- Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed speedily, the heart of the children of man is fully set to do evil. -
Katie and I are working through reading the Bible together this year. We’ve both read it cover to cover, but not together.
It’s a fun experience, as we get the chance to discuss the stories together, finding insights into God’s character and our own lives.
The morning that I’m writing this, I read the story of Sodom and Gomorrah, which I think is probably the most famous story of God’s wrath.
In a few short paragraphs, Old Testament God obliterates a whole town with literal sulfur and fire from the heavens.
Why the extreme punishment? Well, a few angels went to have a meal with Lot and every man in the city decided it would be a good idea to force themselves upon them.
Not exactly a hospitable welcome. That makes God mad, so He nukes them.
Sometimes, in our darker or more judgmental moments (especially when someone does us wrong), we might wonder why God doesn’t start exercising this style of wrath again.
Hey, if God threw down lightning bolts at cars making minor traffic violations, there would be a lot less road rage.
If someone cheats you at work, why do they get away with it if there is a just God? Why does it actually seem to work out for them, at least in the short term?
Why does God not do something about Putin? Why did He let Mao starve the people of China? Why did He let Hitler kill the Jews?
What’s keeping Him from doing another Sodom and Gomorrah? Is He scared? Losing His touch? Did Jesus coming make His trigger finger relax?
I’m obviously being a little sarcastic, mainly because God’s ways are not my own. How in the world are we supposed to understand them?
Here’s something I think we miss in our memory of the Sodom and Gomorrah story. The reason the angels are going there is because the outcry against the city is great.
That’s what the Lord tells Abraham. God says that He is going to see if the rumors are true, and sure enough they are.
What’s the point? The people of Sodom and Gomorrah hurt a lot of people before the angels showed up. That is easily seen in how evil their behavior is.
Lot seems to even know this. He actively tries to keep the angels visit from being discovered, and when it is known, offers up his daughters to the crowd.
Lot isn’t exactly winning father of the year any time soon.
It is after all this that God acts. Yes, His punishment is extreme, but there were ample opportunities for these people to turn from their wicked ways.
In other sections of the Bible, we hear God say that the iniquity of this people is not complete. It seems to imply that God is punishing them by allowing them to continue in their sin.
What’s the point? God’s delay in meeting out justice is normal, but it always comes. He may be waiting for someone to repent or building a case against them.
For this reason, evil doers at times can be confused. They may think the delay means they got away with it or perhaps there is no God.
They do not see that their actions themselves have cut them off from meaning, that they have gotten the desire of their heart and will receive it.
They get a world with only themselves.
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