Ezekiel 16

Read Ezekiel 16

Few chapters of the Bible grab me the way this one does.
God describes Israel as a new-born baby, rejected, helpless, dirty, unwanted, unloved, and left for dead in a field. Then, from verse six to fourteen, we have a beautiful picture of God taking the child as His own, adorning her with love, and gifts, giving her value and life. Every word and action dripping with a pure and passionate love for His new child.

Enter verse fifteen. Something happens. Something ugly. This beloved daughter, the object of God's intensely passionate fatherly love, "trusted in [her] beauty and played the harlot..."
This child of God takes the blessings of a loving Father and turns them into tools of depravity. She sins against her Father's love in some of the most shocking and perverted actions we're capable of as humans.

"You also took your beautiful jewels made of My gold and of My silver, which I had given you, and made for yourself male images that you might play the harlot with them." v17

This rebellion and sinfulness goes on and on until her Father can bear no more. This loving Father now turns to discipline His beloved daughter beginning in verse 35. His love provokes a wrath against her that is not meant to destroy, but to reprove. Love and purpose guide His disciplinary actions against His rebellious daughter. Every description of the coming judgments against her are followed immediately with purpose clauses. Every action is designed to teach.

Here comes the best part.
I can identify with the abandoned, unloved, and dirty child. I can identify with being adopted, cleansed, and blessed. These bring immeasurable joy, and I cling to them daily. Unfortunately though, at this point in my life, I can identify most with the rebellious, perverted, and selfish daughter who sins against her Father in spite of the overwhelming love and blessing she's been showered with. So as I see God's reaction to her sin, fear grips my heart as I anxiously anticipate His Fatherly discipline in my own life. I would completely, and utterly collapse under the expectation of His judgment if it wasn't for what follows in verses 60-63. God lovingly plans my discipline, to correct me, and then He forgives. If you, like me, are the rebellious daughter, nothing could possibly be sweeter than hearing the words "...when I have forgiven you for all that you have done." He forgives her!! What she did was so incredibly dirty, sinful, and hateful towards her Father. His reaction? Loving discipline to correct the problem, and forgiveness.
What a great God we serve! What a loving Father we've been adopted by!