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Isaiah 27:8 "Measure by measure, by exile thou didst content with them; he removed them with his fierce blast in the day of the east wind."

 

One day, Isaiah says, "Israel shall blossom and put forth shoots, and fill the whole world with fruit." (Isaiah 27:6). Obviously, in order for this to happen, Israel must survive. Isaiah goes on to point out that, even in their sin, God deals differently with Israel then He does with others: "Has he smitten them as he smote those who smote them? Or have they been slain as their slayers were slain?" (Isaiah 27:7) No, God does not smite His people the way he smites others, He instead punishes them "measure by measure", He contends with them by exile. God is as gentle as possible with Israel, even when He has to chastise them. He is all about cleansing them and bringing them home, so they can take root, blossom, and put forth shoots that will fill the whole world with fruit. 

 

Often people say the Old Testament God is different from the New Testament God, but here we see that He really is unchanging. The people who are in covenant with Him will be saved, He will not smite them utterly. In the Old Testament those people were the Jews, but in the New Testament it can be, and is intended to be, anyone who follows His Son.

 

God may have to allow His people to suffer, but He will do it measure by measure, not with a killing blow. He will preserve His people even as they endure exile so that He can bring them home in joy.