Based on Jeremiah 30:12-24 (New King James Version)
“For thus says the Lord: ‘Your affliction is incurable, your wound is severe. There is no one to plead your cause, that you may be bound up; you have no healing medicines. All your lovers have forgotten you; they do not seek you; for I have wounded you with the wound of an enemy, with the chastisement of a cruel one, for the multitude of your iniquities, because your sins have increased. Why do you cry about your affliction? Your sorrow is incurable. Because of the multitude of your iniquities, because your sins have increased, I have done these things to you. ‘Therefore all those who devour you shall be devoured; and all your adversaries, every one of them, shall go into captivity; those who plunder you shall become plunder, and all who prey upon you I will make a prey. For I will restore health to you and heal you of your wounds,’ says the Lord, ‘Because they called you an outcast saying: ‘This is Zion; no one seeks her.’ ’ ‘Thus says the Lord: ‘Behold, I will bring back the captivity of Jacob’s tents, and have mercy on his dwelling places; the city shall be built upon its own mound, and the palace shall remain according to its own plan. Then out of them shall proceed thanksgiving and the voice of those who make merry; I will multiply them, and they shall not diminish; I will also glorify them, and they shall not be small. Their children also shall be as before, and their congregation shall be established before Me; and I will punish all who oppress them. Their nobles shall be from among them, and their governor shall come from their midst; then I will cause him to draw near, and he shall approach Me; for who is this who pledged his heart to approach Me?’ says the Lord. ‘You shall be My people, and I will be your God.’ ’ Behold, the whirlwind of the Lord goes forth with fury, a continuing whirlwind; it will fall violently on the head of the wicked. The fierce anger of the Lord will not return until He has done it, and until He has performed the intents of His heart. In the latter days you will consider it.”
Did God punish in the past? Does God still punish today? Many people think that God punished in the past, in ancient times, but that He no longer does so because we are in the dispensation of His grace through Christ. But if we look at God's Word and pay less attention to the sin within us, it is very clear that God still punishes, and beware, even more severely than before. Many don't see it this way because they don't see anything tangible happen the moment they do something wrong, like being struck by lightning from the sky. And also, many take this apparent lack of punishment as a sign of God's weakness, or even worse, they choose to think that He simply doesn't exist. That is, most people, including many supposed believers, think either that God doesn't punish because He is love, or that God isn't so powerful because He doesn't do anything immediately, or they conclude that God simply doesn't exist, and that's why nothing happens instantly. What, ultimately, is the truth?
To begin, God did punish in the past, and we see this in various parts of the Old Testament, starting with Adam and Eve, who were the cause of all our problems with sin in humanity. The main punishment or consequence of envy and disobedience against God was death, because that is the natural consequence of sin. And why is that? Because God established it that way. God allowed sin to exist so that every rational being would have the option to exercise their right to free will. And God was the One who created the structure or established the universal law that the punishment or consequence of sin would be death. And after that, there are many other instances of punishment, such as the flood, Sodom and Gomorrah, and so on. And we read today that God punished His people Israel for persisting in the magnitude of their wickedness and the multitude of their sins. God almost wiped off of the face of the earth the people of Israel as punishment for their sin.
Now, does God punish today? Yes, and He does so by allowing the natural consequences of our wrongdoings to occur, or ultimately, as a result of His final judgment on each individual. This is what the Word says: “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.” Galatians 6:7-8. Many believers may think, "Nothing bad will happen to me because I am one of God's people, and God loves me, and now that I believe in Christ, everything will be forgiven." And this is a great mistake. Many argue that if a person practices sin, it's because they were never truly converted, which is very possible. But the Word of God also clearly shows the danger that exists when a supposed believer defies God's grace. It is written: “Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” Galatians 5:19-21. First, to whom is Paul writing, the world or the church? Second, who is in a position to inherit, the stranger or the son? Clearly, this warning about living a sinful lifestyle, or practicing sin, is directed at God's people, the children of God. What else does the Word say? “For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord. And again, ‘The Lord will judge His people.’” Hebrews 10:26-30. To whom is God speaking here? To His people. And He says that He will carry out not only punishment, but also His vengeance against those who mock His sacrifice. And God says this to His church as well: “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write, ‘These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: ‘I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God. Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.” Revelation 3:1-5. So, God does punish now, and the punishment is worse because if a person does not repent before it's too late, they may suffer punishment not only now, but even worse, in eternity. God restored His people Israel through the grace they received through repentance, and not automatically. This always applies: “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14. So, will you continue practicing sin until there is no more time for repentance? Will you turn from your wicked ways in time to still receive the Lord's grace and restoration? Lord bless! John. God bless Israel!