However, one might ponder, how can one of Israel’s descendants respond, “You have rescued us from fire and punishment, from bondage and slavery, and from the hand of the oppressor, showing Your omnipotence and accomplishing all by Your will? Yet, how can we, who have always relied on Your care and aid, find ourselves in such dire straits, subjugated by our enemies?” What might God respond to this? “I will instruct you, guiding you on the path you should follow. I have established a law that outlines what is right, directing you to what pleases Me, revealing the way to truth, teaching you in righteousness, and leading you along the straight path. Had you chosen to follow this path, you could have become a faithful servant, adorned with the beauty of virtue. Instead, you strayed from this straight road, deviating into paths contrary to My law. You have turned to worship the heavenly host, offered sacrifices to idols, and forgotten your Creator, neglecting the law I provided.
If you had heeded My commandments, your peace would have flowed like a river, and your righteousness would have been as abundant as the sea's waves. He points out the force of a downpour on mountains that rushes down with relentless strength, unstoppable by any obstacle. The turbulence of the sea's waves is a terror not only to sailors and their laden vessels but even to the very rocks that can be shattered by their might. Thus, He states, had you been faithful to My words and submitted your hearts, then your peace would have been like a river, impenetrable to enemies or attackers.
Alternatively, one might consider the world's abundance and permanence as a river that flows swiftly and ceaselessly or as waves that rise again and again against the shore. “The seed of your lineage will be as numerous as the sand, your offspring as countless as the grains on the earth.” It is as though He is saying, if no one raised a sword against you and enemies harmed no one, you would have flourished abundantly, with your children like countless grains. Yet because you have acted impudently toward God and insulted Him in the pursuit of what is lowly, your numbers have diminished, and you lack increase.
However, despite this situation, the remnant of Israel remains. God Himself has declared that it will not be entirely wiped out due to the promise He made to the patriarchs. He then commands, “Depart from Babylon and flee from the Chaldeans.” This is a royal decree releasing Israel from oppression, akin to how earthly rulers offer liberation with kindness and care. In the same spirit, the God of all creation extends His loving command to those burdened by enslavement, saying explicitly, "Depart," inviting them to recognize the Deliverer and the source of all joy.
THEOSIS