The Lord is longsuffering and abundant in mercy,
forgiving iniquity and transgression;
but He by no means clears the guilty,
visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation.
Numbers 14:18
God is "JUST"
adjective
1. guided by truth, reason, justice, and fairness: We hope to be just in our understanding of such difficult situations.
2. done or made according to principle; equitable; proper: a just reply.
3. based on right; rightful; lawful: a just claim.
4. in keeping with truth or fact; true; correct: a just analysis.
5. given or awarded rightly; deserved, as a sentence, punishment, or reward: a just penalty.
Compliments of http://dictionary.reference.com/
God is loving and forgiving it's true. Everyone loves to consider God's loving and forgiving nature! It's the just and good part that we sometimes question. But, our questioning doesn't change the truth!
I read a story in the bible about a King named Hezekiah. 2 Kings 18 introduces us to this good king and all the good things he did....in the beginning of his reign. You have to read the story for yourself.
2 Kings 18-20 Click the link to read the story.
So King Hezekiah had a good run until chapter 20 when he became sick and near to death. Isaiah the prophet told the king to get his house in order because this sickness would kill him. But the king turned away from the prophet and prayed to God. "'Remember now, O LORD, I pray, how I have walked before You in truth and with a loyal heart, and have done what was good in Your sight.' and Hezekiah wept bitterly." (2 Kings 20:3) Clearly the king wasn't happy about God's decision to bring an end to his life. However, God heard the king and instructed the prophet Isaiah to go back and tell the king he would live.
What would you do if you only had 2 weeks to live, but after pleading your case to God you were granted another 15 years? I know most of our answers would sound something like; "Oh, I would be so grateful and I would serve the Lord even more!" We would all love to think that we could live up to that, but history has shown us something completely different and much more humanistic.
Instead of living his life fully devoted to God and serving Him all the more for extending his life. King Hezekiah paraded his treasures and everything that he had.
I let my oldest son stay up late with me one night while my other two children were put to bed. We watched a movie and ate mint chocolate chip ice cream with pretzels on top. Seriously if you haven't tried it, you are missing out! But I digress. The next day I let the kids watch a movie and my oldest son says to his younger siblings, "I got to stay up late last night and watch a movie with mom a-n-d have ice cream." You know he said it in a, 'ha ha,' kind of voice. What a little stinker! I let him stay up later and instead of being gracious and loving towards his siblings, he rubs it in their faces. You know you've done that too!
So after Hezekiah shows off to the other kings, Isaiah says to him, “Hear the word of the Lord: ‘Behold, the days are coming when all that is in your house, and what your fathers have accumulated until this day, shall be carried to Babylon; nothing shall be left,’ says the Lord. ‘And they shall take away some of your sons who will descend from you, whom you will beget; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.’” (2 Kings 20:16-18)
And how does the kindly, grateful King reply? “The word of the Lord which you have spoken is good!” For he said, “Will there not be peace and truth at least in my days?” (2 Kings 20:19)
Doesn't that just make you so mad? It makes me mad! I can't believe he doesn't care about his children or his children's children. Unfortunately, we see that all around us today! Parents using drugs and drinking and gambling. Mom's and dad's who walk out on their families because things get too hard. No regard for our children's future! Sexual sins and divorces that could have been avoided by humbling yourselves or asking for forgiveness and extending forgiveness towards them. Are we just like King Hezekiah? Are we only living for ourselves? Do we have no regard for the future? Do we have no compassion, no love, no remorse? Do we only want to look good but not have to work at being good?
Think about all the sin in the world. Now think about a newborn child being born into all this sin. Why do we want to start families if we're not going to see them through? What happens to us along the way? At what point did we give up the good fight and cave into our own selfish natures? God knows you never wanted it to be this way! But here we are. So now what? What will you do? Because one day you will die, and your children will be the ones that tell your story. What will they say about you? Will they even mention your name? Do you even care if they mention your name?
How foolish we can be. But, I believe there is a way out! I believe God can bring a family that was doomed to be forsaken by their forefathers out of the pit of destruction. But, don't think the enemy will just let you walk away. No, he's had his hands on your lineage for so long you'd better believe he'll pull out all the stops to get you to cave in like those before you did. There is a way out but you better be ready to fight! And you'd better know this, that you might not get a chance to live the, so called, 'blessed life' here on earth. But you're kids might, isn't that worth the battle?
Think you're too weak to carve out a new path in this life?
You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth,
And called from its farthest regions,
And said to you,
‘You are My servant,
I have chosen you and have not cast you away:
Fear not, for I am with you;
Be not dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you,
Yes, I will help you,
I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’
Praise the Lord!
Blessed is the man who fears the Lord,
Who delights greatly in His commandments.
His descendants will be mighty on earth;
The generation of the upright will be blessed.
Wealth and riches will be in his house,
And his righteousness endures forever.
Unto the upright there arises light in the darkness;
He is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.
A good man deals graciously and lends;
He will guide his affairs with discretion.
Surely he will never be shaken;
The righteous will be in everlasting remembrance.
He will not be afraid of evil tidings;
His heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord.
His heart is established;
He will not be afraid,
Until he sees his desire upon his enemies.
He has dispersed abroad,
He has given to the poor;
His righteousness endures forever;
His horn will be exalted with honor.
The wicked will see it and be grieved;
He will gnash his teeth and melt away;
The desire of the wicked shall perish.
Psalm 112
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