1 Peter 3:12
“FOR THE EYES OF THE LORD ARE TOWARD THE RIGHTEOUS,
AND HIS EARS ATTEND TO THEIR PRAYER,
BUT THE FACE OF THE LORD IS AGAINST THOSE WHO DO EVIL”
This is my third day on this verse. The today’s emphasis is not comfortable. It has to do with the Lord’s face being against someone. Thinking about the New Testament, it doesn’t seem possible. Because “For God so love the world…”. How can God reach out so much, but be against?
My first thought goes to pharaoh. Exodus 9:12 says that He hardened Pharaoh’s heart. God was against him. However, it took a while to get there. God gave him many chances. With each of those pharaoh hardened his own heart (Exodus 8:15). He was choosing to oppose The Lord. In the end, God solidified pharaoh’s choice.
The entire country was watching. He wasn’t rejecting God in isolation. He was publically saying no to The Lord. It was a battle. It was clear God had an opinion and wanted action. Pharaoh had an opposite one. He was Egypt’s ruler and he was standing for them.
It wasn’t a victimless crime. The Hebrews were enslaved. God wanted them free. That was the problem. God wanted to help them. Pharaoh’s policies were getting in the way. They were oppressing them. They had done so for hundreds of years. It was time to free them. Unfortunately for Pharaoh, he was opposing a greater force.
God was against Him. Can God be against people today? Today’s passage says He’s “against those who do evil.” What is evil? Antibiblical behavior; particularly if others are influenced. For example, there are movies made which are antibiblical. It may be against christians or it may be against the bible’s moral codes. Because it’s a movie, it influences the audience. God would be against the powers behind that movie.
On a much smaller scale, people oppose the same things in their conversations. If they influence others, God is against them. They have their small sphere of influence. If they are encouraging others against christians or towards antibiblical behavior, God is against them.
In James 2:1-12, the believers were showing partiality. The poor were treated as second class citizens in church. God opposes that. The scary part is that most involved, if not everyone were christians. God can work against anyone.
Lord, help us to walk in Your ways and to oppose evil. If we are opposing you in attitude or action, help us to stop.