25 “But I say to you in truth, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the sky was shut up for three years and six months, when a great famine came over all the land;
26 and yet Elijah was sent to none of them, but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow.
27 “And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.”
28 And all the people in the synagogue were filled with rage as they heard these things;
29 and they got up and drove Him out of the city, and led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city had been built, in order to throw Him down the cliff.”
30 But passing through their midst, He went His way. Luke 4:23-30. (Emphasis added.)
It was stated in yesterday’s Scripture after Jesus returned to Galilee: “And He began teaching in their synagogues and was praised by all.” Luke 4:15. (Emphasis added.)
In today’s Scripture, which immediately follows yesterday’s Scripture, we read “And all the people in the synagogue were filled with rage as they heard these things; and they got up and drove Him out of the city, and led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city had been built, in order to throw Him down the cliff.” Luke 4:28-29. (Emphasis added.)
The change in reception is startling.
We are reminded that people are fickle. They change like the wind. People are quick to curse after they bless. “But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way.” James 3:8-10.
But, their works are even worse than their words. Immediately after we read in Romans 3:14: “WHOSE MOUTH IS FULL OF CURSING AND BITTERNESS”; we read “THEIR FEET ARE SWIFT TO SHED BLOOD,” Romans 3:15.
One would think that the hometown would rejoice to see one of their “sons” do well. Whether the root of the reaction is jealousy or other evil emotion, man is so totally depraved that “no prophet is welcome in his hometown” and they will seek to run out of town, even kill, their own “sons”, their own prophet.
The lesson is that we should not trust man. “Thus says the LORD, “Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind And makes flesh his strength, And whose heart turns away from the LORD.” Jeremiah 17:5
Rather than trust man who changes, we should trust God who does not change. “For I, the LORD, do not change; therefore you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed.” Malachi 3:6
God, who has chosen us to save us before the foundation of the world, does not see our actions and get surprised and throw us away like a boy may throw away a toy that upsets him or does not amuse him anymore. “For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:6.
“For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.” Romans 8:29-30.
Therefore, “Trust in the LORD forever, For in GOD the LORD, we have an everlasting Rock.” Isaiah 26:4
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 