Mercy and Justice —

This fact relates to another problem with the critic’s view of God. The reason God brought destruction on certain peoples was because “they violently and steadfastly impeded or opposed his work over a long period of time.”[5] Indeed, in each and every case God gave ample time and opportunity for the people to turn to Him and live. For example, God waited many years before judging the world with a Flood. In fact, He did not bring the watery judgment until “all flesh had corrupted their way on earth” and violence had filled the whole earth. He even sent Noah as “a preacher of righteousness” (2 Peter 2:5). But because “every intent of the thoughts of man’s heart was only evil continually” (Genesis 6:5) the people had not the slightest intention of turning to God. In fact, they completely ignored His warnings and continued on with their everyday lives: “eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, [right up] until the day that Noah entered the ark” (Matthew 24:38). Similarly, the people of Sodom and Gomorrah were so wicked that not even ten righteous could be found there. The outcry against them was very great. Yet God waited more than three centuries before destroying those cities and He even sent them Lot, who, according to the Apostle Peter, was considered a righteous man (2 Peter 2:7). Even the Canaanites, who committed such vile practices as child sacrifice, sodomy, bestiality, among other offences (Leviticus 18:25, 27-30) were given over 400 years of mercy and grace to turn from their wicked ways. As the prostitute Rahab herself testified, the people knew full well about the power of the God of Israel. And the kingdoms of Israel and Judah were given roughly 750 and 900 years respectively and were sent numerous warnings through many of God’s prophets, before the Lord delivered them into the hands of the Assyrians and Babylonians.

A third reason why the critic’s view of God is unfounded is because the destruction of such evil nations was in itself an act of love and mercy. As previously noted, anyone who violently and steadfastly impeded or opposed God’s work over a long period of time was destroyed. But just what exactly is God’s work? Why it is the redemption of the whole world through the Messiah, of course! For the Saviour to be born there needed to be a certain level of physical, moral, and spiritual purity. Ever since God announced the coming Messiah in Genesis 3:15 (the Seed of the woman), Satan made various attempts to thwart His birth in any way he could, including employing and enticing the peoples and nations around Israel to corrupt and destroy the Messianic line.

Clearly God is very longsuffering, kind, merciful, and loving. And desires that the whole world be saved. Sadly, many people in the world today still actively oppose the work of God and eventually they too will face judgment—ultimate judgment. May we take a lesson from history and use this long period of grace (which has now been approximately 2000 years) and turn to the Lord Jesus Christ and live! As the prophet Isaiah warned, “Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.” (Isaiah 55:6-7)