God’s laws stipulate in Deuteronomy 24:1-4 that a man could never take his divorced wife when she had remarried again. No matter what happen to her after the divorce and she becomes available, he was forbidden from living with her again. This stipulation does two things it prevents the man from indiscriminately putting away his wife and preserves the dignity of the woman. This law would prevent the land from being defiled and polluted. Hence God would not allow a man who had divorced his wife to live with her again.
In the case of Judah, the scenario was worst. God did not divorce her, but she chose to prostitute herself. Her spiritual adultery was so wanton that she had gone around sleeping with different partners. Her misbehavior had led her to all sorts of lovers on the highway. The land had been defiled and polluted the land by her indiscretion. Yet she had the nerve to return to God.
God had withheld the rain from them for their unashamed harlotry. Interestingly, their spiritual harlotry was with Baal who was touted as a god of fertility. He was supposed to be the one who had control of the rain and weather so that the people could experience harvest when needed. Notwithstanding Baal’s power, this worthless god has no power to overrule what God was doing.
Judah was not a case of God putting her away, but a case of the nation becoming e unfaithful by going after other lovers. Being gracious, God was yet giving them the opportunity to return to Him. Jeremiah 3:4-5 show that in her unfaithfulness, Judah had requested God be extremely kind to them. Though He was acknowledged as their “Father” and “friend” God however would act to deal with her sin justly.
While God is loving, there is another aspect of Him we must consider. He is also a God of wrath. We cannot continue to spurn His love yet expect Him to be kind all the time. No one should presume on God. We must repent of our sins before His patience wears out. Here is a call for us not to test God. Don’t take God for granted.
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