“In those times there was no peace for those who went about their daily activities because the residents of the lands had many conflicts. Nation was crushed by nation and city by city, for God troubled them with every possible distress” (2 Chr 15:6).
Does that seem a little troubling? That “God troubled them with every possible disaster”? It doesn’t seem to be talking about the Israelites here but the “residents of the lands” and the nations in general. Does God at times really trouble nations with every possible distress?
We have to look at this in light of the character of God. God is the very essence of goodness. If he is troubling someone, it’s not like man’s troubling of someone. He is not vindictive. If he is troubling a nation as we see in other parts of Scripture, it’s to try to get them to wake them up so that they will return to Him. We see this with Israel as well.
Sometimes troubles and distress are allowed by God to wake nations up.
For some peoples they will wake up quickly. But if not, he will allow other troubles to happen. Because sometimes it takes a lot for nation to wake up. But it’s for their redemption. It’s for their good. Because if they don’t repent, a good God will need to bring justice. Even Israel.
Look at verse 5 which is right before this text:
“For many years Israel has been without the true God, without a teaching priest, and without instruction, but when they turned to the LORD God of Israel in their distress and sought Him, He was found by them” (2 Chr 15:5).
They turned to him in their distress. That same distress that comes to other nations as well.
The purpose of national distress is oftentimes A) are a result of sin, but B) to wake people up to turn back to God. If a nation continues to harden itself, more distresses will need to come.
It’s no different than a youth that is in rebellion. It is necessary for a parent to bring some kind of “distress” not because of malicious intent, but because discipline is a part of love. If there is no price to pay for wrong, a child will keep on doing wrong.
I remember hearing once about a kid who was a good kid but decided to turn wild. “Being good is no fun,” he is reported to have said. I’m guessing it’s because that kid was not disciplined. When I was doing something bad as a kid, THAT is what became no fun because of the discipline I received.
So yes, does God sometimes trouble nations with distress? Yes. But in a loving, redemptive way to wake them up. To bring them back. To draw them near.
The question is will we wake up? And repent?
Or harden our hearts. And face even more distress.
