Dead whales on New Zealand’s Opoutere Beach
"It’s horrific that this is happening on such a large scale," —Mark Norman, Curator of the Museum of Victoria
IT is very possible that we are witnessing those eschatological elements of the Old Testament prophets beginning to unfold. As both regional and international lawlessness continue to escalate, we are witnessing the earth, its climate, and its animal species go through "convulsions".
This passage from Hosea continues to jump off the page—one of dozens in which suddenly, there is a fire beneath the words:
Hear the word of the LORD, O people of Israel, for the LORD has a grievance against the inhabitants of the land: There is no fidelity, no mercy, no knowledge of God in the land. False swearing, lying, murder, stealing and adultery! In their lawlessness, bloodshed follows bloodshed. Therefore the land mourns, and everything that dwells in it languishes: The beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and even the fish of the sea perish. (Hosea 4:1-3; cf. Romans 8:19-23)
But let us not fail to heed the words of the prophets, that even then, flowed from the merciful heart of God, amidst the warnings:
Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of mercy; break up your fallow ground, for it is the time to seek the Lord, that he may come and rain salvation upon you. (Hosea 10:12)
