A Hard, Harsh, Severe God?

"Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God . . . (v 22).” Can God be “stern”? The word used by the writer of Romans can mean “severe, intense, strict, or harsh”. Is this a passage that most churches would put out on their front signs: “Consider the sternness of God”?

Sometimes we limit Scripture to our own sensitivities and experiences. But in fact, God being severe can be a beautiful thing when it is protective. Once when my first child was just a baby, I came home from work to find my wife walking on the furniture with a fly swatter in one hand and a rolled up magazine in the other (I also remember a Rambo bandana but she says not!). She was focused and the situation was intense as she hunted the mosquito that bit her baby!

The sternness of God comes out of his Father love. God’s “hardness” is not out of hurt, or out of a hard heart, or a bad day, and it is not random. It is measured, reasonable and never conflicts with his Father-kindness; indeed it comes out of his love for us. His discipline comes out of Father's love and his wrath comes out of his perfect justice.

Read the prophets and you’ll hear harsh words from God on occasion, but always spoken with the intent of lamenting our broken relationship with him and calling us home to him.

Respond in Prayer

Father, Your promise is that you will keep on being kind if I keep on trusting in your kindness. I want this, Father. I want to continue in your kindness. I want to enjoy the fullness of your creative, purposeful, loving, good attention on me. So, Father today, help to “keep” myself in you.

Cliff Fletcher