God's Character Is Love
By E. Hilliard
It Is Shown in His Justice as Well as in His Mercy—He Takes No Delight in Destructive Judgment “GOD is love,” says the beloved apostle. He is nothing but love. He never did an unmerciful act. Cruelty is an element of character entirely foreign to our heavenly Father. One great reason why many attribute cruelty to God is because they do not discern His love and mercy in His execution of justice. The wrath of God has never been visited upon any of His innocent creatures. Not even a sparrow falls to the ground by the hand of the cruel sportsman without our heavenly Father's care. It is the defiant, guilty ones who have been swept away by the thunderbolts of divine justice. But even this class have always had ample opportunity to accept God's mercy. Korah, Dathan, and Abiram were warned of their doom, and exhorted by Moses to turn from their rebellion against God. They defiantly resisted every appeal until they were swallowed up by the divine judgments. RESISTED FOUR HUNDRED YEARS
To the Amalekites, who without provocation fought against Israel on their journey from Egypt to the promised land, were granted four hundred years in which to seek God and make matters right. At the expiration of that time, they had filled the cup of their iniquity. They became a curse to themselves, and a menace to the surrounding nations. The command to Saul to destroy them utterly was an act of love. The baneful influence of that wicked nation, had they been permitted to live, would have resulted in the eternal destruction of many souls. “God slew hundreds to save thousands.” OVERTHROWN FOR ENSLAVING MEN
Pharaoh and his rebellious host had every needed opportunity to repent. He slighted God's mercy, which hardened his heart, until he was compelled to look upon the pale faces of Egypt's first-born. Even then he regretted his consent to let Israel go. He countermanded his order, organized his forces, and followed the emancipated slaves, but only to meet his doom from the hand of a merciful God. Pharaoh would not worship God, and he was determined that Israel should not. Was the overthrow of him and his host an act of cruelty on the part of God? Let God's word give the answer: “To Him which divided the Red Sea into parts: . . . and made Israel to pass through the midst of it: . . . but overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea: for His mercy endureth forever.” Ps. 136: 13-15. It was just as much an act of mercy to destroy that rebellious Egyptian host as it was to save those liberated slaves from a watery grave. God “smote great kings: . . . and slew famous kings: . . . and gave their land for an heritage: . . . even an heritage unto Israel, His servant: for His mercy endureth forever.” Verses 17-22. Who had a better right to seize upon the land of the heathen than He who created it? Who is a better judge than God Himself of those who are misappropriating the blessings so freely bestowed upon them? Is not the earth the Lord's, and the fullness thereof? Does He not know when the execution of justice is a benefit to the world?85 The civil law justly demands the life of the murderer, and imprisons the thief. Are those who make and execute the law cruel because they protect society from such characters? It is the merciful execution of justice in behalf of the people that punishes the criminal, and it is the divine love of God in behalf of the people for whom Christ died that destroys those who rebel against the government of heaven until their case is hopeless. We are bought with a price, even the precious blood of Jesus. We are not our own. 1 Cor. 6: 19, 20. Has not Christ a right to do with His purchased property as He chooses? He makes no mistakes in His dealings with humanity. If a man yields to the conditions of salvation, through repentance, confession, and faith in the atoning blood, Christ delights to save him. If, however, he refuses to acknowledge his guilt and to plead for pardon, until he has no redeeming quality of character left, is it not an act of love for God to destroy him? The hand that was pierced for him, but rejected by him, at last reluctantly strikes the fatal blow of justice. John 5: 26, 27. All have ample opportunity to repent and live; but all who refuse, must perish. NO DIVINE PLEASURE IN THE SINNER'S DEATH
“Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.” Eze. 18: 31, 32. It is far better to turn away from sin, and share the love of God, than to find fault with His justice until too late to share His mercy.