“So the LORD was very angry with Israel and removed them from his presence.” (v.18)
The
first six verses of our reading today record the final end for northern Israel,
including its destruction and deportation. However, the more important lesson comes
in the next fourteen verses, explaining the reasons for Israel’s demise.
First,
Israel did not remember its past. There’s an old saying, “Those who cannot
remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” This forgotten past included not
only God’s grace in bringing them out of Egypt (v. 7), but also the fate
suffered by their forefathers who refused God’s word and remained stiff-necked
(v. 14).
Second,
Israel repeatedly and thoroughly fell into pervasive idolatry. Their idolatry
was a full-blown disobedience: worshiping Asherah, Baal, and the starry host;
offering child sacrifice; and setting up altars throughout the land. Scripture
summarizes their fate in verse 15 saying, “They followed worthless idols and
they themselves became worthless.”
Finally,
Israel ignored God’s repeated pleas for repentance. Twice God mentioned His
grace in sending prophets to call the people back to Himself (vv. 13, 23). Yet
Israel did not heed those calls. All of Israel’s forgetting, rejecting, and
ignoring did one thing, it provoked God to anger and brought the most serious
judgment of all, mentioned three different times: the loss of God’s presence
(vv. 18, 20, 23).
Don’t
let this history lesson go unheeded. Repent and renew your commitment to Christ
today. Accept His grace and avoid His judgment.
The
Truth
“Look
to Me, and be saved, All you ends of the earth! For I am God,
and there is no other.” (Isaiah
45:22)
