August 2nd

Today's reading shocked me with how far the people of Israel had fallen.  They had Baal and Asherah idols in the Temple and even had male shrine prostitutes in the Temple.   How did God hold back from raining fire down from heaven to wipe that place out.   How could all of that detestable stuff be in such close proximity of the Ark of the Covenant which was so holy.  I can just imagine the terrible anger of God smoldering about this.   His chosen people desecrating everything that He had said was holy was just too much to bear.