Jonathan Haidt, the well-respected social psychologist, wrote an article in The Free Press titled “I’m Worried About the Boys, Too.” In it he admits, “I am extremely concerned about what is happening to girls, and to boys as well … But the struggles of boys have received far less attention.  I hope that is now changing.  We can, and must, figure out how to help boys and men flourish, too.”

He acknowledges, “Back when I was focused on anxiety and depression as the dependent variables, the story of technology seemed to be … mostly about girls … For boys and young men, the key change has been the retreat from the real world since the 1970’s, when they began investing less effort in school, employment, dating, marriage, and parenting.”  

Haidt maintains, “Boys started to become more pessimistic around four decades ago, although the trend has accelerated in the years since everyone got a smartphone.”  The virtual world has been like a siren song that has been more sweeter to boys rather than girls.  Why?  It has to do with the psychological sex differences – “people vs. things.”  “Boys are more attracted to things, machines, and complex systems that can be manipulated, while girls are more attracted to people; they are more interested in what those people are thinking and feeling.”

The virtual world seems magical for many boys.  It has allowed them to interact with new gadgets, while providing a safe place to do the “sorts of things they find extremely exciting but not available in real life” – such as meeting a group of friends to play war games. Haidt points out, “Just as video games became more finely tuned to boys’ greater propensity for coalitional competition, the real world, and especially school got more frustrating for many boys: shorter recess, bans on rough and tumble play, and even more emphasis on sitting still and listening.”

To understand what’s happening to the mental health of boys, Haidt maintains that “we must use a “push-pull” analysis … what were the factors pushing them away from investing in real-world pursuits? And what were the factors pulling them into the virtual world?” Haidt warns, “The virtual world is becoming ever more immersive and addictive.  Every year it will pull harder and harder on boys, urging them to abandon the real world.”  Then he makes this obvious statement: “We’ve got to make the real world more appealing for them.” 

Haidt’s article cries out for godly men to “father” their sons.  Our culture can never replace a father’s godly example and instruction.  First and foremost, young men have only one father.  Men, our responsibility is to raise up godly younger men.  Prov. 4:20-23 tells us, “My son, pay attention to my words; listen closely to my sayings.  Don’t lose sight of them; keep them within your heart.  For they are life to those who find them, and health to one’s whole body” (CSB).  These words give a picture of intense, personal, and heartfelt passing on of Godly wisdom.

This involves men who: 1) walk the talk, 2) are deeply involved in the lives of our sons, 3) are passionate about life,  4) speak from personal experience, and 5) above all, attempt to be a living, humble exemplar.  Be encouraged by Paul words to young Timothy: “Hold on to the pattern of wholesome teaching you learned from me – a pattern shaped by the faith and love that you have in Christ Jesus.  Through the power of the Holy Spirit who lives within us, carefully guard to precious truth that has been entrusted to you” (NLT).  Remember, trust what has been deposited by your example in word and deed. 

As never before, we as a nation are being confronted by “the raging of the nations.”  There have been riots, violence, and protests in the past, but due to the current conflict between Israel and Hamas, “the rage” has begun to dominate the news cycle daily. We have to ask, “Who actually rules the world and whose purposes will in the end by accomplished?”  The nation of Judah was surrounded by larger nations seeking to dominate it.  But the prophet Isaiah declares it unnecessary to be frightened by the raging of the nations, for they will soon be gone. 

Chapters 13-23 of Isaiah declare God’s judgment on the surrounding nations. Judah was being constantly tempted to look for political and military alliances with surrounding nations for its security.  Isaiah reminds the people who really rules the world. In 17:1-11, the prophet warns his people of relying on the nations with their fortress cities (17:9).  They “will be like places abandoned to thickets and undergrowth.  And all will be desolation” (17:9). The people of Israel had forgotten to make the Lord their fortress. “You have forgotten God your Savior; you have not remembered the Rock, your fortress” (17:10). 

In words reminiscent of Psalm 46, the prophet compares the nations to “the raging sea.”  Isaiah reminds the people that the power of man is helpless before the Lord.  “Hear the roar of many people, roaring like the roaring seas! Hear the surge of mighty nations like the surge of many waters! They may roar like roaring waters, but the Lord has but to speak against them and they are scattered far and wide, driven like chaff before the wind on the mountains, swirling like dust before the storm – terrible to behold in the evening and gone without a trace in the morning!  Such is the fate of those who plunder our goods, such is the lot of those who steal our wealth!” (17:12-14).

This brings to mind Psalm 2, where God “laughs” at the arrogance of earthly rulers. The Psalmist asks, “Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?” (Ps. 2:1).  He replies, “The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them.  Then he rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying, ‘I have installed my King on Zion, my holy hill'” (Ps. 2:6).  As the kings of Assyria consolidate more land and people, with their multi-national armies, the smaller nations such as Judah felt the threatening winds of the conquering armies.  Their agitation is compared to the roaring of waters.  In the Old Testament the image of social and religious chaos is often depicted as roaring waters (Ps. 18:16; 29:3; 32:6).  This is a vivid image of world history as we have come to know it. 

The roaring of the nations in Isaiah 17:12 is in marked contrast with verse 13 where the nations are driven away like chaff by the wind, swirling like the dust in a storm.  The Lord spoke against the nations with all their roaring.  “Woe to the peoples who roar – they roar like the roaring of great waters!” (17:12).  God’s rebuke blows away the tumultuous nations.  As the wind blew, the lighter chaff was blown away.  Chaff is a picture of a speedy and total dispersal involving swift judgment.  There is no hope for the victims.  God’s wind will treat the nations like dust, easily blown away and forgotten. 

God’s judgment comes quickly. It is “terrible to behold in the evening,” but will be” gone without a trace in the morning.” (Is 17:14). I take comfort in the contrast made by Isaiah.  There will be a time when all the rage of nations will be silenced by the Lord of Hosts.