“And Judah was taken into exile in Babylon because of their breach of faith” (1 Chronicles 1:9).
When the Israelites were about to enter the promised land of Canaan, Moses warned them: “If you act corruptly… by doing what is evil in the sight of the Lord your God … you will soon utterly perish from the land that you are going over the Jordan to possess … And the Lord will scatter you among the peoples, and you will be left few in number among the nations where the Lord will drive you” (Deuteronomy 4:25-27).
Within a few generations, the Israelites started to turn away from the Lord. God warned them repeatedly and sometimes they repented, but it did not take long before they turned to idols again and the land was full of injustice. Finally, God carried out His judgment and the people were taken into exile. They were forced to leave the country of their forefathers, the country that God had given them. They had to live among strange people and strange gods, far away from God’s temple.
God had warned the Israelites very clearly, but they did not listen. This is a warning for us! God is faithful to fulfill His promises, but He is also faithful to carry out His judgment!