March 2, 2025 - How Effectively Dealing with the Past Creates a Better Future - Pastor Paul Vallee

When we deal with our past in a decisive manner by repenting and turning fully to God, it will create a new and healthy path forward. What is true for individuals is also true for nations. But what happens when we do not address our past in an effective manner? What happens when we are in denial or, worse, we become mockers and scoffers, deriding the whole idea that God exists and that our past will determine our future? Moses warned the two and a half tribes that if they defaulted on their promise to fulfill their oath to help their fellow tribes possess their inheritance in the land of Promise, they would suffer.

"But if you fail to do this, you will be sinning against the LORD; and you may be sure that your sin will find you out.” – Numbers 32:23

In other words, to neglect or violate an oath or break God’s word means that sin will overtake the perpetrator, and punishment will be the end result. This is not only true for God’s covenant people, but for all people. There are people groups who are no longer with us as their cultures deteriorated to such a degree that they either became enfolded into another people group or completely ended. One such group was the Philistines, who were constantly in conflict with the nation of Israel. Here, in one of Jeremiah’s messages to the nations, we have a brief word directed toward the remnant of the Philistines, who had for centuries enslaved other people groups. So, what can we learn to avoid this kind of judgment upon our lives and nation?