[218 words]
What was God’s response to the sins of Israel and what will His response be to our sins? God would beat His fist in anger at the violent crimes of Israel. “Behold, therefore, I beat My fists at the dishonest profit which you have made, and at the bloodshed which has been in your midst. “Can your heart endure, or can your hands remain strong, in the days when I shall deal with you? I, the LORD, have spoken, and will do it. “I will scatter you among the nations, disperse you throughout the countries, and remove your filthiness completely from you. “You shall defile yourself in the sight of the nations; then you shall know that I am the LORD” (Ezekiel 22:13-16). God promised that when He got through with Israel their courage would be gone, and they would be so weak that they would not be able to lift their hands. God promised this punishment and He would not change His mind. In order to stop the sinful ways of Israel, God promised to scatter them among the nations of the earth. Israel would be humiliated in the eyes of other nations. The Jews would know that God is Lord. We must learn our lesson before the same kind of thing happens to us!
Charles Box
Walnut Street church of Christ
Greenville, AL