How does God discipline His people according to Scripture?
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God's discipline often involves allowing His people to experience the consequences of their straying, akin to a lamb scattered and alone.
In His discipline, God seeks to humble His people and lead them back to Himself. The metaphor of a lamb in a large place reflects God's method of allowing Ephraim to taste the bitterness of isolation as a consequence of pride and unfaithfulness. This scattering serves not as mere punishment but as a corrective measure intended to bring the wayward back to repentance and communion. By allowing His people to experience lack and vulnerability, God’s discipline is portrayed as a means to restore them to a state of reliance upon Him and His community. This biblical principle emphasizes that His love and correction are ultimately aimed at their restoration and growth.
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