Destruction Is Punishment

The LORD replies, “This has happened because my people have abandoned my instructions; they have refused to obey what I said. [Jeremiah 9.13]

Most of today's OYCB reading deals with the disobedience of God's people and their pending destruction.

The verse above is very clear that the destruction God's people had experienced was resultant to their disobedience. And yet today, when many people experience bad things (destruction, ruin, etc...), they categorically reject the idea that maybe it was resultant to disobedience in their lives and instead attempt to attribute destruction, ruin, etc. to God as some random act of sovereignty. 

Here's the deal: if God said destruction would come when I disobey, then when destruction comes, it is safe to conclude that I have disobeyed (whether I think I have or not)! God NEVER said He would reward righteous living with destruction or loss!

We should let no one ever refer to the story of Job as reason for random destruction on a sinless child of God either. Regardless of what discussion took place between Yahweh and the devil, the fact that Job repented in the end and consequently reconciled with God says CLEARLY that Job was in disobedience in some way, shape, form, or fashion (whether it was seen it at first or not).

If we are to know God in this day and age, then we need to know God for Who He Is, not Who we think He is. And, one thing God repeatedly says He Is in the Bible is good. Another thing God says He Is in the Bible is just. God repeatedly says He will punish unrighteousness and reward righteousness.

When we don't understand isolated scriptures in the Bible, we need to zoom out and look at the overall big picture the Bible paints of God. We need to interpret those difficult to understand scriptures against the whole of the Bible - and the whole of the Bible makes God out to be a rewarder of righteousness and a punisher of unrighteousness.

God is good and His faithful love endures forever.

Father, help me to have an ever increasing understanding of Who You ARE! Help me to take what I learn to those who need You!