THEOSISCyrill of Alexandria
When God seeks to guide His beloved who have strayed into sin, He brings to light the sinful nature of the fall, making it evident and applying censure as if to chastise them. This is intended to evoke shame for their transgressions, encouraging them to redirect their focus toward better and more fruitful pursuits, ultimately leading them to receive God's mercy and salvation. At present, God confronts the Israelites regarding another matter, addressing a common censure shared among their descendants, knowing that this will be beneficial for all. As the wise Paul reminds us, what befell our forefathers serves as a lesson for our benefit (1 Corinthians 10:11).
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He points out their reckless speech and grumbling: "your words," He declares, “are burdensome to me.” The nature of their complaints is revealed in His response: “Reste: he that worketh in vanity is vanity to God,” indicating that their efforts to uphold “His keeping,” meaning the ordinances of the law, yield no advantage. They foolishly claim, in vain, to be His “prayer-workers,” seeking to offer prayers for others. This accusation from the Sovereign Lord is certainly valid, but it is essential to consider what prompted such errant speech. God presides over numerous nations, yet He chose one—Israel—as His own portion, inheritance, and legacy (Deuteronomy 32:9). After establishing this covenant, He provided them with His law for guidance and ensured their welfare through the prophets. How did thoughtless Israel respond? They worshiped the host of heaven, served idols, and boldly declared to images, “Ye are our gods” (4 Kings 17:16). The Almighty, righteously furious at such dreadful wickedness, chastised them in various ways—calling them to repent through famines, devastating winds, crop failures, plagues, locusts, and other calamities. His intention was to correct them through severity and gentle nudges towards doing what is right and embracing the True God. However, when these moderate punishments proved ineffective, as they remained inclined to wickedness, He allowed them to be taken captive and subjected to Babylon’s rule. Yet by His mercy, when they were restored to Judah, built a city, and established a temple, they again grew negligent—failing to uphold their vows, disregarding the laws concerning tithes and offerings, coming only with reluctance to make sacrifices and offering up lame, blind, and sick animals. Though they committed such vile acts, God refrained from punishing them with hunger and desolation. Instead of returning to better conduct and serving the God whom they had wronged, they foolishly accused Him. Observing the neighboring Gentiles, who, despite their idolatry and delusions, thrived in prosperity and pleasure, they irrationally remarked, “vanity to God who works; what more, since we keep His keeping?” They lamented that despite being law-observant and witnessing troubles, they too had been taken captive, while those who forsook God faced no chastisement or calamity. Hence, they declared, “we bless strangers,” stating, “those who commit iniquity are prospered and oppose God, yet are saved.” Indeed, many err by resisting the glory of God, offering sacrifices to idols and claiming, “God, you are mine,” and to the rock, “you have begotten me” (Jer. 2:27). “These words,” he notes, “are pronounced by those who fear the Lord.” This reveals both an accusation of slander and a clear indication of profound weakness, for the words from a troubled mind and the godless spewing of a wayward soul express rebellion against God. Yet, He does not merely hear these statements idly, but actively listens, as confirmed when He states, “And the Lord hearkened, and heard,” indicating that “the Spirit of the Lord filled the whole universe, and contained all minds, and heard the voice” (Prem. 1:7). Should any utterance rise against His divine majesty, it may seem burdensome to Him, though He is accustomed to bearing such grievances. Thus He asserts, “your words are heavy upon Me.” Therefore, even amidst our trials, through which God disciplines us for our own good, we should not succumb to fear or believe that the Good-loving God overlooks those striving to do right; instead, we should strive to avoid offending Him, seek His favor, and implore His mercy. If some sinners seem to experience worldly success and temporal benefits, it is essential to recognize that God’s patience towards them is part of His divine Providence, which lies beyond our understanding.