You adulterous wife! You prefer strangers to your own husband! All prostitutes receive gifts, but you give gifts to all your lovers, bribing them to come to you from everywhere for your illicit favors. So in your prostitution you are the opposite of others; no one runs after you for your favors. You are the very opposite, for you give payment and none is given to you. (Ezekiel 16:32-34)
Lest you think your sins are too great for God to forgive, be encouraged by Israel’s depravity. God likened the nation to a wife who prefers sleeping with strangers than with her own husband. Israel was worse than a prostitute; instead demanding payment in exchange for favors, she actually offered payment for favors. Rather than coming away with some sort of monetary gain, Israel just gave everything away. She was a nation highly favored by God, but she couldn’t see her value.
Working in the church I sometimes meet people who are afraid to come to God because they have sinned a few too many times, or they feel that what they’re guilty of is too big for God’s forgiveness. But God’s message for Israel is the same as His message for all people: His forgiveness and redemption is big enough, and it can cover all sins.
God was sending the message through Ezekiel that He wasn’t done with Israel in spite of Israel’s detestable acts. No, redemption was coming – it was just a matter of time. He isn’t done with you, either. You can never be so bad that God’s forgiveness is out of reach.
So are you ready for redemption? God’s ready to accept you based not on your merit but based on the works of His Son, Jesus. You don’t have to keep away any longer; He’s waiting for you to come to Him.
Father, thank You for the generous grace that You offer to those who, in humility, turn to You. Thank You for the grace that You have already extended to me. Let me live in the knowledge that I have been forgiven, and let me walk freely in Your grace.
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