“When you present your gifts and offer up your children in fire, you defile yourselves with all your idols to this day. And shall I be inquired of by you, O house of Israel? As I live, declares the Lord God, I will not be inquired of by you.” (31)

“And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I bring you into the land of Israel, the country that I swore to give to your fathers.” (42‬)

This chapter is explicit in two things: First, the Lord makes very clear why he is angry with Israel. Israel has continually rebelled against His kindness and rules. Here, the Lord says they are still worshipping idols and sacrificing their children to them, even as the exile is underway! How hard can the human heart get? I’d better beware and guard my heart.

The second thing that is explicit in this chapter is that the Lord will restore Israel in the land and in their relationship with the Lord. How gracious can God be? Very! I need to make sure that I receive His grace, not tread on it.

The verses above are samples. Both points are made more than once in this chapter.

Father, you are an amazingly kind and gracious God. There is none like you. Amen.