Faith & Reason Nexus

Romans 11:22 reminds us of the balance in God’s nature: His goodness towards those who are faithful, and His severity towards those who reject Him or fall into sin. The Bible provides numerous examples illustrating both aspects of God’s character, showing that while He is loving and merciful, He is also just and punishes disobedience.

The Severity of God

The severity of God is often seen in His righteous judgment and punishment upon sin. Below are instances where God’s severity is clearly demonstrated:

1. God Drove Adam and Eve from Eden
   • Genesis 3:3, 19, 22-24
     After Adam and Eve sinned by eating the forbidden fruit, they were expelled from the Garden of Eden. This was a direct result of their disobedience, showing God’s severity in dealing with sin.
2. God Sent the Flood
   • Genesis 6
     In response to humanity’s widespread wickedness, God sent a flood to destroy all living creatures, sparing only Noah and his family. This shows God’s severe judgment upon sin, with only the righteous being spared.
3. God Destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah
   • Genesis 19
     The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed by fire and brimstone because of their extreme immorality. God’s judgment was severe, and only Lot and his daughters were saved.
4. God Turned Lot’s Wife into a Pillar of Salt
   • Genesis 19:26
     Lot’s wife looked back as they were fleeing Sodom, disobeying God’s command. As a result, she was turned into a pillar of salt, demonstrating the severity of God’s punishment for disobedience.
5. God Prevented Moses from Entering the Promised Land
   • Numbers 20:7-12
     Because Moses struck the rock in anger, instead of speaking to it as God had commanded, God told him that he would not enter the Promised Land. This reflects God’s severity even toward His faithful servants when they fail to fully obey His commands.
6. God Sent Fire to Consume Nadab and Abihu
   • Leviticus 10:1-2
     Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, offered unauthorized fire before God and were consumed by fire. This act of severe judgment highlighted the importance of obeying God’s instructions exactly as given.
7. God Struck Ananias and Sapphira
   • Acts 5:1-11
     Ananias and Sapphira lied to the Holy Spirit about the amount of money they had received for selling property, and they were struck dead as a result. Their severe punishment emphasized the seriousness of dishonesty and deceit within the church.
8. God Smote Herod
   • Acts 12:21-23
     King Herod, in his pride, allowed the people to worship him as a god, and for his arrogance, God struck him down with worms, leading to his death. This instance shows God’s judgment on pride and self-exaltation.
9. God Has Appointed a Day of Judgment
   • Matthew 25:31-46
     In the parable of the sheep and the goats, Jesus spoke of a final judgment where the righteous are rewarded, and the wicked are cast into eternal punishment. This shows that God’s severity will be fully revealed in the final judgment of humanity.
   • Revelation 20:12-15; 6:16-17
     The book of Revelation describes the final judgment, where every person will be judged according to their deeds. The wicked will face the ultimate severity of God in the lake of fire.

Conclusion

While God is good and merciful, His severity is a reminder of His justice. God’s holiness demands that sin be punished, and His righteous judgment is unavoidable. Yet, His goodness also offers the hope of forgiveness through Jesus Christ. The Bible calls us to recognize both aspects of God’s nature—His goodness and severity—so that we may live in reverence and obedience, understanding the consequences of sin and the blessings of righteousness.