Who gave Jacob for plunder, and Israel to the robbers? Was it not the Lord, He against whom we have sinned? For they would not walk in His ways, Nor were they obedient to His law.
Isaiah 42:24 NKJV
When you fall into God’s hands, especially when He is meting out punishment, no one can save you except God Himself. This reality should inspire us to live in a manner worthy of Him, not in fear of punishment or expecting sickness or disaster for wrongdoing. We must understand that God is not wicked; He simply has a way He wants things to be done. Since He created us, our lives should reflect His desires and commands. So, when God withdraws, it is a call for retrospection.
Because of the sins of the Israelites, God handed them over to their enemies. He withdrew His protective hand from their lives, removing the shield of fire around them, and allowed the enemy to lay waste to them. It was not because God delights in punishing His people. It was because they chose to live in ways that contradicted His nature. He does everything within His power to bring them back to Him. He sent prophets, His signs, and men of God to speak to them. Some embrace His message, but when a person decides to ignore God’s call and desires, He removes His protection, allowing the enemy to work against them.
God constantly calls us to Himself every day. Everywhere we go, we hear His mercy and love urging us to draw closer to Him. However, when we choose not to listen to or ignore His desires, we risk becoming like the Israelites, whom God gave over to their enemies. The consequences we face are not because God wants to harm us; they are the results of our actions.
Therefore, we must be cautious in our behaviour and the way we live. In our Christian journey, we must align ourselves with God’s counsel, obey His laws, and walk according to His standards. When we do this, the enemy has no power over us, for God will be on our side. And when God is for us, who can be against us? Nobody.
We must recognise that any punishment we receive is a result of our disobedience to God’s laws. It is not because He is harsh or unkind; it is because we have strayed from His ways. When God withdraws, we need to check ourselves. Today, let us examine ourselves to see where we have been disobedient to God’s laws. If we have chosen our own path, let us repent so we do not remain outside His protection. Then, He will be our Father, and we will be His children.
