God Warns for Good

I remember an incident that happened a long time ago when I was in high school.  While at a Cross-country team dinner, a younger teammate decided to pester me.  I warned him if he continued to shove and touch me, I was going to drop him.  When it was evident my warning went unheeded, I did a judo throw that ended up knocking the wind out of him.  In that moment I had a mix of feelings:  I felt justified in warning him and the consequences doled out but at the same time had a twinge guilt.  I was older than him and should have demonstrated wisdom by walking away.  It was all good between us after the incident (I apologised profusely) and I was not surprised when he took up wrestling for the school the following season.

From my view at the time, my teammate got exactly what he deserved because he was warned about the consequences of his actions and did not listen.  But at the same time I can say my actions were unjust and not from a heart of love.  My grovelling apology was not because I pitied him but to avoid future trouble with him or our coach.  I am most grateful God is not biased and selfish like humans are, for the consequences He sets forth are just, righteous and from a heart of love.  God warns people, not to manipulate or trick us, but for our ultimate good.  His correction is perfectly weighted according to the offence and exerts the minimum pressure required to move us in right direction--if we will heed and submit ourselves to Him.  On our own we are all headed for destruction due to sin, so He is gracious to intervene.

Did you know God told Pharaoh the high stakes of refusing to let God's people go right from the beginning?  Every plague was prefaced by a warning of what God would do, and the final plague was the first God warned Pharaoh about.  Before a single plague was poured out on the nation, God told Moses in Exodus 4:22-23:  "Then you shall say to Pharaoh, 'Thus says the LORD: "Israel is My son, My firstborn. ²³ So I say to you, let My son go that he may serve Me. But if you refuse to let him go, indeed I will kill your son, your firstborn."  God warned Pharaoh that his refusal to let His people go would ultimately cost the life of his firstborn son, for Pharaoh had enslaved and oppressed the children of Israel whom God called His firstborn:  a life for a life.  Pharaoh hardened his heart several times and refused to heed God's voice even when severe plagues came upon Egypt, and then God hardened Pharaoh's heart too.

Though Pharaoh's heart was hardened against God, the LORD graciously provided a way for all the firstborn in Egypt to be delivered from death.  The blood of the Passover lamb was to be struck upon the doorposts and lintel, and God later spared them as promised in Exodus 12:12-13:  "For I will pass through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD. ¹³ Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt."  God warned Pharaoh what would happen if he refused to let Israel go, gave Pharaoh opportunity to relent 10 times, graciously made a way of escape for everyone else, and then did justly exactly as He said.

God is longsuffering and would rather no one perish.  By providing Jesus as the Lamb of God, we are offered salvation we do not deserve through the Gospel.  How great is the LORD to execute judgment as well as extending gracious pardon to all those who trust in Him!