her place, most of us would probably say, “Have the surgery.” What if we have spreading cancer in our spiritual lives? Do we want the surgery it may take so we can keep on living and enjoying our lives, or will we let sins’ cancer destroy us?
Israel was once a united kingdom. Then, because of Solomon’s idolatry late in life, the LORD raised up enemies against him. God divided his kingdom in the early reign of his son Rehoboam. Providentially, God used Rehoboam’s unruly pride in a labor dispute to divide the kingdom.
God allowed Rehoboam to rule two tribes, Benjamin and Judah, which became known from then on as the larger tribe, “Judah.” God gave the labor union leader ten northern tribes of Israel and allowed him to be king of the new federation. This new alliance was called “Israel” or “Jacob,” or by its most powerful tribe, “Ephraim.”
Spreading Cancer
Jeroboam led Israel into idolatry. He set up his own idols, worship centers and priests, and he followed the sinful ways of the surrounding nations. Israel had an incurable cancer called sin. Instead of listening to the prophets (which we could liken to listening to advice from a doctor), they went on living in their sin until their situation became incurable. God performed surgery by cutting Israel out of the land. Could Judah save herself or would Israel’s cancer infect her, too?
Micah was a prophet primarily to the nation of Judah, but he first prophesies to Israel because she is on the verge of destruction from her incurable cancer. Micah writes to Judah because he is also concerned about Judah’s prognosis. The prophet Micah weeps and wails because Israel’s cancer is also infecting Judah. “For her (Israel’s) wound is incurable; it has come to Judah” (Micah 1:9, NIV). Like Israel, she, too, does not listen to her doctors, the prophets. Micah continues, “Therefore, the LORD says: ‘I am planning disaster against this people, from which you cannot save yourselves. You will no longer walk proudly, for it will be a time of calamity’” (Micah 2:3, NIV). Babylon will eventually overthrow Jerusalem and eradicate it. It would take those who remain into exile as Israel was, and foreigners would occupy her land.
Living in Denial
A typical response by patients when they receive a negative medical report and prognosis is to deny it. Judah was no different.
“Do not prophesy,” their [false] prophets say. “Do not prophesy about these things; disgrace will not overtake us.” Should it be said, O house of Jacob: “Is the Spirit of the LORD angry? Does he do such things?” (Micah 2:6-7, NIV).
The false prophets of Judah were saying, “God is good, and we are his people. He wouldn’t take our lives. Surely, God is not that angry with us.” What is God’s answer?
The LORD says to Judah (and by principle, to us), “Do not my words do good to him whose ways are upright? Lately my people have risen up like an enemy” (Micah 2:7-8, NIV). What follows in Micah’s prophecy is a listing of Judah’s sins. If we are living a life of sin, injustice, and unrighteousness, we are becoming like the nation of Judah. Although we may have a relationship with God, we are becoming like his enemies.
The LORD therefore says to Judah, “Get up, go away! For this is not your resting place, because it is defiled, it is ruined, beyond all remedy” (Micah 2:10, NIV). Let this judgment not be true in our own lives, that God would remove our place in this world because we are wicked.
What is Judah’s response? The response of her leaders is to get another opinion. They want to find prophets who will give them comforting words. By doing so, the leaders deceive themselves because judgment is near.
Allow God to Work through Surgery
We can also find counselors and preachers who tell us what we want to hear. It’s comforting, but it’s deceptive. Listen to the Word of God. All sin is cancerous, and we must remove all of it. If you are living with cancerous sin, follow the diagnosis of gifted doctors (i.e., true preachers of God’s Word). Weep and wail over your sin. Ask the LORD to forgive you. Allow some surgery to be done to remove your cancerous sin and then he will forgive you and bring you back into his favor. Afterwards, live a healthy lifestyle, a life pleasing to the LORD. If you do that, God will be gracious to you and give you spiritual health and joy.
Note to readers: This Bible lesson does not intend to imply that those who have physical cancer are in sin. We know illnesses come upon us all. Micah 2:12-13 gives Israel hope, and we also have hope. Cancer may be a killer, but like the promise of a future land for Israel and Judah, those who trust in Jesus for their salvation have the promise of heaven (John 14:1-3). (more...). The best part of this promise is that Jesus will be there, and he is the healer of our souls.
Occasionally, Judah is called Jacob or Israel by the writing prophets and others because it is the remaining tribe after the northern kingdom is exiled.
Take-Away Lessons
- If we have a spiritual illness, we must get rid of that cancerous sin so it will not destroy or infect others.
- We can go to God for healing and forgiveness (more...).
- We should follow the prescriptions for spiritual health which are found in his Word, the Bible.
- God desires our spiritual health and joy for now and into eternity
Focus Verse
Micah 6:8, NIV “He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”
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Looking Ahead:
God gave the nation of Judah a grim prognosis, however, they fail to understand it. How do we understand punishment and discipline? What are we to learn from it? Join us for our next lesson.
re-edited 12-29-22
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