2 Chronicles 30: 10-11 "So
the couriers passed from
city to city through the
country of Ephraim and
Manasseh and as far as
Zebulun, but they laughed
them to scorn and mocked
them. Nevertheless some
men...came..."
Hezekiah was so moved to
celebrate Passover and was
hoping that it would
extend to all regions of
Israel and not just Judah.
Hezekiah sought to bring
unity, not for political
reasons but for spiritual
reasons that would result in
turning Israel back to God.
"Come and let us Worship God
together at Passover!"
The couriers were given a
written invitation to
distribute throughout Israel
to the remotest regions,
even as far as Zebulun.
No one was overlooked, and
the king was hoping for an
overwhelmingly receptive
response. To his
disappointment and to the
couriers' embarrassment,
many received this
invitation and ridiculed the
messengers. The hearts
of many in Israel had become
so hardened that there was
no longer any interest in
the things of God or coming
for worship. Was this
a wasted effort?
Should Hezekiah just have
avoided the northern kingdom
altogether? NO!
"Nevertheless some men"
came! This invitation
did not fall on deaf ears
but was received. Some men
humbled themselves and came!
Not every invitation that we
send or give out will be
received in the spirit it
was delivered.
Reaching a lost world means
that often we will not be
appreciated, and at times we
will be mocked, ridiculed,
or even worse. Can you
imagine the initial impact
of the rejection of the
invitation by the couriers?
Surely it was
disappointing and
discouraging. Can you
imagine the ultimate impact
on the couriers upon their
return to Jerusalem and
discovering that "Some" had
come? We are to take
the gospel to remote
nations, peoples, tribes,
and tongues. Without a
doubt, there will be many
who will reject, and yet we
go because He told us to go
(Matthew 28: 19-20).
No matter what may have been
the initial reaction, we
have the promise and the
assurance that from all
those who he...SOME WILL
COME (Revelation 7: 9). No
effort for the Gospel is in
vain!
So, to all you Gospel
couriers/messengers/witnesses
stay faithful to go and
tell! Do not determine
your success or failure
based upon an initial
response to the Gospel. God
is faithful, His Word will
not fail! And one day before
the Throne, we will see-SOME
did COME! So on this
Easter Sunday, every
Sunday-PREACH THE GOSPEL! We
know that many will show up,
but SOME WILL COME! Christ
is Risen!
