“Tough Love”

TUES., JAN. 30, 1996, 6:55 AM
FARM, STUDY

You read of a well-known celebrity whose son died of alcohol poisoning. The father, in desperation, had tried tough love, an approach often recommended in relation to wayward children. In this case it seemed to fail, for the young man is now dead, and the father feels guilt for having cut off the relationship. As you continue to study and ponder Isaiah you could call Me the originator of tough love… and you’d be right.

I chose a people, and you’ve heard the observation, “How odd of God, to choose the Jews”. It was, in a similar way to Andy’s story, on adoption. Abraham was faithful to My choice, but after that the response was mixed. I’ll have to say I wasn’t completely surprised, for as the Scriptural story indicates, there was conflict over Ishmael and Isaac, and then between Jacob and Esau. I chose Jacob to “be” Israel: the 12 tribes to be headed by his sons. Oh, there was worship and allegiance to Me, but there also were “other forces”, human aspirations counter to complete allegiance to Me.

So I let My people be taken into slavery, as an act of tough love. Finally, they would want to be liberated, and I, in majestic, powerful love, would obviously aid them in their “great escape”. They still were not appreciative enough so I had them wander in the wilderness desert for, oh 40 years or so. But I finally saw that they got into the “promised land”, but again they had to be conquered and taken away as slaves.

I gave prophesies to them about a Messiah, who would finally deliver and lead them. So I came to earth, as the Messiah, when they were under pagan Roman rule, but they chose to expect another Moses (who was now admired and revered). I came as one speaking more of gentle love and concern for neighbors. I was crucified, but I returned. A few remained My followers, but My original chosen people continued in their partially faithful way.

You Christians can claim that you are My New covenant people, for you claim allegiance to Me as Jesus. It could also be seen that you are the “adopted people”, considering the whole Biblical story. You Christians have prospered more than the Jews, and, in many instances, the Jews have “paid for” their prosperity.

If I look at you Christians, as a whole, as I seemed to consider the Jews of old, I can be as displeased with you as I was with them. But I am your Creator and Sustainer. Am I not ultimately responsible for how My Creations think and act? Can I demand love? I have shown love for your nation with relative prosperity for over 50 years. Is it now time for some more tough love to bring you closer to Me. Will such succeed, or will I be disappointed as you turn away rather than toward Me? Perhaps you shall live to see how I decide how I shall now treat a “wayward people”. (7:45 / 12:05 PM)

Now you just have read a portion of Rifkin that you had not encountered before. Let it offer you another way in which My tough love approach can be manifested. If your nation’s choice is to continue to dominate nature and re-form it to human advantage I can let nature respond. This can be by means of small organisms no longer susceptible to modern drugs. Their life action can be abetted by human weakness from pollutions and “new” chemicals in the environment and from lack of muscular and circulatory activity. It can be through weather changes that I allow, which make life harder. It can be through shortages of unsalted water… and excesses of radiation.