Understanding God's Judgement

“The Gentiles shall know that the house of Israel went into captivity for their iniquity; because they were unfaithful to Me, therefore I hid My face from them. I gave them into the hand of their enemies, and they all fell by the sword.“ Ezekiel 39:23

By now, as you read Bible prophecies concerning the captivity of the house of Israel, you should have realized the same three things are reiterated time and again.

• God judged Israel because of their unfaithfulness to Him.
• But in His judgment, He always remembers mercy. He will restore them again.
• He will bring them from their exile and captivity back to the land of Israel. So here in Ezekiel 39:23, God wanted the Gentiles to know that He was the One who allowed Israel to go into captivity. The Gentile nations had nothing to boast of in this regard. Those who took occasion from the troubles of Israel to reproach God as being unable to deliver and untrue to His covenant with Israel were greatly mistaken. So, we need to understand the works of God in dealing with His people:
  

1) God punishes sin even among His own people. Some people falsely assume that because God is merciful, He will not judge. They are deceived into thinking that because we are living in the new covenant, God’s requirement for holy living has been replaced by His love and grace. No! Rather, the opposite is true. God demands more since we are in Christ and we have the Spirit of grace (Heb. 10:26-31). God hates sin most in those who are nearest and dearest to Him. The Bible says He will chasten those whom He loves (12:5-6). God is no respecter of persons and because He is a righteous Judge, He has to implement justice on those who sin.

2) When God chastens His people, it is to correct them and reform them, not to gratify their enemies. Hebrews 12:7 says, “If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten?”

3) When God’s people humble themselves, God will return to them with His mercy. God will let His people know what grace, mercy and favor He has in store for those who return to Him. As any good father would, God is quick to forgive, restore, and rejoice over a sinner who repents! When we understand how God deals with His own people, let us take heed not to walk in pride and error before Him. Do what Paul says in 1 Timothy 4:16 (TLB), “Keep a close watch on all you do and think. Stay true to what is right and God will bless you and use you to help others.”