Responding to Your Brother's Downfall

Jeremiah 48:27

27 For was not Israel a derision unto thee? was he
found among thieves? for since thou spakest of him,
thou skippedst for joy.

God directed this verse to the Moabites, a people who had celebrated Israel's fate when its people were taken into captivity because of their sin against the Lord (2 Kings 17:6). God warned the Moabites that there would be severe consequences for them celebrating the calamity Israel had suffered (Jeremiah 48:26-46).

The Bible teaches that God watches over His people when others mistreat or bad-mouth them. But His people must allow God to deal with those offenses...

Obadiah 1:13-15

13 Thou shouldest not have entered into the gate of
my people in the day of their calamity; yea, thou
shouldest not have looked on their affliction in the
day of their calamity, nor have laid hands on their
substance in the day of their calamity;
14 Neither shouldest thou have stood in the crossway,
to cut off those of his that did escape; neither
shouldest thou have delivered up those of his that
did remain in the day of distress.
15 For the day of the Lord is near upon all the
heathen: as thou hast done, it shall be done unto
thee: thy reward shall return upon thine own head.

Romans 12:19

19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather
give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance
is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

There's another lesson we can take from God's pronouncement of judgment against the Moabites, and it is this: the Lord is very concerned when people - even fellow believers - speak ill or celebrate the downfall of one of His people. It can be tempting to think thoughts and speak words of derision toward a fellow believer who is going through a self-inflicted season of misery. So search your heart when you see another Christian suffering because of sin and wrongdoing. Make sure you don't fall into the temptation to do anything but pray for (and help to bring about, when appropriate) that person's full restoration.

Reference: 365 Essential Questions from the Bible
www.barbourbooks.com

The Grim Reaper Preacher says, "Try reading the Bible from cover to cover - you'll like it."