Context for Ezekiel 11
While God’s promised wrath against the rebellion of the Jews was sure, His promised redemption of those who repented was just as sure. God’s punishment served a purpose, to break down the hardened hearts of the Jews and to return them to the love of their God.
God’s punishment of the Jews was not permanent. The time for that permanent punishment of sin had not yet come. Instead, God’s punishment was designed to reform the wayward Jews into the people He wanted them to be, penitent and trusting only in Him. In that penitence and trust, God would return His people to His holy city in anticipation of the Messiah who would redeem all.
God wants the same penitence and trust-that is faith-from us as He wanted from the Jews. He waits to punish sin so that every last sinner who can be saved will be. Then He will return in His promised glory to separate the faithful from the rebellious one last time.
