“Then we turned around and headed back across the wilderness toward the Red Sea,[a] just as the Lord had instructed me, and we wandered around in the region of Mount Seir for a long time.
2 “Then at last the Lord said to me, 3 ‘You have been wandering around in this hill country long enough; turn to the north.” Deuteronomy 2:1-2
Israel … wandering.
On the way to the promised land, they did that a lot
Yet, not always for the same reasons. So, what was going on here?
Well, in a sense, God sent them to their room for being rebellious and unfaithful (for more context, read Deuteronomy chapter 1).
Now God says it is time to go. Punishment over. Come out of the wilderness and do what you failed to do the first time – enter the promised land! Let’s see if you have had an attitude adjustment (one of my dad’s favorite things to tell us we needed when we were teenagers!).
It is somewhat strange to think of God punishing us, because it seems like such a human thing to do. Yet, examples of God punishing people are found throughout the scriptures. So are His explanations as to why.
For example:
:5 And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children?[d] He said, “My child,[e] don’t make light of the Lord’s discipline, and don’t give up when he corrects you. 6 For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.”[f] 7 As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? 8 If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all. 9 Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn’t we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever?[g] 10 For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness. 11 No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.” Hebrews 12:5-11
A lot of times when I was a teenager, I did not agree with the reasons why my parents were punishing me (go figure). I thought it wasn’t called for, or it had no point. Sometimes I would be mad, and think ill of them. I would even question if they cared about me, or had my best interests in mind.
In this passage from Hebrews, God graciously wants us to know some of the reasons why he might be punishing us.
For He says he does it because:
- He loves us.
- We are His child.
- For good.
- He want us to share in His Holiness.
- He wants us to enjoy a peaceful harvest of righteousness.
It doesn’t sound so bad now, does it? Yet, when we are being punished by Him, we may be quick to wonder about His nature. Is He just? Is He sympathetic? Does He really “get me”? Is He all knowing (because if He knew what I know, He wouldn’t be punishing me … so there!)?
I’m confident that when Israel was wandering around the hill country, they might have engaged in a little divine-character assassination. Yet God is not without mercy. He doesn’t keep us under his heavy-hand forever. Just long enough that good is accomplished.
So, the next time we are being punished by our heavenly Father, we can trust in:
- His wisdom
- His goodness
- His intentions
I really hated when my parents sent me to my room. I would fume most of the time I was there. Then I would calm down, and wait for them to tell me I could come out.
Now, when I look back, I know they did it for my good. It made me a better person.
How much more will this be the case when God does it?
For Jesus,
Rob