More Evidence that God is a Good Father

DAY 237
5-26-10
EZEKIEL 25-28


Good Morning!

I can remember times when one of my kids would get in trouble at school and I’d have to accept the fact that my little “angel” was not so angelic at times. It was embarrassing. I was mad at them. Even though I made no excuses for their behavior; I still felt protective. They were going to have to suffer the consequences but I bristled at the thought of someone else giving out the consequences.

God sent Israel into captivity. God also used the pagan nations around them to punish Israel and teach them hard lessons. Yet God was not going to let the evil nations go unpunished. God did not make Egypt; the Philistines; or the Babylonians evil and send them to do his dirty work. God used the predisposition of these nations. They were already evil. God will not allow the sin of the nations to go unpunished – not the Babylonians or Israel – no one.

Yet there is one difference – Israel is God’s possession. They are his special children. Speaking of the nations that hurt Israel, God said, “I will carry out great vengeance on them and punish them in my wrath. Then they will know that I am the Lord, when I take vengeance on them.” (Ezek. 25:17)

That does not diminish Israel’s guilt, however. But God said about his nation, “When I gather the people of Israel from the nations where they have been scattered, I will show myself holy among them in the sight of the nations.” (Ezek. 28:25)

God is trying to cause his people to repent so he can bring them back to their land and back to him. God is also showing his holiness and judgment among pagan nations. God will punish us for sins we don’t repent of. He will punish the world that has rejected his son and hurt his children – the church. God is a God of justice; but he is also our forgiving father.

Barry