In this chapter Ezekiel uses a graphic and powerful word picture to describe the way God feels about how the cities of Samaria and Jerusalem have acted toward God. Samaria is the capital of the ten tribes of Israel that broke away from Judah after King Solomon died. Jerusalem is the capital of the two tribes of Judah and Benjamin. Ezekiel describes these two cities as sisters who have become prostitutes, selling their love to anyone who came along.

What caught my attention in this verse was the reference to the consequences they were going to experience. It is strange to me how often I am confronted by people who are surprised that they must experience the consequences of their sins. It is often because they fail to see the connection between their sins and the consequences that naturally follow.

Some people also wrongly believe that forgiveness takes away the consequences of sin. The Bible nowhere teaches that principle. Forgiveness does take away the penalty of sin, but it doesn’t necessarily take away the consequences. God, in His sovereignty, can take away the consequences of our sins. In my experience and what I see in Scripture is that God often uses our consequences to teach us about sin. Some people respond better to the lessons taught through consequences than they ever will through God’s love and grace.

In today’s verse Ezekiel tells both Samaria and Jerusalem that they are going to experience all the consequences for all their sins. The reason they were going to experience the full measure of their consequences is because they had forgotten their God and turned away from Him.

We are all going to sin. As true Christ-followers that thought should repulse us and cause our hearts to hurt. As disciples of Jesus, we should be growing in holiness as we allow the Holy Spirit to conform us into the image of Jesus. However, we are still sinners saved by grace and there is still a chance that we are going to sin. How we respond when we become aware of our sin makes all the difference in the world.

Repentance and humility are keys to a life that is pleasing to God. When we become aware of our sin God desires that we would humble our heart before Him and turn away from our sin and turn back to Him more fully. God may or may not dismiss the consequences of those sins, but I am certain that He will pour out His amazing grace upon you within those consequences. Jesus, help us to turn to You quickly.

Read: Ezekiel 23:1-49; Hebrews 10:18-39; Psalm 109:1-31; Proverbs 27:13