Wrath Satisfied

I'm beginning to understand why Israel killed many of the prophets. I definitely would not want someone walking around constantly reminding me that I would be facing the wrath of God because of my sin!

Again, I'm only about 6 chapters into Ezekiel, but God has already mentioned a few times that He is planning to "spend His wrath" in Israel by bringin war and famine and plague; and even those who survive all of those will still have to face exile. This is all God's way of visiting His wrath upon Israel for their years of rebelliousness. I can see how it would be much easier to say the prophet was blaspheming than to confess the sin, ask forgiveness, and seek to change.

And yet, I also wonder if much of the time Israel just failed to hear the whole message. I mean, if I chose to stop reading Ezekiel right now, I would leave it without much hope. So far I've only heard that God plans to kill most of Israel and scatter the rest. What about His covenant and His faithfulness?

I am fortunate to be living with the knowledge of God's fulfillment of His covenant promises- Jesus Christ. I can read the verses of Ezekiel that speak of the wrath of God and rejoice knowing that I will never have to face it! Christ endured the full wrath of God as He hung on the cross. He has felt the full consequence of my sin so that I never have to. True, sin will always have natural negative effects in my life, but I never have to fear anyone saying, "The wrath of God will now be visited upon you because of your rebelliousness"! Christ now stands between me and that wrath. Furthermore, Christ now lives in me so I can be empowered to turn from rebelliousness to the forgiveness of God.

What a freeing, joy-giving, awe-inspiring thought!