No Repentance

This is one of those Old Testament stories that can be a bit hard to swallow. How could God, who is love, send fire down from heaven to destroy over 100 men simply to make a point?

There is no easy answer to this question. However, all of the New Testament claims that God is the same yesterday, today and forever! (Heb. 13:8) We also read other stories such as Sodom and Gomorrah where God withholds judgement even for the sake of a few righteous people and makes a way for those people to avoid it in order to ensure justice (Gen. 18-19). Taking these things together, we can trust that in this situation God also acted justly.

We also see that when people humble themselves and appeal to God’s mercy he acts mercifully. The third captain intercedes for his men, asking for mercy. God displays in this story both justice and mercy.

However, Ahaziah stubbornly refused to appeal to God’s mercy. He had already received God’s word and warning before any of this happened. He knew his sin, he knew what God was capable of, especially after the first two companies were destroyed. He also knew that he could appeal to God’s mercy by what happened to the third company and yet we see no repentance. Just like his father before him he was so intent on only hearing what he wanted to hear that he became his own downfall.

Thought Point

How do you reconcile God’s nature as revealed in the Old Testament with God’s nature as revealed in the New Testament?

Prayer Point

Ask God to give you faith to trust in His love, justice and mercy and to give you ears to hear what He is saying to you.