Vengeance and Recompense!
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Here is Isaiah’s brief but potent summary of the Day of the Lord repeated. The passage introduces a big reason God is angry with the nations, but it also introduces something else: “For it is the day of the Lord’s vengeance, and the year of recompenses [repayment] for the controversy of Zion” (Isa 34:8).
Did you notice that “vengeance” is involved in God’s thinking, and that it has to do with “the controversy of Zion”? Truly today, the peoples of Israel, especially Judah, the Israelis, are given no end of trouble by the Gentile nations around them. No matter how humanly reasonable and generous in times of need that all the Israelite nations have striven to be (despite national immorality and corruption, and all that God said Israel has become), the peoples around them are never truly grateful, and never satisfied, and have “plagued” them for millennia. The result has been never-ending “controversy” in Jerusalem and Israel.
Next, Isaiah also records God speaking this: “For the day of vengeance is in My heart, and the year of My redeemed is come” (Isa 63:4).
This passage describes two entirely different aspects to God’s mind, both occurring at the same time. Notice that He also calls this time of vengeance “the year of His redeemed.” This passage introduces fascinating understanding. God literally buys back (redeems) His people from bondage. In effect, the nations are “paid” in plagues, literally plagued by God as they plagued Israel. On the one hand, God feels tenderly toward His broken and redeemed people—but toward the heathen He feels very real vengeance!
“Ransom” Payment Like No Other
This introduces a longer and very graphic passage from Isaiah 43:1-28. It summarizes all of what we have just described. Read it carefully for the expansive picture presented: “But now thus says the Lord that created you, O Jacob, and He that formed you, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed you, I have called you by your name; you are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you: when you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon you” (Isa 43:1-2).
This describes an unbelievable scene—the horrors of nuclear war and fiery plagues occurring all around Israel during her return, crossing “waters” and “rivers” to reach her destination!
Now notice how God says that Israel must be “ransomed”—redeemed—bought back: “For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior: I gave Egypt for your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for you. Since you were precious in My sight, you have been honorable, and I have loved you: therefore will I give men for you, and people for your life. Fear not: for I am with you…” (Isa 43:3-5).
This latter passage describes an incredible exchange of lives that is part of God’s plan to redeem His people on the way back from scattering and bondage. Quite literally, God says that certain peoples (nations) will have to die for Israel (by plagues)—and this is part of God’s “ransom” plan—so that she can safely return “home.” This is very different from the usual form of ransom in which the kidnappers receive financial payment to secure release of the hostages. In this case, with the hostages freed, the hostage takers are “paid” by God with their own blood. At this point, Israel has been released from all further debt of slavery to her enemies. Her captors have received payment (their own blood and lives) for the slaves they lost.
Now continue: “I will bring your seed from the east, and gather you from the west; I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back: bring My sons from far, and My daughters from the ends of the earth; even every one that is called by My name: for I have created him [Israel] for My glory, I have formed him; yes, I have made him” (Isa 43:5-7).
God fulfills at last what was always His purpose for the once little ancient slave nation, Israel!
Finally, National Conversion
The 31st chapter of Jeremiah is one long prophecy that speaks of Israel’s return from captivity, her coming to deep repentance, with many details offered, and her coming to conversion later in the chapter. The chapter offers insets about her past abominations, but focuses on conversion from Isa 16:31.
Here is what Isa 16:33 and 34 state: “But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; after those days [after the Great Tribulation, the Day of the Lord, Israel’s return to Zion and the kingdom of God has been established at Christ’s Return], says the Lord, I will put My law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be My people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know Me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, says the Lord: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”
Because of the final Work done by God’s Church in the few years that remain, there will be a remnant tenth of Israelitish peoples with whom God can work, to whom He can give His Law and into whom He can put His Holy Spirit at the outset of the Millennium. And these nations will play a role in leading the entire world to the same condition and blessings. In fact, the remnant does not return alone from captivity.
Large numbers will join them in the journey...