The Cane
Reading Deut sent a chill down my spine. It shows the merciless nature of God, and His wrath. I wouldn’t want to live under that law. Thank God we are now living under and in His grace. I wondered to myself as I read Deut, why couldn’t God show that side of His nature just in one or two occasions, why over (thousands of?) years of generations?
My conclusion is this. A character is told over time. There must be consistency in a person’s action to qualify it as a character trait. The interval between OT and NT is not long. Juxtapose His wrath with His grace and you will see just how merciful God is. It only goes to emphasize His merciful nature, and his deep abounding love for us. It makes Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross all the more meaningful.
I had the misfortune of witnessing a public caning this morning. If I were the child’s parent, my heart would be so grieved by his crime. I can imagine how God must feel when we stray. Yet He is quicker to love us than to smite us. What mercy!
