Seeking for the truth

This was the merciful side of God, supplying mercy and grace towards his people, and providing comfort for them.

But the other side was dark towards the Egyptians.

This was the severity of God towards His enemies, which gave out wrath and justice to them,

and created fear and anguish in them for the coming judgement.

Perhaps in our minds this is a difficult concept to grasp.

We hear that alongside God being merciful and forgiving, He is a jealous God who responds with fierce anger to those who have a lifestyle of pushing God away.

Also that He is an avenging God, filled with wrath.

One who takes vengeance upon His enemies.

Does that make us want to shut our ears to such things?

Doesn't that fit our picture of God?

But surely this is a revelation about God that will make us revere Him, and fear Him.

If the Lord has made us right with Himself, we should still fear God.

That is Biblical, loving fear is good.

We shouldn't be terrified of Him.

But His enemies should be!

Imagine having an earthly father who was loving, but strict.

I could laugh with my dad, we could wrestle and enjoy each others company.

But if he said: "Oi, I've got a bone to pick with you!"

I would be in fear! - Not terror.

But more than just respect, I would have fear, not that he would hit me.

I would have fear of his authority.

That was good and healthy.

Now imagine having an earthly father who was loving, but who had no boundaries, and no discipline.

Any action was acceptable, because it was giving free expression to all our emotions!

There would be no fear of him, and when the crunch came, there wouldn't be any respect for him either.

He would seem like a spineless, weak individual.

This certainly isn't healthy and good.

With God as our heavenly Father we will feel totally secure and loved, and when He says:

"Oi, I've got a bone to pick with you!"

We will be in fear! - Not terror.

But it is more than just respect.

We should fear God.

But if anyone chooses to be hostile to God, to push Him out of their lives, then they are an enemy of God.

And these Bible passages become true:

"God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient."

"God's wrath remains on him."

"It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God."

images: thanks to Serif ART Gallery CD

A God of wrath and mercy.

Perhaps we are now thinking;

"How can God be both merciful and full of wrath (anger)?"

There is an example in the pillar of cloud and fire that was with the Israelites in the desert.

It had two different sides:

One was the bright side towards Israel giving them light and protection.

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