“I have surely heard Ephraim’s moaning: ‘You disciplined me like an unruly calf, and I have been disciplined. Restore me, and I will return, because You are the Lord my God. After I strayed, I repented; after I came to understand, I beat my breast.” (Jeremiah 31:18-19 NIV)
We must understand, the Lord disciplines because He loves. He can see so much farther than we can; He sees where our sin will take us. He knows how rebellion and selfishness will permeate a person and lead us down path of death. He loves us too much to leave us entirely to our own devices. He refuses to take His hand off us, even when His hand is heavy with repercussion. He will not abandon us to our arrogant ignorance. He intervenes. He corrects. He issues consequence as any truly loving parent would.
Ephraim is a prominent tribe and an example to all of Israel. And truly, to us as modern-day readers. Ephraim would come to a place of understanding; not right away, not amidst the thick intoxication of temptation. But somewhere down the line, rebellion would lose it’s appeal. The tribe of Ephraim would come face to face with the direct results of their wicked ways. They would understand that sin against God does not bring about desired results. Sin against God walks us right out of God’s divine protection and into a world of hurt.
God does not find pleasure in disciplining His children. Indeed, it hurts Him more then it hurts us. He disciplines for our benefit. And after discipline, repentance and restoration, our perspective changes. We awaken to His holy pursuit our wayward soul and we are humbled by His love for us.
Discipline is a direct result of love. Of course, the enemy strives to convince us otherwise. He whispers abandonment, abuse, even animosity. But all of those accusations fly in the face of God’s character. He is loving and disciplines out of His deep love for us.
What about you? Do you feel cornered or called out on the carpet? Remember, it’s a loving Father who sets up guardrails and roadblocks for the sake of insulating us from self-destruction. He sends consequences in hope that we might turn around and find all we truly need in Him.
“And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says, “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastens everyone He accepts as His son.” Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as His children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined – anyone undergoes discipline – then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! They discipline us for little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good in order that we may share in His holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” (Hebrews 12:5-11 NIV)
Lord, help us see Your discipline as love. Combat the lies of the enemy in our minds. Your word says that You are for us, and in response we surrender to Your claim on our lives. We want to love You as sons and daughters, grateful to receive You correction. May we honor You with our immediate and complete obedience. Amen.