13 On account of your unclean lewdness, because I would have cleansed you and you were not cleansed from your uncleanness, you shall not be cleansed anymore till I have satisfied my fury upon you. 14 I am the LORD. I have spoken; it shall come to pass; I will do it. I will not go back; I will not spare; I will not relent; according to your ways and your deeds you will be judged, declares the Lord GOD.”
The above two verses summarize this entire section of the prophet Ezekiel’s message. God had brought the nation of Israel out of Egypt, but instead of following Him in obedience, they disobeyed and worshiped false idols. This is the prophet’s message. In these two verses, we see the following:
1. God would have accepted their repentance if they would’ve repented. Note this verse from the New Testament regarding God’s mercy and grace:
2 Peter 3:8-9 (ESV)
8 But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
2. Since they did not repent, God has no other choice but to bring His judgment and wrath. God does not want to bring this type of judgment on mankind, but His character demands that He does.
3. God‘s judgment is not arbitrary. It is based upon our deeds. As we read the last part of the above passage, we see that God made the judgment based upon the fact that they did not keep His law in obedience.
God is a righteous God. He demands holiness from His people. The reason He sent Jesus Christ was to redeem man from their sins. When they reject God‘s word and walk in disobedience, God has no choice, but to bring judgment.
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