Do you remember the “God billboards”? Black and white messages from God were posted all across our country. Some of them were creative, “Keep swearing and I will make rush hour longer. – God.” I liked the positive ones best. “Come over to my house and bring the kids. – God.” Also, “We need to talk. – God.” Still another, “Will the road you are on get you to my place? – God.” One of my favorites was, “Don’t make me come down there. – God.”
When Micah prophesied at the same time as Isaiah in the kingdom of Judah, he watched the demise of the northern kingdom of Israel. As Isaiah saw God in the temple and felt deep conviction (Isaiah 6:1-8), Micah pictured God coming down from heaven and melting the mountains because of the sins of Israel and Judah. Their capital cities of Samaria in the north and Judah in the south became the centers of sin for the people of God. Samaria would be destroyed by the Assyrians, and Jerusalem by the Babylonians. Their idols would bring them to judgment.
How did Micah feel about this? Did he rejoice in the demise of his country? No. He wept over the city and preached to his people. But the other prophets asked him to stop preaching. They couldn’t see God getting angry about sin. In their self-delusion, they recreated God in their image as the kind of god who winked at sin. “People will be people,” said their false god. Micah pronounced woes and pleaded for repentance. Meanwhile the false prophets offered to preach if they could be paid in the currency of alcohol. God’s people were so very lost. Unless they turned, they would be judged.
When our daughter came to live with us, we went and picked out a “build a bear.” She made a teddy bear to her own specifications. Regardless of people’s wishes, God is not a “build a God” kind of God. He is who he is. Our God still judges sin. It is time to turn back to him, before he comes down. As long as we are alive it is not too late. Will we turn back to him? Now?
