Revelation 16:17-21: a reflection

17The seventh poured out his bowl into the air. A loud voice came out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, “It is done!” 18There were lightnings, sounds, and thunders; and there was a great earthquake such as has not happened since there were men on the earth—so great an earthquake and so mighty. 19The great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. Babylon the great was remembered in the sight of God, to give to her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath. 20Every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. 21Great hailstones, about the weight of a talent, came down out of the sky on people. People blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, for this plague was exceedingly severe.

This passage describes the outpouring of the last of God's judgments, sealed with a great voice from the throne declaring, It is done. Amid earthquake and hail, the great city opposed to God comes under judgment. And in the midst of it, one detail is deeply sobering: rather than turning to God, the people blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail. Even under the weight of judgment, they cursed God rather than repenting.

Notice what the suffering did, and did not do, to these hearts. We might expect that judgment falling would drive people to their knees in repentance; but here it does the opposite. Instead of softening under God's hand, they hardened; instead of turning to him, they cursed him. Their suffering did not humble them but provoked them to blasphemy. A hardened heart, it turns out, may grow harder still under judgment, cursing God rather than turning to him.

That is a warning about what suffering does to us, and what we let it do. We sometimes imagine that hardship automatically softens people, drawing them to God; but hardship can harden a heart rather than soften it, turning it to bitterness and blame against God. The same trouble that turns one heart toward God in humility turns another against him in bitterness. When trouble comes to you, let it drive you toward God, not against him. Do not let hardship harden your heart into bitterness and blame; let it humble you and turn you to God in repentance and trust. Suffering does not by itself turn us to God; guard your heart, so that trouble turns you toward God rather than hardening you against him.

Lord, this passage shows people under the weight of judgment blaspheming you rather than repenting, their hearts hardening further instead of turning to you. Warn me by that about what suffering can do to a heart. I sometimes imagine that hardship automatically softens people and draws them to you; but hardship can harden a heart rather than soften it, turning it to bitterness and blame against you. The same trouble that turns one heart toward you in humility turns another against you. When trouble comes to me, help me let it drive me toward you, not against you. Do not let hardship harden my heart into bitterness and blame; let it humble me and turn me to you in repentance and trust. Suffering does not by itself turn me to you; guard my heart, so that trouble turns me toward you rather than hardening me against you. Keep my heart soft and turned to you, whatever comes.