Promises of Punishment
Many of God's promises are very positive pronouncements of good things that we can expect to happen. However, there are other promises that are just the opposite. At times, God gives us promises of punishment, like He gave king Abimelech. (Genesis 20:7) The king had seen Sarah, when she and Abraham traveled to his country. He took her into his household, since Abraham had lied saying she was just his sister. God then went to Abimelech and delivered a chilling promise. If he did not return Sarah, he would certainly die. Abimelech believed what God had promised so that he returned Sarah and did whatever he could have done to keep God from harming him. We all do well to heed this type of promise.
Adam and Eve received a promise of punishment when God told them they would certainly die, if they ate the fruit from the Tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Unfortunately, they did not heed God's promise, and both of them suffered spiritual death when they ate it. We all have that choice, so we need to take God very seriously when we receive a promise of punishment. Yes, God is merciful, and He does relent sometimes and punish us less than He said at first. However, we must never presume upon God's mercy. Also, I would say that we need to rejoice just as much in a promise of punishment, as we do for a positive promise. These promises give us the chance to do what King Abimelech did. We can stop from going forward with a sin and avoid God's wrath. That is why He gives us those kinds of promises. He loves us, and He does not want to punish us. However, since He is holy, He must punish sin in some way.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Genesis 21-23.
Adam and Eve received a promise of punishment when God told them they would certainly die, if they ate the fruit from the Tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Unfortunately, they did not heed God's promise, and both of them suffered spiritual death when they ate it. We all have that choice, so we need to take God very seriously when we receive a promise of punishment. Yes, God is merciful, and He does relent sometimes and punish us less than He said at first. However, we must never presume upon God's mercy. Also, I would say that we need to rejoice just as much in a promise of punishment, as we do for a positive promise. These promises give us the chance to do what King Abimelech did. We can stop from going forward with a sin and avoid God's wrath. That is why He gives us those kinds of promises. He loves us, and He does not want to punish us. However, since He is holy, He must punish sin in some way.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Genesis 21-23.