All of this destruction, trials, desertion and death to achieve restoration of Gods reputation and His people’s proper thinking. It seems extreme to me, but God knows exactly what is required and doesn’t do more than that. Thank you Lord for Your patience and presence! Help me to live for You alone!!!
God is able to use any tool He wants to accomplish His work in His people. His goals in this chapter are identified as Exaltation, Sanctification and being intimate known…for the ultimate purpose of saving His people. It is obvious that God wants everyone to come to Him and experience the joy of His presence and provision. Lord, help me to be settled in You!
Gods plan to restore His people is encouraging and hopeful…they don’t deserve it, but He plans it anyway. We are just like them in that we are not worthy of His blessings, protection and love, but that is who God is!
What a beautiful picture of transformation from a heart of stone which doesn’t feel or move or even work as it should…to the real thing! Ready to live, and respond as it was designed. Lord, I need this renewal once again…my heart feels hard and unfeeling, heavy and lacking joy, cold and dead. Transform my heart to one filled with love for You, joy for all the blessings and a desire to pursue You.
5 times in these 15 vs God says to the descendants of Esau, you will know me. These are not the chosen people of God, but closely related…they knew all the history and all the ways that God had cared for and protected them. Of anybody on earth, they should also know God. So it seems like this reverence is what is expected even more from those people than any other, and he reminds them more often.
Lord, you have given me scripture so that I can know you even better than all the people of the Bible, help me to reverence you appropriately! I love you and want to be wholly devoted to you and surrender to you in everything!
This passage describes how the leaders of Israel have taken advantage of Gods people and how God will personally rescue them. But then there is a picture of how they will continue to suffer because of their own actions…yet in it all God still intends to bless them. What an amazing God we serve!!!
One sin is enough to require punishment, but also living Gods way brings righteousness.
