God’s Punishment

What is God Punishment?

God was greatly disappointed with the Israelites. God’s wrath was upon them because of their unfaithfulness. His wrath and punishment were specifically promised in a covenant. God’s covenant promised blessings with their obedience and curses for disobedience. In Judges 2:14-15, it stated:

In his anger against Israel the Lord gave them into the hands of raiders who plundered them. He sold them into the hands of their enemies all around, whom they were no longer able to resist. Whenever Israel went out to fight, the hand of the Lord was against them to defeat them, just as he had sworn to them. They were in great distress.

The Israelites disobeyed God and He did everything that He promised. He allowed the Israelites to experience curse lives because of their disobedience. The purpose of God’s punishment was for the Israelites to go back to God. His goal was not punishment but repentance.

Even when they disobeyed God, He wanted them to go back into His presence. It was still a demonstration of His love. If God did not love them, He would have just allowed them to destroy their lives. But God loved them so much that He still found a way for them to turn their backs on their sin and go back to God.