Punishment is Necessary

I know that when I was a child I was punished by my parents. They spanked me and punished me in other ways to correct my bad behavior. I am glad they did it now, even though it was painful then. Without that punishment I would have never been molded into the person God intended for me to be. This is why God encourages parents to discipline their children and not to spare the rod.

God made us, and He knows our need for punishment at certain times. He is a good Father. He knows how to punish us and what to punish. (Isaiah 13:11) God will punish the world for its evil and the wicked for their wrongdoing. He will put an end to the audacity of the proud and humiliate the arrogance of the tyrants. If God didn't do this, He would not be just and loving.

God punishes us to eliminate bad behavior and to show us our need to listen to Him. When He sees the evil of this world, He knows it must be punished, and He does it in just the right way. He sees the wrongdoing of the wicked, and He makes sure they feel His rod of rebuke. It might not seem like this is happening around us, but God never fails to punish sinful behavior, either now or at the judgment.

God has a desire to eliminate pride in any form. He sees people acting in audacity, and He knows He must move against them, because pride will destroy them. That is why God always brings down the proud people and exalts the humble. God always stands against the the tyrants to humiliate them. They may think they can get their way and force others to comply, but God will show them that He is in control. I pray we will walk in God's will and ways, so we do not have to endure His punishment.

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Tomorrow, I intend to read Isaiah 14-16.