Destruction Leading to Salvation

One of the themes of the whole Bible is that out of destruction comes Salvation.  In this blog we will look at some of the examples of this principle.

One of the most obvious examples is that of Noah and the ark.  God was upset with the evil that existed in the world.  In this case, He brought total destruction by the flood, but allowed 8 people to be saved, Noah, his 3 sons and all of their wives.  Just a small remnant was allowed to be saved, all being God fearing people.

David is an example of this principle.  He sinned by taking Bathsheba and having her husband killed in battle.  God was hard on this sin, causing the baby of David and Bathsheba to die.  But out of this painful story came David, a man described as one after God's own heart, one who loved and served God.

When we look at the history of the Jewish people, we see that Israel split into two parts, Judah in the South and Israel in the North.  As we read through Kings and Chronicles in the Old Testament, we see that in the North there was a total desertion of following God.  And God allowed them to be taken into captivity by Assyria.  Following that, Judah was mostly following idols, sinning against God.  But there was some turning back to God from time to time, so God remained patient for awhile.  But finally God allowed Judah to be captured by the nation of Babylon.  Out of all this destruction, God allowed some of the people of Judah to eventually return and rebuild.  Out of destruction came restoration, deliverance.

The best example of all is Jesus.  Jesus had to endure the worst kind of destruction; yet we know that out of His suffering and crucifixion came triumph and salvation.

And Paul, known then as Saul, was killing Christians.  And out of all of this evil came a powerful teacher and leader for the Lord's work. 

And then to us.  As we read in Romans 6, when we are baptized we die to sin and come forth a new creature.  Out of our own devastation comes salvation.

Thanks for reading.  Have a blessed week.