Last time, we saw that God provided for Himself a Remnant to be called My People. But God’s choice to go with a Remnant doesn’t absolve God’s people from dire consequences when they don’t act like My People.
Within the forever path of My People, expressed through a series of Remnant after Remnant, there are cycles of Judgment to remind God’s people of their responsibility to act like My People.
Adam and Eve found that out. Make one really bad choice to sin and suddenly, My People in Eden became Not My People in the Garden.
Even after they tried to resume acting like My People who worship God, their two kids find a fork in the road and show it with their offerings to God. One heads down the path of murder, embarking upon restless wandering away from God’s presence, and the other one (who gave his best to God) was killed by his brother Cain, ending his line.
But then God provides for Himself a Remnant of My People in Seth.
This is a historical pattern we see time after time.
God doesn’t force Himself on people who don’t want Him. Not My People who form the hardened branch of the family tree never resume being a whole branch sprung from My People. Once they choose idolatry and rebellion against God, the branch becomes spiritually dead to Him.
Now, of course, the Bible has examples of isolated people from a genetic branch of Not My People whose hearts, by God’s grace, remember their Creator. Notable examples include Ruth and Rahab (who are in the lineage of Christ), and in the New Testament, famous examples of Gentiles like Luke, Cornelius, Lydia, and even Timothy whose father was a Gentile.
In whatever manner they come to be My People, when they rebel, they will experience cycles of favor, judgment, and restoration. It’s how God purifies His People. Ultimately “Adam” and “Eve” (My People) will be restored to the New Garden in Revelation 22 with many cycles of favor, judgment, and restoration along the way.
Questions for further thought:
Is the world presently trending toward a state of favor, judgment, or restoration?
Think about nations (the Americas, European, Israel, etc.). Are they in equivalent places along that cycle?
Aside from the Flood (which we’ll look at next time), how does God often use the enemies of My People (those who are Not My People) to inflict God’s purifying judgment? Read Jeremiah 1:13-16 for insight.
Why does God judge His people?
Read Ezekiel 36:20 “And wherever they went among the nations they profaned My holy name, for it was said of them, ‘These are the LORD’s people, and yet they had to leave his land.’ 21 I had concern for My holy name, which the people of Israel profaned among the nations where they had gone. 22 “Therefore say to the Israelites, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: It is not for your sake, people of Israel, that I am going to do these things, but for the sake of My holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you have gone.
23 I will show the holiness of My great name, which has been profaned among the nations, the name you have profaned among them. Then the nations will know that I am the LORD, declares the Sovereign LORD, when I am proved holy through you before their eyes.
24 “‘For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land.”
How is a return to the land evidence of God’s favor upon His people as He brings His plan to fruition in the Last Days?