2 Peter 2:11 — Brothers

…yet even angels, although they are stronger and more powerful, do not heap abuse on such beings when bringing judgment on them from the Lord. 

Summary: The history of Israel provides numerous examples of what not to do when it comes to serving God. 

Israel is the name given to Jacob by God (Genesis 32: 22-32). The name is generally understood to mean, “One who struggles with God.” 

Jacob was the son of Isaac and Rebekah. He had a brother who was born at the same time. His name was Esau. (The brothers were fraternal twins, not identical.) When the boys were still in the womb, God told Rebekah why the babies “jostled each other within her” (Genesis 25: 22). 

“The Lord said to her,
‘Two nations are in your womb,
    and two peoples from within you will be separated;
one people will be stronger than the other,
    and the older will serve the younger.’” (Genesis 25:23)

Jacob became the father of the nation of Israel and Esau became the father of Edom. 

The nation of Israel was well named. They did indeed struggle with God, and they lost. God had warned them that if they did not obey, there would be consequences, even to the point of being evicted from the land of Canaan that God had promised to them. They disobeyed, and after going so far as to desecrate God’s temple in Jerusalem, God finally sent them into exile. 

The means of punishing Israel was by giving power to the nations around them. The kingdom of Babylon was used by God to inflict punishment on Israel. Edom, like a jealous brother, could not help kicking Israel while he was down (Psalm 137: 7). 

Because they brought shame on themselves by behaving in this way, God prophesied punishment for Edom:

“Because of the violence against your brother Jacob,
    you will be covered with shame;
    you will be destroyed forever.” (Obediah 1: 10)

Judgment from the Lord is meted out in the exact portion that God’s justice demands. When we add our judgment to God’s, we step into dangerous territory. 

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” (Matthew 7: 1-2)

False teachers do not understand this. How they talk about spiritual matters reveals who they are. 

Application: Be wary of those who want to tell you what it means to be a believer and who are “bold and arrogant.” 

Food for Thought: The Bible gives several examples of angels meting out God’s judgment on the world. What can we learn from these examples?