Punishment

Ever see a young child after he (or she) has been punished by a parent? Before they’re old enough to learn resentment they take the spanking (regardless of your views of corporal punishment, it does happen) and end up crying on the shoulder of their parent. They know they’re loved, regardless of any disciplinary action.

The Bible is full of episodes of just that kind of thing. When Achan kept booty from Jericho that was supposed to be devoted to the Lord, Israel’s forces lost (BIG time) at Ai shortly after.

“Devoted to the Lord,” by the way, usually meant “utterly destroyed.”

The covenant, or contract, between God and Israel was with the entire nation of Israel. That Achan sinned meant the whole people-group deserved punishment. So they lost the battle for Ai. Joshua prayed to find out why, and to make a long story short, Achan admitted taking gold, silver, and a robe.

The punishment for breaking God’s contract is death. God would not be “with them” while the offender lived. So Achan was found out, and to cancel that sin he and his whole family were killed. In fact, all his possessions were “devoted to the Lord” as well.

The point of all this is Israel didn’t turn away from God simply because they were punished. From Genesis through Kings, God’s people did things to merit God’s punishment. Over and over they were swatted on the bottom like a small child. They’d cry, but the whole time they’d cling to God’s love for them.

There comes a time, however, when every child has to grow up. Many of the prophets warned God’s people they were getting close to the edge of what God would tolerate. They explained what would happen if they refused to put God first, above all others.

First the northern kingdom of Israel was overrun by Assyria, then the southern kingdom of Judah was destroyed. They kept chasing after everything else BUT God, so He allowed other kingdoms to take over and mete out His punishment.

Many of the people of Israel were scattered throughout Assyria, and mostly were never heard from again. Many of the people of Judah were exiled to Babylon in various waves, but they held on to their national identity.

Eventually, Babylon fell to Persia. The Hebrews were given license to return to Jerusalem to rebuild. The non-exiled Hebrews had, in the meantime, intermarried with pagans and were called Samaritans. They fought against the returning exiles.

It’s interesting to note that those exiles worshiped no other gods after the international smack down. They turned to God, like the weeping child I portrayed at the beginning.

America is going through many of the same difficulties as the divided kingdoms of Israel and Judah. There are people warning citizens to turn to God, but are mostly ignored.

What about you? Are you part of the warning system, or are you one who is ignoring those who tell you to turn to God?

This nation is being punished. Will we simply cry, or weep and cling to God?