God says that it wasn’t in vain that He said He would do this evil. Is it startling that God says He will do evil?

I am one to always defend the goodness of God and here He is saying He will do evil. Can God do evil?

What’s behind it? That was verse ten. What’s in verse nine?

In verse nine, God says, “I have been broken over their whoring heart.” God is heartbroken. The one He loves has run off with other lovers who are destroying her. They will even be loathsome in their own sight for all they have done going after other gods.

Did you ever think ill of yourself for giving into some temptation? When you have an addiction and you know something calls to you and you listen, you know the feeling of guilt and shame. You try to hide your addiction. Hiding shows you know it is wrong, whether you are willing to admit it or not.

Can you think of anything in your life that you hide or that you know you are ashamed of?

Don’t live with those things. Bring it all into the light. Never try to hide. Satan wants things to hide. Jesus is the light. We bring things into the light and confess them. When we confess, God is faithful to forgive. When we walk in the light, He cleanses us from all unrighteousness.

God is not willing that any perish. He doesn’t delight in the death of the wicked. His desire is that they turn from their ways. He’s after good. His heart is always after good and sometimes that means removing the threat, those hurting others by their actions, those leading others astray to their doom.

This chapter ends with the goal of it all. “Then they will know that I am the Lord.” It’s what we all need to know.