2 Kings 17-18

April 26

2 Kings 17-18

Israel finally received the consequences God had told them they would receive for their rebellion against Him. God had warned Israel and Judah, but they did not listen. He sent prophets to correct them, but they ignored or even killed the prophets. "They rejected his decrees and the covenant he had made with their fathers and the warnings he had given them. They followed worthless idols and themselves became worthless. They imitated the nations around them although the Lord had ordered them, “Do not do as they do,” and they did the things the Lord had forbidden them to do." (2 Kings 17:15, NIV)

Though God had delivered the Israelites from Egypt, they did not really trust Him. Even when they were worshiping Him, they were also worshiping idols of the nations around them or even idols they made up for themselves. They followed worthless idols instead of following the living God and by doing so, they became worthless. God told Israel from the time of the Exodus that they were to worship Him alone, but they did not listen.

 "‘The Lord is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation.’" (Numbers 14:18, NIV) God used the Assyrians to bring His punishment upon Israel.

Many people in our day ignore the Word of God. They ignore His warnings. They ignore His promises. People see that God has not brought great disaster upon all those who ignore Him, so they turn from Him and live for themselves instead of living for God. They create idols of movie stars and athletes, they pursue power and money. They follow the ways of the Israelites instead of the ways of God. Though they may “worship God,” they also worship the idols of the world.

God is slow to anger, but He will not leave the guilty unpunished. "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9, NIV) Just as the day of Israel’s destruction came, there will be a day when those who reject the Lord will face judgment for their choices.

God is a God of love. He is slow to anger and abounding in live and forgiving sin and rebellion. He does not want anyone to perish, but for all to come to repentance. Are you ready for His return?