2 Kings 24:3
“It indeed came upon Judah at the command of the LORD, to remove them from His sight due to the sins of Manasseh, in accordance with everything that he had done.”
What a tragedy. God’s people being removed by God’s desire from the land He had promised to them. They had sinned against God and weren’t walking according to His ways. While this is a punishment, it’s also a lesson. He wasn’t abandoning them, but teaching them. He would be with them in Babylon. After 70 years, He would bring them back.
Paul shares an interesting truth in I Corinthians 10:11, “Now these things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come.” All the happenings of the Old Testament were written for us. When we see Israel, being punished like this, the same will happen to us. Just like God is with them in their punishment, He will be with us also.
This is a wonderful thing, God is with us in our difficulties and is using them to make us more like Him. Hebrews 12:6 says, “For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastises every son He receives.” He will discipline us, if we are in rebellion and He will do it even though we’re not. The latter would be better called instruction.
When we are going through these corrections, God is purging us. Almost like gold in the refining fire. It has the effect of purifying us and making us better. What an amazing God. He hasn’t abandoned us. He has a plan and a purpose. He is making us more like Him.
Like a child with good parents. The child may cause them grief, but they still love the child and want the best. Their actions are for the purpose of making them better. God doesnt’ abandon His children, but still works on them.
God’s actions with Israel in this verse is extreme. It’s much more than a mild correction. There are big lessons that need to be taught in these circumstances. It’s like major surgery. If the person wants to live, then this must be done. This is major life interruption.
A more extreme move is the taking of ones life. Paul talks about this in I Corinthians 5:5, “to deliver such a one to Satan for destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.” This is all God’s business with His children. We can’t speculate. It would be something He would do without explanation. While we would miss that person, it is better for their eternity.
Another lesson in all of this is to be an obedient child of God. Life would be much more peaceful and joyful. Peter says in His first epistle that we can cause problems by our bad behavior (4:15). Walking as an obedient child we are spared from many problems. At times we will experience problems, but we are to do our best to get along with all (Romans 12:18). God wants this for us.
Lord, thank You that don’t abandon us, even though we behave poorly. You have a plan and a purpose for us. Help us to stay out of trouble.