God's Footprint on the Land by Alistair Petrie

Author:Alistair Petrie
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-02-12T22:32:41+00:00

Chapter 5

The Consequences

We were asked to speak at a leaders’ conference in a Caribbean nation. Following the conference, several leaders asked us to take a field trip to a specific area well-known in the nation. The problem was that the cattle and the people were always ill when living on this particular piece of land — but when moved to another area, they were fine. No productive harvest ever occurred on this particular piece of property. One could tangibly experience a sense of fear and apprehension that seemed to affect the entire area. God was revealing the consequences of past issues that had never been addressed which involved idolatry, bloodshed and betrayal. With the landowner, and local representatives, there was a time of prayer and repentance and re-dedication of land. This was maintained (stewarded) in the weeks following our departure. New growth in harvests, livestock, and a sense of peace came upon the land. The old had gone and the new had begun.

Scripture is clear. When the relationship with God is broken, there are consequences. While society in general may have grown accustomed to a life in which the intervention and Presence of God is not necessarily looked for or experienced, nevertheless, it is wise that we see what these consequences involve. This enables us to see from God’s point of view and to understand why certain things seem to exist or occur in one area, but reality in a neighbouring area can be quite different.

Ezekiel 14 is one passage that refers to all four consequences, or judgements, each having many different variations depending on the circumstances unique to our communities.

1. Famine

(Ezekiel 14:13; Amos 8:11)

The issue of famine speaks for itself in that there is an absence of growth and productivity upon the land necessary for sustaining life in that area. But the consequence of famine also enables us to determine earlier sins that may have occurred, and which need to be identified and addressed, especially when this famine is not just food-based.

When using the church as a litmus test, famine can be expressed as both physical and spiritual hunger that is never satisfied. It can be:

A hunger for identity and purpose.

A hunger for the Presence of God.

A hunger for meaningful relationships that never seem to be fulfilled between God and people — and between the people themselves.

A famine of experiencing little harvest in the lives of the people, even after a great deal of ministry and effort is undertaken.

2. Ecological Devastation

(Ezekiel 14:15; Jeremiah 23:10; Deuteronomy 11:17; Amos 4:7; Haggai 1:9–11)

This refers to much sowing but little harvesting both in the lives of people and in the land itself. Jeremiah 23:10 describes it in these graphic words — “The land is full of adulterers; because of the curse the land lies parched and the pastures in the wilderness are withered…” If we ignore God, it will affect all of life as we experience it.

Haggai 1:9 describes this in detail — “‘You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little.

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