AFTER ALL THIS!
After all this, O Lord, will you hold yourself back? Will you keep silent and punish us beyond measure? Isa. 64:12, N.I.V.
No matter how bad they behave, they are still your children. They may trample your gardens, insult your reputation, and thanklessly eat all the food in your refrigerator, but you still love them. And in loving them you allow them to experience the consequences of their actions. When they trample your gardens, there are no roses for their vases. When they insult your reputation, they cannot use your name to their gain.
The Israelites were wayward children. Because God loved them, He allowed them to reap the consequences of their actions. Their sacred cities had become a desert, their holy Temple had been burned with fire. All that they treasured lay in ruins (Isa. 64:10, 11). Yet God was their Father (verse 8)! And so they cried, "After all this, O Lord, will you hold yourself back? Will you keep silent and punish us beyond measure?"
The punishment spoken of here may be understood in terms of cause and effect. The question was really "Will You let us bear the effects of our actions beyond the point of profitableness?" Though many in Israel still defied God, others had been educated by their mistakes. To these, reassurance was given in verse 8 of chapter 65. "This is what the Lord says; 'As when juice is still found in a cluster of grapes and men say, "Don't destroy it, there is yet some good in it," so will I do in behalf of my servants; I will not destroy them all.' "
Parental love longs to uplift and restore. But wise parents know that unless their children come to accept accountability for their actions, any intervention on their behalf would be counterproductive. Once learning occurs, however, it is unnatural for loving parents to want their children to experience prolonged suffering. When the principle of accountability is internalized, personal growth can be achieved. As far as possible, hindrances should be removed so that positive affirmation of such newly acquired attitudes can issue.
God has never held Himself back from those who seek Him. Throughout earth's history He has acted the part of a loving father, eager to uplift and sustain His children. Even when it becomes necessary to allow us to experience the consequences of sin, His attitude toward us is unchanging.
Then let us learn quickly!
After all this, O Lord, will you hold yourself back? Will you keep silent and punish us beyond measure? Isa. 64:12, N.I.V.
No matter how bad they behave, they are still your children. They may trample your gardens, insult your reputation, and thanklessly eat all the food in your refrigerator, but you still love them. And in loving them you allow them to experience the consequences of their actions. When they trample your gardens, there are no roses for their vases. When they insult your reputation, they cannot use your name to their gain.
The Israelites were wayward children. Because God loved them, He allowed them to reap the consequences of their actions. Their sacred cities had become a desert, their holy Temple had been burned with fire. All that they treasured lay in ruins (Isa. 64:10, 11). Yet God was their Father (verse 8)! And so they cried, "After all this, O Lord, will you hold yourself back? Will you keep silent and punish us beyond measure?"
The punishment spoken of here may be understood in terms of cause and effect. The question was really "Will You let us bear the effects of our actions beyond the point of profitableness?" Though many in Israel still defied God, others had been educated by their mistakes. To these, reassurance was given in verse 8 of chapter 65. "This is what the Lord says; 'As when juice is still found in a cluster of grapes and men say, "Don't destroy it, there is yet some good in it," so will I do in behalf of my servants; I will not destroy them all.' "
Parental love longs to uplift and restore. But wise parents know that unless their children come to accept accountability for their actions, any intervention on their behalf would be counterproductive. Once learning occurs, however, it is unnatural for loving parents to want their children to experience prolonged suffering. When the principle of accountability is internalized, personal growth can be achieved. As far as possible, hindrances should be removed so that positive affirmation of such newly acquired attitudes can issue.
God has never held Himself back from those who seek Him. Throughout earth's history He has acted the part of a loving father, eager to uplift and sustain His children. Even when it becomes necessary to allow us to experience the consequences of sin, His attitude toward us is unchanging.
Then let us learn quickly!
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