Before God pours out final judgment on humanity, Scripture reveals a consistent and sobering pattern: He shakes what humanity trusts in—nature, resources, economies, and perceived stability. This shaking is not random, nor is it cruel. It is purposeful. It is merciful.
Human beings have always been prone to trust the created order rather than the Creator. Land, wealth, military strength, technological progress, and environmental predictability often become substitutes for faith in God. When these supports are removed or destabilized, hearts are exposed. What we trust in is revealed.
God Shakes What Can Be Shaken
The Bible teaches that God allows the shaking of earthly foundations so that false securities are exposed. This shaking is meant to redirect our trust away from temporary things and back to Him.
“Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens… so that what cannot be shaken may remain.” (Hebrews 12:26–27)
What cannot be shaken is faith rooted in God. Everything else—no matter how stable it seems—is temporary.
Judgment Is Rarely God’s First Move
Throughout Scripture, judgment is almost never sudden or unannounced. God warns. He sends prophets. He gives signs. He allows hardship to awaken repentance before judgment becomes final.
Before the Flood, Noah preached while the ark was being built. Before Nineveh’s destruction, Jonah was sent with a warning. Before the final judgment in Revelation, seals, trumpets, and bowls unfold progressively, giving humanity repeated opportunities to repent.
This reveals something essential about God’s character: He does not delight in destruction.
Mercy Embedded in Judgment
Judgment and mercy are not opposites in Scripture. Often, judgment is mercy in severe form.
God allows pain, loss, and instability not because He enjoys suffering, but because repentance is still possible. A shaken world can become an awakened world.
“Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Lord GOD. Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live?” (Ezekiel 18:23)
If God’s goal were only punishment, repentance would not remain an option. But Scripture repeatedly shows that judgment is meant to lead people back to life.
Creation Itself Bears Witness
Nature’s instability—famine, drought, earthquakes, scarcity—is not merely random chaos. Scripture teaches that creation itself participates in God’s redemptive warning.
“Creation waits in eager expectation… subjected to frustration… in hope.” (Romans 8:19–21)
Creation groans because humanity is estranged from God. These groanings serve as a call to repentance, reminding us that the world is not ultimate, self-sustaining, or sovereign.
Judgment as Mercy Resisted
In the end, judgment becomes final only when repentance is finally refused.
God shakes what can be shaken so that people might cling to what cannot be shaken—faith, repentance, humility, and trust in Him. Judgment, then, is not opposed to mercy. It is mercy resisted.
The greatest tragedy is not that the world is shaken—but that people refuse to turn to God when it is.
Closing Prayer
Heavenly Father,
We praise You for Your righteousness, Your patience, and Your mercy.
Thank You for loving us enough to warn us, to correct us, and even to shake what we falsely trust in so that we might return to You.
Lord, soften our hearts. Help us recognize Your mercy even in hardship. Teach us to trust You above nature, resources, stability, and comfort. May we not harden our hearts when You call us to repentance.
Draw the lost back to Yourself, strengthen the faithful, and glorify Your Son, Jesus Christ, in all things.
We trust You, we worship You, and we wait for You.
In the mighty name of Jesus we pray,
Amen.
T
Scripture Sources
Hebrews 12:26–27 Haggai 2:6–7 Ezekiel 18:23 2 Peter 3:9 Romans 8:19–22 Genesis 6–7 Jonah 3 Revelation 6–16
Divine Revelations 
Leave a comment