A few entries ago I talked about how we don’t approach God with enough fear and trembling, that we tend to take God for granted.

In studying Ezekiel, I purchased “Yechezkel” or “Ezekiel / A New Translation with a Commentary Anthologized from Talmudic, Midrashic, and Rabbinic Sources” published by Artscroll. The beginning goes through the history of Israel that led up to the time of Ezekiel and why God abandoned it and Judah. The authors mentioned Leviticus 26:27-28 which was translated thusly, “and if despite this you do not hearken to me, and go with me casually then I will proceed with you in a fury of casualness.”

Other translations, instead of using “casual,” use “hostile” (NIV, NLT) or “contrary” (ESV, KJV).

Nevertheless, I’m a fan of the Artscroll translation of the verses. The authors seem to appreciate it as well, because they say next, “The primary reason for the exile was that Israel treated God’s service casually and His providence as coincidence.”

On this Thanksgiving Day, 2024, I’m seeing plenty of true gratitude to God for our own providence all over social media, which brings me great joy. But what happens tomorrow? Next week? Will we be just as grateful, not only in God’s blessings, but also in the challenges he places before us? After all, Jesus said multiple times our lives would not be easy.

I’m one who tends to take God for granted. I see all my blessings and think I earned them all through my own sweat and tears. My prayers are casual. My study of his word is casual. My expectations of his blessings, also casual.

No wonder I keep running into verses about the importance of fearing the Lord. If anyone needs help in that area, that’d be me. God, because of his faithfulness and near infinite patience, I’m sure will remind me again and again until I finally get it.