Friday, August 21, 2009

Purpose Of Wrath

Focus verses: Ezekiel 24:1-14

It seems that we have been forever in the litany of Israel's sins and God's retribution. Today, however, He talks about the pot.

This pot is a cooking utensil. You eat the things that cook in it. And when those things are all gone, the pot is to be set on the fire until it glows. Until the impurities left in it are burned away.

The fire represents the wrath of God. It will burn hotter and hotter toward the unfaithful nation until all the dross and impurities are burned away. Then His wrath will cool, and He will restore to them their inheritance. They will not be clean again until His wrath against them has subsided.

And His wrath will not subside until they are clean again. The two events are mutually dependent.

I wonder how much longer we can endure this smelting of the wrath of God. This word is for us as well as for the Jerusalem of old. Let us lean into the fire, until we glow as the impurities are melted away from us.

Father, God,

In Your holy wrath, we submit ourselves to Your fire. Help us to be purified as a nation. Pour out Your wrath until we are again clean and worthy to be called Your children.
In Jesus' most precious name.
Amen.

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