我们来继续看神向邪恶的迦勒底人宣告的五个祸。昨天我们看过第一和第二个祸，今天我们接着看第三个祸。迦勒底人透过谋杀和掠夺其他国家而取得繁荣，而第三个祸（12-14节）指出神对他们的恶行所作出的裁决。

我们在阅读这些祸患的时候没法不再次想到：为甚么神容许这事情发生？为甚么祂容许列国兴起，向别人施行如此残暴和可怕的行动呢？事实上神是为了明智和特定的目的而容许这些事情发生，虽然那是一个很多人都觉得难以理解的目的。是甚么目的呢？那就是：神容许邪恶的民族兴起来，让世界其他国家从它们那儿看到，当人企图以自己的力量对抗神和祂的道德法则时，就会遇到倾覆、粉碎的事情。

这不是历史上的实际情况吗？就像埃及、巴比伦、希腊和罗马这些强大的帝国，它们遇到甚么了？它们在大荣耀中兴起，但最后都倾覆了。列国一个接一个兴起，最后全都倒下。最终，神所宣告的祸患出现了。要记得这样的原则今天仍然适用于我们这个时代；所有偏行己路、而不遵行神的道路的国家，神的灾祸仍然会临到它们当中。它们也许拥有短暂的成功──我们必须有这样的心理准备──但就好像白天之后便是黑夜来临的事实般确定，它们最后一定会倾覆。正如善最终必定要战胜恶，所以不要有任何疑惑，因为「认识耶和华荣耀的知识要充满遍地，好像水充满洋海一般。」

We continue looking at the five woes which God pronounces on the evil Chaldeans. The third woe (vv.12-14) pronounces God's verdict on them for the prosperity they have gained through murdering and plundering other nations.

We cannot read these woes without once again thinking: Why does God allow it? Why does He permit nations to rise up and inflict such cruelty and horror on others? He allows it for a wise and particular purpose - a purpose that many find difficult to comprehend. What is that purpose? This: He allows evil nations to arise so that the rest of the world might see in them a visual aid of what happens when people attempt to pit their strength against God and His moral laws. And what does happen? They are brought down and smashed into the ground.

Isn't this the reality of history? Think of great and powerful empires such as Egypt, Babylon, Greece and Rome. What happened to them? They rose in great glory but eventually they fell. Nation after nation has risen, only to fall. The time came when God's woe was pronounced against them and put into effect. And remember this: that principle is still in effect today God's woe is still being pronounced on all those nations who have chosen their own way instead of God's. They may have temporary success - we must be prepared for that - but as surely as night follows day, they will fall. The ultimate triumph of good over evil is certain. Let there be no doubt about it: "For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea."