6 - Jehovah Makkeh
Scripture Passages: Ezekiel 7, Hebrews 12:1-14
Devotional
Let’s be honest—no one likes to talk about discipline, especially when it comes to God. We love hearing about His love, grace, and mercy, but what about the times when God reveals Himself as Jehovah Makkeh, the God who smites? The idea of a “smiting, or striking God” might seem harsh at first. After all, God is the one who loves us, right? Why would a loving God smite His people? In Ezekiel 7:9, God says, “Ye shall know that I am the LORD that smiteth.” It’s a powerful statement, but it’s also an important revelation about God’s nature. When we hear about Jehovah Makkeh, we might initially feel uncomfortable. But this is where we need to stop and dig deeper, because this aspect of God’s character is actually rooted in His love for us.
Have you ever noticed how quickly bitterness can take root in your heart? Maybe it’s from something someone did to you or a disappointment you can’t seem to let go of. Bitterness has a way of creeping in and poisoning every part of your life. It affects your attitude, your relationships, even your joy. You may feel justified in holding on to that bitterness, but God knows that if you don’t deal with it, it will ultimately destroy you.
This is why God, in His love, reveals Himself as Jehovah Makkeh. Just like a parent who disciplines their child out of love, God steps in to correct us. Proverbs 22:15 tells us, “Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child, but the rod of correction will drive it far from him.” Similarly, God uses discipline to bring us back to Him, to free us from the bitterness that binds us. His goal is never punishment—it’s restoration.
In Ezekiel, the Israelites were caught in their own bitterness and rebellion. God had given them countless chances to repent, but they rejected Him over and over. Eventually, God had no choice but to discipline them, even though it broke His heart. They went into captivity in Babylon, but that discipline was meant to lead them to repentance and healing.
So, what does this mean for us today? Sometimes, God has to discipline us to pull us out of the destructive grip of sin and bitterness. He doesn’t want us to spiral into self-destruction. He’s saying, “I love you too much to let you stay here. I’m disciplining you because I want to restore you to the joy of knowing Me.”
When we reject God’s healing, when we choose to hold on to bitterness, we will eventually experience the consequences. It’s not because God is angry at us, but because He knows that without correction, we’ll keep hurting ourselves and others. But here’s the good news: His desire is always for us to return to Him. He is Jehovah Makkeh, the God who smites, not to punish, but to heal. To be restored to a right relationship with our Father.
His discipline is an invitation to come back to the Father.
Prayer:
Lord, You are Jehovah Makkeh, the God who corrects. Thank You for loving us enough to guide us back when we wander. Help us to embrace Your discipline and walk in Your ways. In Jesus’ name, Amen.