Every Man Against His Neighbor

For before those days there was no wage for man or any wage for beast, neither was there any safety from the foe for him who went out or came in, for I set every man against his neighbor. -Zec 8:10

Today's verse greatly challenges my understanding of God. I believe the 21st century church paints God to be so loving and patient and kind and gentle that there is little room for a jealous and wrathful God. I struggle with how God can set every man against his neighbor, and still be the God of love. I understand we are under a different covenant now, but it is still the same God who administers this new covenant. It is the same God who is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Oh it is good for me to be reminded that God is not a pansy, sitting on a cloud taking a bubble bath, just waiting to give everybody a big hug (not too big though, wouldn't want to hurt anybody). Yes, God is love. But he is also jealous for our love and obedience. He is wrathful toward those who are disobedient. He will have vengeance on his enemies. He disciplines those he loves. He drowned the Egyptians in the Red Sea. He raises up armies to defeat his chosen people for punishment. He exiled his own people. He is a big God that cannot possibly be wholly contained in a three word sentence like "God is love."