Deuteronomy 28 promised exile for idolatry. You would think that judgement for idolatry would be banishment forever. However, God is merciful and full of grace. Consequences were meant to be restorative and not retributive. This tells us so much about the nature of God. He is not interested in being punitive. This can be seen from the following. “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9 NASB). The discipline of our Heavenly Father is not like the discipline of some earthly fathers. “He disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness” (Hebrews 12:10 ESV). We may take ourselves into exile by our own actions, but even there, love longs to redeem and restore us.
“Come, let us return to the Lord; for he has torn us, that he may heal us; he has struck us down, and he will bind us up. After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him.” Hosea 6:1–2 (ESV)
