Don't Dwell Deep

The war in Afghanistan has to be tough for our soldiers. Not just because American soldiers are dealing with an enemy who is ready to blow themselves up, but because of where the enemy is able to hide. There are many caves in Afghanistan that Taliban soldiers can nestle into and American soldiers will not be able to find them. If the battle gets too intense and the American troops come too close, these Taliban fighters can run in the opposite direction and hide out in caves unfamiliar to Americans. The depths of these caves are dark. It is true, they may hide from troops, but they can’t hide from God. In the Bible, there were a comparable people to these Taliban members.

The Edomites were very similar. The sons of Esau took Mount Seir (Deuteronomy 2:12, NKJV) and dwelt there. The Edomites were known to live in this cavernous area and used the land as a benefit to themselves especially during times of war. As enemies climbed these mountains to attack, the Edomites could make easy pickings by shooting arrows down at them. But if the armies were too great, they could hide back into their caves. They would dwell deep in those caves. God was about to bring forth wrath on Edom and the surrounding areas. God knew what these people would do to try to flee from their destruction: “Flee, turn back, dwell in the depths…” (Jeremiah 49:8, ESV) This verse was not giving advice to these people, but just informing them that the Almighty knew what they were going to do. His response to their foreseeable defense was this: “But I have stripped Esau bare; I have uncovered his hiding places, and he is not able to conceal himself. His children are destroyed, and his brothers, and his neighbors; and he is no more…If those who did not deserve to drink the cup must drink it, will you go unpunished? You shall not go unpunished, but you must drink.” (Jeremiah 49:10-12). Their hope of escape was futile. They could not hide. The punishment from God was going to come…no matter how deep they dwelt. How deep do we dwell in our sin today?

Are we how many people today think they can hide from God? (John 3:19) When someone is confronted about a sin, they can get defensive or they can turn and run. Hebrews 4:13 says, “And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” The judgment of the Lord will be precise and accurate. All secret sin will be laid out on the Day of Judgment. The things in the dark will be made light. There is no depth of darkness we can hide. Truly, the best life to live is one free from secret sin and darkness. “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7, ESV) If we recognize sin in our life, is it something we want others to know about? Is it a sin that we would be willing to brag to Jesus about? If we have sin in our life, we must try to put it away from us…if we walk in the light, there will be no need to hide from our God.