I will discipline you but only with justice; I will not
let you go entirely unpunished (NIV 1984, Jeremiah 46:28).
God was bringing judgment on Egypt. Just as Babylon had been
a tool in the hands of God to discipline Judah, so would it be wielded to
discipline Egypt. But God has assurance for the Jews living there: Though I
completely destroy all the nations among which I scatter you, I will not
completely destroy you (v. 28a).
God speaks through Jeremiah: I will discipline you but
only with justice. As we said
just a couple weeks ago, Rabbi Abraham Heschel teaches that God’s
anger/punishment is never without a purpose, and God’s intent is not to destroy
us. The purpose of discipline is to change our course, as well as our attitudes
and behaviors so that we can get back on track and live the life God designed
us to live. God cannot bless us while we are living in disobedience. His
punishment provides a way for him to bless us once again.
I will not let you go entirely unpunished. God has always been clear that there
are consequences for bad behavior: He does not leave the guilty unpunished (Exodus 34:7). Yet as Isaiah and now
Jeremiah make clear, God still loves us even when he has to punish us, and we
can be assured there is a future beyond judgment.
TODAY’S MEDITATION
How would it affect your
attitude toward God’s discipline if you really believed it was a tool paving
the way for him to bless you once again?
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