When a parent punishes a child, the parent may use harsh words or raise the voice. Some parents, especially those who come from an older or traditional background, may resort to giving a little smack. Those of us who are older may remember our parents using the cane or rod to give us a little whack for being naughty or mischievous. But generally, our parents said or did such things not because they hated or despised us, they did so because they loved us and those methods of disciplining were the only ways known to them at that time. After all, we were born without a user manual, and our parents did what they thought was best for us.
In the same way, in today's reading, God had been quite harsh to the Israelites because of their stubbornness, sin, iniquity and obstinate refusal to change. It took many punishments and suffering for the Israelites to learn their lesson, but God did so to help them realise that ultimately, He is the one and only God. Eventually, God even restored His people and said: "And you shall be my people, and I will be your God."
What about us? When God punishes us for something we have done wrong, when we are reprimanded for sinning, will be be humble and docile in accepting such correction? We may feel pain and suffering at first, but by going through such correction, we may become better persons. Let us not feel dejected, since God is our help and guide, and all He does for us is for our own good.
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