Wow, talk about tough love. God Sure Knows How To Do It!

We've all heard the term tough love.  Here is a great example of God using tough love.

Isaiah 5:24-30(NKJV)

24    Therefore, as the fire devours the stubble,      And the flame consumes the chaff,     So their root will be as rottenness,     And their blossom will ascend like dust;     Because they have rejected the law of the Lord of hosts,     And despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.

25    Therefore the anger of the Lord is aroused against His people;     He has stretched out His hand against them     And stricken them,     And the hills trembled.     Their carcasses were as refuse in the midst of the streets.      For all this His anger is not turned away,     But His hand is stretched out still.

OK so the people have rejected God and God isn't too pleased about it.  It says that God has stretched out His hand against them and stricken them.  Notice that this isn't a passive reaction.  This is a deliberate disciplinary action taken by God.  (Again is doesn't quite fit the idea of Kumbaya Jesus does it?)

The reason I point that out is that there are those who believe that while God may let bad things happen to His people, God won't take action directly against His people. 

I believe the above Scripture proves that isn't true.  But watch this.  God takes it a step further.

 26    He will lift up a banner to the nations from afar,      And will whistle to them from the end of the earth;     Surely they shall come with speed, swiftly.

Who will lift up the banner?  God.

27    No one will be weary or stumble among them,     No one will slumber or sleep;     Nor will the belt on their loins be loosed,     Nor the strap of their sandals be broken;

28    Whose arrows are sharp,     And all their bows bent;     Their horses’ hooves will seem like flint,     And their wheels like a whirlwind.

29    Their roaring will be like a lion,     They will roar like young lions;     Yes, they will roar     And lay hold of the prey;     They will carry it away safely,     And no one will deliver.

30    In that day they will roar against them     Like the roaring of the sea.     And if one looks to the land,     Behold, darkness and sorrow;      And the light is darkened by the clouds.

Think about what that is saying.  God actually sic'ed the bad guys on His people.  He held up a banner and whistled and called them from the ends of the earth!

Wow, talk about tough love!