In our last post we mentioned that God intends to bless not only the nation of Israel who went astray from Him, but likewise all nations and peoples. In the scriptures He mention some by name.

Let us take a look at one such nation an illustration that will be forcible:

The Sodomites.

Surely if we find their restitution (recovery) mentioned you will be satisfied.

But why should they not have an opportunity to obtain eternal life as well as you or the Jew?

They were not wicked in the proper sense, for they did not have law or much knowledge. True, they were not righteous, but neither were you when God gave you your opportunity. Christ’s own words shall tell us that they are not as guilty in His sight as the Jews, who had more knowledge: “Woe unto thee Capernium, for if the mighty works which have been done in thee had been done in Sodom it would have remained unto this day.” Thus, Christ’s own words teach us that they had not had their full opportunity. “Remember,” Christ says of the Sodomites, that “God rained down fire and destroyed them all.” So, if their restoration is spoken of, it implies their resurrection.

Let us look at the prophecy, Ezek 16:48 to the close. Read it carefully.

“As I live,” says the Lord God, “neither your sister Sodom nor her daughters have done as you and your daughters have done. Look, this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: She and her daughter had pride, fullness of food, and abundance of idleness; neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. And they were haughty and committed abomination before Me; therefore, I took them away as I saw fit.

“Samaria did not commit half of your sins; but you have multiplied your abominations more than they, and have justified your sisters by all the abominations which you have done. You who judged your sisters, bear your own shame also, because the sins which you committed were more abominable than theirs; they are more righteous than you. Yes, be disgraced also, and bear your own shame, because you justified your sisters.

 “When I bring back their captives, the captives of Sodom and her daughters, and the captives of Samaria and her daughters, then I will also bring back the captives of your captivity among them, that you may bear your own shame and be disgraced by all that you did when you comforted them. When your sisters, Sodom and her daughters, return to their former state, and Samaria and her daughters return to their former state, then you and your daughters will return to your former state. For your sister Sodom was not a byword in your mouth in the days of your pride, before your wickedness was uncovered. It was like the time of the reproach of the daughters of Syria and all those around her, and of the daughters of the Philistines, who despise you everywhere. You have paid for your lewdness and your abominations,” says the Lord. For thus says the Lord God: “I will deal with you as you have done, who despised the oath by breaking the covenant.

“Nevertheless, I will remember My covenant with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish an everlasting covenant with you. Then you will remember your ways and be ashamed, when you receive your older and your younger sisters; for I will give them to you for daughters, but not because of My covenant with you. And I will establish My covenant with you. Then you shall know that I am the Lord.”

God here speaks of Israel and compares her with her neighbor, Samaria, and also with the Sodomites, whom he says, “I took away as I saw good.”

Why did God see good to take away these people without giving them a chance of eternal life through the knowledge of “the only name?”

Because it was not their due time. They will come to a knowledge of the truth when restored. He’ll save them from death’s bondage first, and then give them knowledge as it is written. “God will have all men to be saved, AND to come to a knowledge of the truth.” When brought to the knowledge, then, and not until then, are they on trial for eternal life. With this thought, and with no other, can we understand the dealings of the God of love with those Amalekites and other nations, whom he not only permitted, but commanded Israel to butcher. “Slay Amalek utterly – leave neither man, woman or child.” “Spare not the little ones.” How often my heart has ached, and yours, too, as we sought to reconcile this apparent wantonness on God’s part with the teachings of the new dispensation, “God is love,” “Love your enemies,” and etc.

Now we can see that the entire Jewish age was a type of the higher, Gospel age; Israel’s victories and conquests merely pictures of the Christian’s battles with sin, etc. These Amalekites and Sodomites and others were used to illustrate, or to be “examples” “for our admonition;” and these people might just as well die so, as of disease and plague, and it mattered little to them as they were merely learning to know evil, that when on trial, “in due time,” they might learn good and be able to discriminate and choose life.

But let us read the prophecy further. After comparing Israel with Sodom and Samaria, and pronouncing her worse, Verse 53 says: “When I bring again the captivity [in death, all are captives and Christ came to ‘set at liberty the captives and to open the prison doors’ of the grave,] of Sodom and Samaria, then will I bring thy captives in the midst of them.” (These will be raised together.) In Verse 55 this is called “a return to “Their Former Estate.” – restitution.

But someone, who cannot imagine that God really could be so good or just, suggests God must be speaking ironically to the Jews, and saying He would just as soon bring back the Sodomites as them, but has no notion of either. Let us see. Read Verses 61-62 again.

Nevertheless, “I will remember my covenant with thee; I will establish it to thee.” “Yes,” says Paul, “this is God’s covenant with them – they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes. For the gifts and callings of God are without repentance.” Rom 11:27-29.

Verse 63 concludes the argument, showing that the promised restitution is not based on the merits of the Jews, Samaritans or Sodomites. “That thou mayest remember and be confounded and never open thy mouth any more, because of thy shame, when I am pacified toward thee, for all that thou hast done, saith the Lord God.” When God signs his name to a statement in this way I must believe it. “Saith the Lord God.” And no wonder if they are confounded when “in the ages to come He shows forth the exceeding riches of His grace.” (Eph 2:7), and many of God’s children will be confounded and amazed also when they see how “God so loved THE WORLD.” They will be ready to exclaim with brother Paul: “Oh the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!”

We will continue with this last in our next post.