What other biblical instances show God using foreign nations to discipline His people? Setting the Stage with 2 Kings 15:37 “In those days the LORD began to send Rezin king of Aram and Pekah son of Remaliah against Judah.” The verse introduces a pattern woven all through Scripture: when His covenant people harden their hearts, the Lord quite literally “sends” foreign powers as His chosen instrument of discipline. The practice predates 2 Kings and extends beyond it. Earlier Patterns in the Time of the Judges Each cycle of disobedience in Judges ends the same way—God hands Israel to a neighboring nation until repentance blooms. Notice the explicit language: • Judges 3:8 – “He sold them into the hand of Cushan-Rishathaim king of Mesopotamia.” • Judges 3:12 – “The LORD strengthened Eglon king of Moab against Israel.” • Judges 4:2 – “The LORD sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan.” • Judges 6:1 – “For seven years He gave them into the hands of the Midianites.” Same plotline, different characters; the Lord stays sovereign over who sits on Israel’s doorstep. Assyria—The Rod for the Northern Kingdom Long before Samaria fell, the Lord foretold Assyria’s role: • Isaiah 10:5-6 – “Woe to Assyria, the rod of My anger… I will send him against a godless nation.” • 2 Kings 17:5-18 – Assyria lays siege, captures Samaria, and carries Israel into exile “because they sinned against the LORD.” Assyria is no rogue superpower; it is a divinely wielded staff. Babylon—Refining Fire for Judah When Judah followed Israel’s path, God raised up Babylon: • Jeremiah 25:8-9 – “I will summon… My servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon… and bring them against this land.” • 2 Chronicles 36:15-17 – “Therefore He brought up against them the king of the Chaldeans.” • Habakkuk 1:6 – “I am raising up the Chaldeans, that ruthless and impetuous nation.” Seventy years in exile were not random; they were scheduled discipline (Jeremiah 29:10). Smaller Yet Significant Examples • 1 Kings 11:14 – “The LORD raised up Hadad the Edomite” to harass Solomon’s kingdom. • 1 Kings 11:23 – He also “raised up Rezon son of Eliada” of Aram. • 2 Chronicles 28:5 – Ahaz is handed “into the hand of the king of Aram… and into the hand of the king of Israel.” Even in micro-bursts of judgment, Scripture insists the Lord is the One who “raises up.” Prophetic Commentary on the Principle • Deuteronomy 28:49 – “The LORD will bring a nation against you from afar…” — a covenant warning centuries before it unfolded. • Amos 6:14 – “I will raise up a nation against you, O house of Israel.” • Micah 5:15 – The Lord promises vengeance through nations if Israel persists in rebellion. Rome Foretold in the New Testament Jesus echoes the same motif concerning Jerusalem: • Luke 19:43-44 – “For the days will come upon you when your enemies will barricade you… because you did not recognize the time of your visitation.” • Luke 21:20-24 – “When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies… these are days of vengeance to fulfill all that is written.” Rome’s legions, like Assyria and Babylon before them, arrive on divine schedule. Key Takeaways • God remains firmly in control of international affairs; foreign armies are never outside His plan. • Discipline is purposeful: to bring His people to repentance and eventual restoration (Hebrews 12:6-11 reflects the same heart). • Each episode vindicates God’s covenant faithfulness—He keeps both the promises of blessing and the warnings of correction. From Cushan-Rishathaim to Caesar’s Rome, Scripture consistently presents foreign powers as instruments in the Lord’s hand, shaping, chastening, and ultimately preserving His people for the fulfillment of His redemptive purposes. |
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