The Sovereign Judge

In Ezekiel 15, God compared the usefulness of vine to a tree in doing work and making things.  From the wood of a tree, boards can be milled and structures can be built.  Wood from trees would have been used to make many things:  carts, tools, doors, furniture, crates, ships, musical instruments and much more!  In stark contrast, the building potential of a vine was nil.  Trying to make dowels out of the soft runners would be a pointless waste of time.  In regards for doing work, what the vine was best suited for was to be burned in the fire.  At least it could provide a bit of fuel for a short time until it was reduced to ash.

God spoke through the prophet in Ezekiel 15:6-7:  "Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: 'Like the wood of the vine among the trees of the forest, which I have given to the fire for fuel, so I will give up the inhabitants of Jerusalem; ⁷ and I will set My face against them. They will go out from one fire, but another fire shall devour them. Then you shall know that I am the LORD, when I set My face against them."  The people of Israel were like a vine that bore no fruit, and the only profitable use for them was to be made fuel for the fire.  They had been unfaithful to God and sinned against Him, and Jesus made mention of this common practice in John 15:6:  "If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned."  Those who by faith abide in Jesus will be made fruitful, yet those who are unfaithful and depart from him will be consumed in the fire of God's judgment.

Because vines are not suitable for building anything, no one would question the wisdom of landowners who gathered and burned the vines that littered the ground.  Wood from trees was a valuable resource that was employed for useful purposes rather than burning it all.  The ironic thing is, people who would not think twice to dispose of vines by burning can fault God for bringing fiery judgments upon anyone--even those who have cut themselves off from God through wilful sin.  The owner of a property has the right to do whatever he wants with his vines, and the sovereign Creator has every right to do as He pleases with His creation.  By His wisdom everything we see He created, and without Jesus Christ nothing was made that is made (John 1:1-3).  Doesn't God have the most basic rights to ownership we claim for ourselves, to do as He wills?

A literal example of God's fiery judgment was seen long before the season of Ezekiel's ministry in Leviticus 10:1-3:  "Then Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it, put incense on it, and offered profane fire before the LORD, which He had not commanded them. ² So fire went out from the LORD and devoured them, and they died before the LORD. ³ And Moses said to Aaron, "This is what the LORD spoke, saying: 'By those who come near Me I must be regarded as holy; and before all the people I must be glorified.' " So Aaron held his peace."  Aaron, the high priest and father of Nadab and Abihu who were killed before the LORD for their trespass, knew his sons were to blame--for God did no wrong to judge those who do wickedly.  Peter remarked it is time for judgment to begin at the house of God, and if it begins with God's people what will be the end of those who do not obey the Gospel (1 Peter 4:17)?  Nadab, Abihu, and the suffering of God's people in Jerusalem in Ezekiel provide sobering clarity on the subject.

It is the sinner who does wrong, and the just and righteous God has every right to judge sinners as He sees fit.  Praise the LORD He has provided a means of atonement and forgiveness by His own gracious sacrifice.  Should God be blamed for the severity of His judgments when mankind refuses His sure remedy by repentance of sin and faith in Jesus?