Isaiah 24:4-7 English Standard Version (ESV)

⁴ The earth mourns and withers; the world languishes and withers; the highest people of the earth languish.
⁵ The earth lies defiled under its inhabitants; for they have transgressed the laws, violated the statutes, broken the everlasting covenant.
⁶ Therefore a curse devours the earth, and its inhabitants suffer for their guilt; therefore the inhabitants of the earth are scorched, and few men are left.
⁷ The wine mourns, the vine languishes, all the merry-hearted sigh.

This morning my mind was concerned about the divisions and factions that hold sway over our people. My concerns were about the media and what drives those agendas and it was all about the money or so it seems in my mind. Then I began seeking the Word of God for what the Lord had to say on the subject.

I search selling and usury nothing I found rang true for me. I found no confirmation in my spirit. I kept looking. These verses in Isaiah is where my spirit settled in and truth revealed itself. I mourn for all that is happening because it did not have to be this way. The very earth itself suffers because of the transgressions of its inhabitants. The earth cannot make choices, what is done upon it is because of what man does upon it.

Spiritual transgressions have environment impact. Breaking covenant brings about the curse.

My messy heart sighs for the things I see. Turning off the television, the news and the frenzied attempt to get rich quick does nothing to remove the curse. Turning a blind eye changes nothing.

Our influence grows smaller as there become fewer and fewer of us left to make a difference in the lives of individuals.

Psalm 6:2 English Standard Version (ESV) Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am languishing; heal me, O Lord, for my bones are troubled.

One cannot give hope if they have lost it.

Numbers 11:4 English Standard Version (ESV) Now the rabble that was among them had a strong craving. And the people of Israel also wept again and said, “Oh that we had meat to eat!

This is a warning about strong cravings.

Hebrews 5:14 English Standard Version (ESV) But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.

This is a warning about digestion.

As we grow in Christ our spiritual diet of the Word of God goes from milk, to greens, to strong meats. We may even crave strong meat as it is more satisfying but have we discernment gained through much practice to distinguish what is to be digested?

Eating is an apt analogy. Do not bite off too much strong meat at one time. Chew it thoroughly for good digestion. Do not over indulge.

Spiritual consumption of God’s Word is good for the soul if done properly. Eat appropriately. Vary your diet, we need a balanced diet. Do not devalue the foods of our youth just because we see ourselves as grown. Some milk as an adult is good for us.

The rabble called out in Numbers 11:4 is ‘ăsap̄sup̄ and is defined as a mixed multitude. Not all that were freed of Pharaoh’s grip were Israelites. The customs and beliefs of those people remained even though they escaped by the same means. Their grumblings infected some of the Israelites.

Strong cravings indicate a lack of appreciation for the Lord’s provisions.

Now comes the hard part. What diet are you being fed? Is it well rounded or selected to cause you to have strong cravings? Are you hearing an agenda masked by scripture that hammers on one topic, hitting it from every side?

We need to discern good from evil by the power of the Holy Spirit and not be swayed by human emotions.