[8] “Yet I will leave some of you alive. When you have among the nations some who escape the sword, and when you are scattered through the countries, [9] then those of you who escape will remember me among the nations where they are carried captive, how I have been broken over their whoring heart that has departed from me and over their eyes that go whoring after their idols. And they will be loathsome in their own sight for the evils that they have committed, for all their abominations. [10] And they shall know that I am the LORD. I have not said in vain that I would do this evil to them.”
[11] Thus says the Lord GOD: “Clap your hands and stamp your foot and say, Alas, because of all the evil abominations of the house of Israel, for they shall fall by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence. [12] He who is far off shall die of pestilence, and he who is near shall fall by the sword, and he who is left and is preserved shall die of famine. Thus I will spend my fury upon them. [13] And you shall know that I am the LORD, when their slain lie among their idols around their altars, on every high hill, on all the mountaintops, under every green tree, and under every leafy oak, wherever they offered pleasing aroma to all their idols. [14] And I will stretch out my hand against them and make the land desolate and waste, in all their dwelling places, from the wilderness to Riblah. Then they will know that I am the LORD.”
(Ezekiel 6 ESV)
And yet the Lord will leave a remnant. Some will escape the sword, they will be scattered among the nations. These people will know what their nation has done and will see themselves as loathsome. "And they shall know that I am the Lord, I have not said in vain that I would do this evil to them."
Just think about that for a moment. How horrible it would be if God did all these things to his chosen people and it was to no avail? But God tells us it will have the desired outcome. People will see the evil they have done and not like themselves for it.
The Lord continued talking to Ezekiel: “Clap your hands and stamp your foot and say, Alas, because of all the evil abominations of the house of Israel, for they shall fall by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence" He is not done disciplining his people. The Lord God's fury is real and will be spent upon his disobedient people. Through it "they will know that I am the LORD".
The Lord isn't easy on his people when he gets fed up with their evilness is he? Ruination follows disobedience.
Sometimes I wonder what stays the Lord's hand right now? A selfish, hard-hearted nation that we live in.. when it comes to the things of the Lord. It's the same the world over. Why does God stay his hand? I am not saying I want famine, pestilence, ruination and what not. Because I don't! Seriously I don't. But I read these words and I just wonder...what stays his hand?
Mentioned this to my husband and he mentioned that God didn't always treat his people this way either. God's response to our sin varies. He acts. He can't bear our willful disobedience. He just doesn't react in the same manner. Makes sense that. I don't' always discipline our son the same way either.