The Wrath of God

November 1

Ezekiel 4-6

Psalm 119:73-80

Proverbs 26:13-15

Hebrews 10:1-18

The Wrath Of God

“Then you will know that I am Yahweh when their slain are among their idols all around their altars, on every high hill, on all the tops of the mountains, under every green tree, and under every leafy oak—the places where they offered a soothing aroma to all their idols.  So throughout all their habitations I will stretch out My hand against them and make the land more desolate and desecrated than the wilderness toward Diblah; thus they will know that I am Yahweh.”  Ezekiel 6:13-14 LSB

The book of Ezekiel is a collection of prophecies and visions given to the prophet Ezekiel during the Babylonian exile.  It focuses on God’s sovereignty, holiness and justice.  Ezekiel foretells judgment on the people of Israel for turning away from God and worshipping idols.  He also pronounces judgment on the nations surrounding Israel for their sinful behavior and their treatment of God’s chosen people.   Ezekiel uses shocking symbolism and odd imagery to make his point.  God doesn’t punish for punishment’s sake.  He always has a purpose.  Israel had lived for centuries in rebellion.  God had given them warning after warning, but they refused to listen.  He wanted them to recognize that He is the one true God, repent and turn back to Him.  God takes sin very seriously.  Many people today do not like to discuss God’s wrath.  They would rather talk about His love, mercy, grace and forgiveness.  Certainly, all of those things are true, but it is equally true that God will not tolerate sin.  He is loving, but at the same time He is just and holy.  He cannot overlook sin or He would cease to be righteous.  “Your eyes are too pure to look on evil;  You cannot tolerate wrongdoing.”  Habakkuk 1:13 NIV  The wrath of God is not an angry outburst, but a deliberate, purposeful response to evil and unholiness.  God has not changed His character.  He hated sin in Ezekiel’s day and He hates sin today (Romans 1:18-32, 2:5, 6:23, John 3:36, Ephesians 5:6, Galatians 5:19-21, Matthew 7:13-14, Colossians 3:5-6).  We only have to read the book of Revelation to see that God will deal with evil and sin.  There is coming a day when justice will be served and evil will be judged.  “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.”  2 Corinthians 5:10 NIV 

God’s wrath and His love are not contradictory concepts.  God knows that sin is not in our best interest.  Part of the reason He hates sin is because He sees the detrimental consequences and destructive influence it has on people.  He loves us too much to allow us to sin without punishment. Thankfully, in Ezekiel’s day and today God always provides a path to restoration.  He desires that we turn from our sin, repent and experience the hope of a renewed relationship with Him.  God’s Word is very clear that He takes sin extremely seriously and so should we.  We cannot be presumptuous and treat sin like it is no big deal.