"For the Lord has a day of vengeance, a year of retribution, to uphold Zion’s cause. Edom’s streams will be turned into pitch, her dust into burning sulfur; her land will become blazing pitch!"

Isaiah 34:8-9

Edom (v. 5) is symbolic of all the nations that reject God. Isaiah is saying in Isaiah 34 that someday God will decisively and completely eradicate all evil, as in what John prophesied in the New Testament (Rev 19:11–21). No one wants to live in a world where there is no justice, where there is no consequence for choosing good or evil. In the end, God punishes evildoers. That’s part of the good news, but the full picture of God is that he ‘is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities' (Ps 103:8–10). Thank God that he combines justice and mercy, which he most clearly expressed on the cross.

CLOSING PRAYER

Thank you, Father, for those who faithfully prayed for me—that I would come to faith in Jesus. Help me to be unwavering in my prayers for those I know who have not yet believed in him.

(edited from Encounter with God)