Kind And Severe

Kind and Severe

I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness. I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations. I forgive iniquity, rebellion, and sin. But I do not excuse the guilty. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children and grandchildren; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations.

Exodus 34:6-7

Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? . . . Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin? But because you are stubborn and refuse to turn from your sin, you are storing up terrible punishment for yourself.

Romans 2:4-5

God is both kind and severe. He is severe toward those who disobeyed, but kind to you if you continue to trust in his kindness.

Romans 11:22

Did you ever play the game Red Rover? “Red Rover, Red Rover, send Mary right over!” one side says in unison. And Mary comes running.

When the Bible tells us that God is both kind and severe, we can think of it a bit like the two sides of the Red Rover game. Both sides are real. But God calls us for a different reason: kindness. The kindness of God calls out to each one of us, saying, “Come over!” And who wouldn’t want to run away from the severity of God—a place of certain judgment—into the arms of abundant forgiveness, generosity, freedom, and joy?

God wants us to see how kind he is. But he also wants us to see how severely he punishes sin. Since he is holy, he can’t just ignore the seriousness of sin. Behind every display of divine goodness stands the severity of judgment if that goodness is scorned. That’s why he gives us time. He’s patient. He’s calling out to us to run toward his kindness. And even though he will be severe with those who don’t run to him, everyone who does run to him never has to worry about being the target of his severity.

DISCUSSION STARTERS

How do you see both God’s kindness and severity in these verses?

Why do you suppose we only like to think about God’s kindness?

Why is it good for people—even believers—to think about God’s severity?