Hello everybody!

Today we are going to look a bit at divine justice and answer the question of why doesn’t God just destroy people straight away after they have sinned?

Well… There appears to be evidence in the bible for a delay between sinning and punishment we see this in Genesis 15:16 [NLT]

[16] After four generations your descendants will return here to this land, for the sins of the Amorites do not yet warrant their destruction.”

This seems bizarre that God would delay destruction of wicked people. Well I found out 7 reasons why this may happen:

1. Firstly, Jesus pleads for mercy for us – we see this in illustrated in the “Parable of the Fig Tree” (Garden owner = God the Father; Gardener = Jesus God the Son).

Luke 13:6-9 [NLT] [6] Then Jesus told this story: “A man planted a fig tree in his garden and came again and again to see if there was any fruit on it, but he was always disappointed. [7] Finally, he said to his gardener, ‘I’ve waited three years, and there hasn’t been a single fig! Cut it down. It’s just taking up space in the garden.’ [8] “The gardener answered, ‘Sir, give it one more chance. Leave it another year, and I’ll give it special attention and plenty of fertilizer. [9] If we get figs next year, fine. If not, then you can cut it down.'”

2. God does not like to have to punish people

Ezekiel 33:11 NLT] [11] As surely as I live, says the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of wicked people. I only want them to turn from their wicked ways so they can live. Turn! Turn from your wickedness, O people of Israel! Why should you die?

3. Immediate destruction of sinners would affect everyone

Matthew 13:24-30 NLT] [24] Here is another story Jesus told: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a farmer who planted good seed in his field. [25] But that night as the workers slept, his enemy came and planted weeds among the wheat, then slipped away. [26] When the crop began to grow and produce grain, the weeds also grew. [27] “The farmer’s workers went to him and said, ‘Sir, the field where you planted that good seed is full of weeds! Where did they come from?’ [28] “‘An enemy has done this!’ the farmer exclaimed. “‘Should we pull out the weeds?’ they asked. [29] “‘No,’ he replied, ‘you’ll uproot the wheat if you do. [30] Let both grow together until the harvest. Then I will tell the harvesters to sort out the weeds, tie them into bundles, and burn them, and to put the wheat in the barn.'”

4. God does not get angry quickly

Exodus 34:6 [NLT] [6] The LORD passed in front of Moses, calling out, “Yahweh! The LORD! The God of compassion and mercy! I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.”

5. God is merciful

Matthew 5:45 NLT] [45] In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.

6. The delay is a means of communication – God uses the lack of immediate consequences as a means of communicating that God has disowned you.

Hebrews 12:6-8 [NLT] [6] For the LORD disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.” [7] As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? [8] If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all.

7. The delay is actually the time God is taking to observe you without your knowledge, then create and implement your punishment.

John 2:14-15 [NLT] [14] In the Temple area he saw merchants selling cattle, sheep, and doves for sacrifices; he also saw dealers at tables exchanging foreign money. (There is no indication here that the merchants were aware Jesus was watching them and or what Jesus was watching them for) [15] Jesus made a whip from some ropes (this implies Jesus had to walk out of the temple, go to the market, buy leather/rope, find somewhere to sit, fashion the leather/rope into a whip, walk back to the temple with the completed whip in hand, observe the merchants again, one last time, to make sure that they were in fact still doing what Jesus thought they were doing and then Jesus punished/whipped them – obviously that process took thought and time) and chased them all out of the Temple. He drove out the sheep and cattle, scattered the money changers’ coins over the floor, and turned over their tables.

Now you know. God see’s, God gives you a chance, you don’t take the chance to change

xxx