Why Does God Spare Wicked People?
If we're honest, many times we wonder why God allows people who hurt others to continue living. It's those cases where you hear about child molestation, rape, torture, etc. It can cause us to begin doubting God. We start to think, Does He really care about people? Is He really loving? If He is, then why would He allow such disgusting things to happen to innocent people? Why would He allow the people who hurt others to continue living? It's not right.
I always wondered what the deal with Jonah was at the end of the book of Jonah. God told him at the start of the book to go to Ninevah and "preach against it because its wickedness [had] come up before [Him]" (Jonah 1:2 NIV). Jonah freaked out and ran in the opposite direction, but you can't hide from or outrun God. He sent a storm after the prophet, who was then thrown off the boat he was using to run away, and swallowed by a whale (or big fish). He went to Ninevah, preached against it, and the people repented. Yay!, right? Nope. Jonah was angry.
The prophet tells God, "'That is why I was so quick to flee to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. Now, O Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live'" (Jonah 4:2-3). Sounds like an extreme and confusing reaction to having a nation turn back to God. It seemed to me that he should have been celebrating...until I learned more about Ninevah.
Ninevah was the capital of Assyria. The Assyrians were Israel's enemies. They were a conquering empire and were extremely cruel to the people they conquered. They slaughtered masses of people and sent those who survived into captivity. Their cruelty was notorious. To understand the perception Jonah had of Ninevah, David Guzik claims, "Imagine a Jewish man in New York during World War II hearing God say, 'I'm going to bring terrible judgment on Germany. I want you to go to Berlin and tell Nazi Germany to repent.'"* The Nazi's tortured the Jews physically, mentally, and emotionally. What they did to them was appalling. Imagine that the Nazi's had a change of heart and began changing their ways at the time. While that's great, imagine how painful it might be for the victims and their families if the Nazis were no longer treated with contempt, but instead compassion and grace. There would still be a very natural sense of the need for justice.
Think of all the disgusting things we hear going on in the world (mass murders, rape, sex trafficking, brutality, etc) going on in one place and you'll see why Jonah was upset about God sparing Ninevah. It's the same reason we question God's mercy. Especially when the people He has not stopped haven't repented. So, why does God allow these people to continue in their wickedness rather than putting a stop to it? Why does He let them continue to live?
One reason is the one we see in Jonah: to give these people time to repent and turn to Him. Another reason is that they are a part of something even greater. We only see a part of life, time, and history, but God sees all of eternity. He knows everything to come and what will lead us there. Looking at two of the men in Jesus' genealogy will help us also see that.
Why did King David get to live after arranging for his faithful soldier, Uriah, to be killed in battle so that he could marry Uriah's wife and cover his sin of impregnating her (2 Samuel 11)?
I always wondered what the deal with Jonah was at the end of the book of Jonah. God told him at the start of the book to go to Ninevah and "preach against it because its wickedness [had] come up before [Him]" (Jonah 1:2 NIV). Jonah freaked out and ran in the opposite direction, but you can't hide from or outrun God. He sent a storm after the prophet, who was then thrown off the boat he was using to run away, and swallowed by a whale (or big fish). He went to Ninevah, preached against it, and the people repented. Yay!, right? Nope. Jonah was angry.
The prophet tells God, "'That is why I was so quick to flee to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. Now, O Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live'" (Jonah 4:2-3). Sounds like an extreme and confusing reaction to having a nation turn back to God. It seemed to me that he should have been celebrating...until I learned more about Ninevah.
Ninevah was the capital of Assyria. The Assyrians were Israel's enemies. They were a conquering empire and were extremely cruel to the people they conquered. They slaughtered masses of people and sent those who survived into captivity. Their cruelty was notorious. To understand the perception Jonah had of Ninevah, David Guzik claims, "Imagine a Jewish man in New York during World War II hearing God say, 'I'm going to bring terrible judgment on Germany. I want you to go to Berlin and tell Nazi Germany to repent.'"* The Nazi's tortured the Jews physically, mentally, and emotionally. What they did to them was appalling. Imagine that the Nazi's had a change of heart and began changing their ways at the time. While that's great, imagine how painful it might be for the victims and their families if the Nazis were no longer treated with contempt, but instead compassion and grace. There would still be a very natural sense of the need for justice.
Think of all the disgusting things we hear going on in the world (mass murders, rape, sex trafficking, brutality, etc) going on in one place and you'll see why Jonah was upset about God sparing Ninevah. It's the same reason we question God's mercy. Especially when the people He has not stopped haven't repented. So, why does God allow these people to continue in their wickedness rather than putting a stop to it? Why does He let them continue to live?
One reason is the one we see in Jonah: to give these people time to repent and turn to Him. Another reason is that they are a part of something even greater. We only see a part of life, time, and history, but God sees all of eternity. He knows everything to come and what will lead us there. Looking at two of the men in Jesus' genealogy will help us also see that.
Why did King David get to live after arranging for his faithful soldier, Uriah, to be killed in battle so that he could marry Uriah's wife and cover his sin of impregnating her (2 Samuel 11)?
Even though David made some terrible choices, He was still a man after God's heart. We often want to see finality in suffering for the wrong that's been done, but God's current punishment still leaves room for mercy and grace. The baby that resulted from the affair died. That was David's punishment and he suffered, but he was still able to get back on track with God. It is God's desire for His children to come to Him. Had He killed David after he killed Uriah, David would have never had the chance to get right with God.
What about Manasseh? Why didn't God strike him dead after he sacrificed his son to an idol (2 Kings 21:6)? Why did He allow him to live long enough to "shed so much innocent blood that he filled Jerusalem from end to end" (2 Kings 21:16)?
Even though he (and David) did despicable things, God kept him alive for a greater purpose. They were both a part of the genealogy of Jesus. Their existence led to the life of the Messiah. Their stories and legacies were Jesus' family history. They shaped how Mary and Joseph raised Him. The suffering and perceived lack of justice for the people who suffered at the hands of Jesus' ancestors led to redemption of all who come to the Lord through Jesus' birth and crucifixion. Anyone looking at the snapshot of that time period of wrongdoing could not see it, but God (looking at all of eternity) could see the greater purpose that lie ahead.
What about Manasseh? Why didn't God strike him dead after he sacrificed his son to an idol (2 Kings 21:6)? Why did He allow him to live long enough to "shed so much innocent blood that he filled Jerusalem from end to end" (2 Kings 21:16)?
Even though he (and David) did despicable things, God kept him alive for a greater purpose. They were both a part of the genealogy of Jesus. Their existence led to the life of the Messiah. Their stories and legacies were Jesus' family history. They shaped how Mary and Joseph raised Him. The suffering and perceived lack of justice for the people who suffered at the hands of Jesus' ancestors led to redemption of all who come to the Lord through Jesus' birth and crucifixion. Anyone looking at the snapshot of that time period of wrongdoing could not see it, but God (looking at all of eternity) could see the greater purpose that lie ahead.
We don't understand God's motives because we can't see all that He does. It is easy to get angry and blame someone when you only see a part of the story, but keep in mind that God knows the full story. It is filled with more people and time periods than we can ever keep up with. He is orchestrating all the chaos for His victorious return and our triumph one day. Even though it gets difficult, we have to trust in the process knowing that the outcome is a sure one and that our God is truly merciful and loving.
*Source: David Guzik's commentary on Jonah chapter 1; found on Blueletterbible.org (http://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/guzik_david/StudyGuide_Jon/Jon_1.cfm?a=890017)
*Source: David Guzik's commentary on Jonah chapter 1; found on Blueletterbible.org (http://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/guzik_david/StudyGuide_Jon/Jon_1.cfm?a=890017)
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