1 Maccabees 2 : 15-29
Luke 19 : 41-44
The ancient of Pompeii in Italy was destroyed when the volcano Vesuvius erupted on August 24, AD 79.
Because the warning signs were short and sudden, the people of Pompeii were caught by surprise by the eruption.
Just nine years earlier, the city of Jerusalem was destroyed by the Romans. The warning signs were there, but the people just did not heed the danger signs because they thought that God will still protect them even if they toyed with danger.
No wonder Jesus wept over the city of Jerusalem as He laments over it. The city just did not recognize the time of its reckoning.
For Mattathias and his sons, the time of reckoning came when he had to make a stand for his faith.
Some may think that he was stupid enough to leave all his possessions and face the danger of being hunted down as rebels and criminals.
But he had heeded the God-given signs and acted accordingly.
What are signs that God has revealed to us lately? Have we prayed about those signs? Have we acted upon those signs?
God always reveals His plans to us moment by moment. We just have to keep close to God in prayer and trust in His ways as we walk step by step.