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It’s tough to read about the judgment of God with regard to sin, however, it reveals the character of God. The standard set by the holiness of God is not the same as our human standard. We are not innocent until proven guilty from a spiritual standpoint. We are guilty until we repent. This is exactly what God requested of the people. His love for them burned so deeply that He would not allow such horrible and perverse acts to continue to take place in His sight.
What were the people guilty of?
1) Iniquities – this was the guilt of sinful responses2) Violence – they were not only violent but they engaged in bloodshed even in God’s presence (The Temple)3) Social Injustice – they were perverse in how they treated others
Ultimately, their responses communicated that they did not care what God thought or how He felt. They would not acknowledge their faults. They would not grieve over their choices. In the end, God wanted repentance. That has not changed – even today.
There has always been a remnant of people who continued to follow the Lord.
And while they were striking, and I was left alone, I fell upon my face, and cried, “Ah, Lord GOD! Will you destroy all the remnant of Israel in the outpouring of your wrath on Jerusalem?”
Ezekiel 9:8 ESV
When you look through the sweep of Scripture, you find that God would protect his true followers even during times of judgment and wrath. When the flood wiped out the sinful generation that had become incredulous to the ways of God, Noah and his family were the remnant who were protected. When Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed, Lot and his daughters were the remnant spared. When Elijah was concerned that he might be the only one in Israel who had not bent his knee to false idols, God told him there was a remnant of 7,000 who had not bowed down to Baal.
The point is, even in God’s judgment and wrath, He remembers the faithful. He remembers those who are going against the grain of society and sacrificing to follow Him. The Lord remembers the faithful remnant and He protects them!